Sublime released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums (one of which also contains never-before released material), three EPs, and one box set. Although their first two albums—40oz. to Freedom (1992) and Robbin' the Hood (1994)—were quite popular in the United States, Sublime did not experience major commercial success until 1996 with their self-titled third album, released two months after Nowell's death, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "What I Got", which remains the band's only No. 1 hit single (on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart) in their musical career. As of 2009, the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including about ten million in the U.S. alone. Michael "Miguel" Happoldt and Marshall "Ras MG" Goodman contributed to several Sublime songs.
Following Sublime's dissolution, former members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh founded the Long Beach Dub Allstars in 1997, which also included many frequent Sublime contributors such as Michael "Miguel" Happoldt (former member of The Ziggens), Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" (former Sublime member), and Todd Forman (3rd Alley). LBDAS disbanded in 2002, due to several members of the band breaking a no-drug vow they had taken. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez, a young guitarist and admitted Sublime fan from California. However, not long after performing at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name as they needed permission from Nowell's estate, which owns the rights to the Sublime name. This prompted the lineup of Wilson, Gaugh and Ramirez to change their name to Sublime with Rome, which has since released three albums, although Gaugh left the group shortly after the release of their 2011 debut Yours Truly.
With the mainstream success of their self-titled album, going five times platinum and earning worldwide airplay, Sublime's influence persists to this day. Sublime was one of the most popular bands of the third wave of ska, specifically characterized as ska punk. Sublime often combined punk rock and hardcore punk with hip hop, heavy metal, dancehall, reggae, ska, funk, and (21st century) surf music. Sublime also has been described as 'reggae rock'.
Their signature sound and their songs are often associated with the beach and coastal areas of Southern California, such as San Diego, Orange County, Venice Beach and Long Beach as well as areas of Northern California like Eureka. Over two decades after Nowell's death and the band's breakup, Sublime remains immensely popular throughout North America, especially in its state of origin, California.
Sublime's songs have been featured via soundtrack in a variety of media. Los Angeles alternative rock radio station KROQ has listed Sublime at No. 3 in their annual "Top 106.7 biggest KROQ bands of all time" list for the past six years in a row, behind Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, and No. 81 at the "Top 166 Artists of 1980–2008" list.
With over 17 million units sold worldwide, Sublime is one of the most successful, and "powerfully moving" ska-punk acts of all time influencing many modern reggae and ska acts.
Wilson and Gaugh reunited the group officially in 2023 after Sublime With Rome's disbanding, with Nowell's son Jakob Nowell (LAW, Jakob's Castle) taking over as lead vocalist.
Jailhouse
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I feel love, feel love
Jailhouse gets empty
Rudy gets plenty
The baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller
Can't fight against the youth'Cause we're strong and they're the rude rude people
Can't fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong and the rude rude people
Baby get down
When I was a youth in 1983
It was the best day of my life, had the eighty nine vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
My vision
It was playin' on my guitar, on my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
When the rhythm, playin'
I know that I'm gonna be there yeah
Bud Gaugh will be singing there
And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yea
Oh and we'll be all singin', with version, with version
Reggae version
Version, version, version oh
What has been told to the wise and up-rootedIt's gonna be revealed unto babes and Sublime
Rudy Rudy Rudy
Can't fight against the youth, right now
Them are rude, rude people
Can't fight against the resistance, oh right now
Them are rude, rude people
We gonna rule this land among children
We gonna rule this land
'Cause when that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
Oh when I was a youth it was the best day
It was the best day of my life
We had the eighty nine vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
When that rhythm, it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
Had to be there
Jailhouse gets empty
And Rudy gets plenty
Baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller, taller
And fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong, them are rude, rude people
Can't fight against the youth
The lyrics to Sublime's "Jailhouse" speak of rebellion and resistance against authority. The singer acknowledges the power of youth and its ability to challenge the status quo. They refuse to give in to those who try to suppress them and instead embrace their love for music and their ability to unite through it. The mention of Rudy throughout the song could refer to either a specific person or a symbol of the Rude Boy subculture that emerged in Jamaican music in the mid-20th century. The song's reference to the "best day of my life" and "89 vision" could relate to the time when the late lead vocalist Bradley Nowell, who wrote the lyrics, lived in the Bradbury Apartments in Long Beach, California. Nowell used to play his guitar in front of the building, and 1989 was the year Sublime officially formed.
Line by Line Meaning
And I won't give it up to you
I will not surrender to you
And I feel love, feel love
I am feeling love
Jailhouse gets empty
The jail is becoming vacant
Rudy gets plenty
Rudy is gaining abundant wealth
The baton stick gets shorter
The length of the baton stick is decreasing
Rudy gets taller
Rudy is growing taller
Can't fight against the youth
We cannot defeat the younger generation
'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
Because we are strong and bold individuals
When I was a youth in 1983
Back in 1983, when I was a young adult
Was the best day of my life, had the 89 vision
It was the happiest moment in my life, having a clear vision of the future
We didn't fuss or no fight
We did not quarrel or fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
When many young girls wanted to marry me
It was playin' on my guitar, on my guitar
I was strumming on my guitar
I had to be there
I absolutely needed to be present
When the rhythm playin'
When the music is playing
I know that I'm gonna be there yeah
I am certain that I will be present
Bud Gaugh will be singing there
Bud Gaugh will be singing with me
And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yeah
Eric Wilson will be skillfully playing his bass guitar
Oh and we'll be all singin', with version, with version, reggae version, reggae version, version, oh
We will be singing together in different reggae versions
What has been told to the wise and up-rooted
The knowledge passed down to the wise and uprooted
Yeah, it's gonna be revealed unto, and Sublime
It will be disclosed to the band Sublime and others
Rudy Rudy Rudy
Emphasizing Rudy's name
Can't fight against the youth, right now
We cannot defeat the young generation at present
Them are rude, rude people
They can be impolite individuals
Can't fight against the resistance, oh right now
We cannot fight against the opposition currently
Them are rude, rude people
They can be impolite individuals
We gonna rule this land among children
We will rule this land with the children
Cause when that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
Because the music was playing while I was playing guitar
I had to be there
I truly needed to be present
Jailhouse gets empty
The jail is becoming vacant
Rudy gets plenty
Rudy is gaining abundant wealth
Baton stick gets shorter
The length of the baton stick is decreasing
Rudy gets taller, taller
Rudy is growing taller and taller
And fight against the youth
To fight against the younger generation
'Cause we're strong, and we're rude, rude people
Because we are strong and bold individuals
Lyrics © THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC., Third Side Music Inc., THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC
Written by: WARREN WILLIAMS, JOHN HOLT, CLEMENT DODD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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