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.
Mary / Big Salty Tears
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll find the words to say
I'll sit and light the bong
I'll hold my hit in real long
I don't know if I can
Go up inside of you tonight
Oh Mary baby,
I could do it right
You've heard the line before
Oh Mary baby please don't think that I'm a whore
If you come home with me,
Turn off the lights and lock up the doors,
And start getting busy
I don't know if I can
Go so way up inside you tonight
Oh Mary baby,
Please don't fuss and fight
When we got to the pad
Mary baby started calling me her dad
And she gave me head
We could not find the damn bed
Fifteen years old plus one,
Hotter than a microwave oven
Oh Mary baby,
Your daddy is coming home.
(cheers and applause)
My place, is not a home
Don't make no difference
But I've found,
That I need a place to stay
Though disease was just the price I paid
Big Salty Tears
Is what I taste
As I drive
Past your house
Tonight
And all those break lights
That are in front of me
They make me
Want to get on tonight
"This is a Ziggens song by the way"
I'm at the age where I realize
The liquor store won't bring you back
I must be gettin' old
I'm at the drive-thru
And I'm making my face
All fat fat fat fat fat
Big Salty Tears
(Oo's and be-bops)
I'm at the age where I realize
Nothin' actually
Just do what I'm supposed to do
$2.17
Next window please please please please please
Big Salty Tears
(cheers and applause)
The song "Mary / Big Salty Tears" by Sublime revolves around Mary, a young girl who the singer is interested in pursuing a sexual relationship with. The first verse finds the singer getting ready to make his move, smoking marijuana to build up the courage to approach her. He reassures Mary that he can make love to her the right way, but is unsure if he can "go up inside of her tonight." The second verse depicts the pair at the singer's place, where they engage in sexual acts. Interestingly, the lyrics take a darker turn as Mary calls the singer "her dad," implying that there may be some sort of abusive dynamic at play.
The song then moves on to "Big Salty Tears," which switches focus to the singer's own emotional state. He laments his own life situation, with lines like "My place, is not a home," and "Though disease was just the price I paid." The chorus repeats the phrase "Big Salty Tears," which seems to hint at the tears of sorrow and regret he has been shedding over his life. The refrain at the end of the song is a repeated assertion that "I'm at the age where I realize," with the singer never finishing the sentence, perhaps indicating that he doesn't even know what he's realizing.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby one breath away
I'm close to you physically and emotionally, just one step away from being able to express my feelings
I'll find the words to say
I'm going to take a moment to gather my thoughts and articulate my emotions to you
I'll sit and light the bong
I'll use smoking marijuana as a way to calm my nerves and relax during this conversation
I'll hold my hit in real long
I'll try to use the effects of marijuana to my advantage by holding my breath until my thoughts and emotions become more clear
I don't know if I can
I'm uncertain that I have the ability or courage to do what I want to do
Go up inside of you tonight
I'm unsure if I can connect with you in the intimate way that I desire tonight
Oh Mary baby,
I'm directly addressing and expressing my feelings to Mary
I could do it right
I'm confident in my ability to connect with Mary intimately and satisfy her desires
You've heard the line before
I know this isn't the first time you've been propositioned in this way
Oh Mary baby please don't think that I'm a whore
I'm worried that you may judge me for my sexual desires or intentions
If you come home with me,
I'm urging Mary to accompany me to my home or private location
Turn off the lights and lock up the doors,
I want to create a sense of privacy and intimacy between us by closing off the outside world
And start getting busy
I'm making my intentions for intimacy clear and explicit to Mary
When we got to the pad
Once we arrived at the location for intimacy
Mary baby started calling me her dad
Mary began viewing me as a father figure or protector
And she gave me head
She performed oral sex on me
We could not find the damn bed
We were so caught up in the moment we were unable to find a suitable place to physically connect
Fifteen years old plus one,
Mary is only 16 years old
Hotter than a microwave oven
Mary is incredibly attractive and desirable
Oh Mary baby,
Again, directly addressing and expressing my feelings to Mary
Your daddy is coming home.
Foreshadowing the consequences that may arise as a result of our physical connection
My place, is not a home
I don't have a permanent residence or a stable living situation
But I've found,
Despite my lack of a stable living situation
That I need a place to stay
I've come to realize that I desire a place of my own to feel safe and secure
Though disease was just the price I paid
In the past, I may have engaged in risky or unsafe behavior which led to illness or negative consequences
Big Salty Tears
I'm feeling emotional and expressing my sadness through my tears
Is what I taste
I'm experiencing a great deal of sadness and grief which manifests as tears
As I drive
While I'm operating my vehicle
Past your house
While driving past the home of someone significant to me
Tonight
In this present moment in time
And all those break lights
While stuck in traffic
That are in front of me
Referring to the other cars on the road that are hindering my progress
They make me
The traffic is causing a strong emotional reaction in me
Want to get on tonight
My sadness and frustration is driving me to seek a physical connection with someone
This is a Ziggens song by the way
Acknowledging that this song was actually written by another artist
I'm at the age where I realize
As I'm getting older, I'm becoming more aware of certain truths
The liquor store won't bring you back
Alcohol won't fill the void left by someone who has passed away
I must be gettin' old
Reflecting on the fact that I'm becoming more aware of my own aging
I'm at the drive-thru
Referring to my current physical location at a fast food restaurant drive-thru
And I'm making my face
I'm using my face as a way to communicate or express myself to the fast food worker
All fat fat fat fat fat
I may feel self-conscious about my physical appearance
Big Salty Tears
Again expressing sadness through tears
Nothing actually
Referring to the fact that I'm not really feeling anything specific in this moment
Just do what I'm supposed to do
Going through the motions or doing what's expected of me
$2.17
The cost of the fast food I'm purchasing
Next window please please please please please
Waiting for the next window at the drive-thru in order to receive my food
Contributed by Christian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Boenk Nsty Brown
on Santeria
the best