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.
Scarelet Begonias
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a chill to the wind, but a nip to the air
from another direction she was caught in my eye
It could be an illusion but I might as well try
I might as well try...
she had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
and I knew without asking she was into the blues
I knew right away she was not like other girls
like other girls
Well I ain't never been right as I ain't never been wrong
Cause heaven works out the way it does in this song (hey)
'cuz once in awhile you get shown in the light
of the strangest of places if you look at it right
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
because a woman took her lovin' over me
and just to gain her trust I bought a microbus
because I sold off all my personal property
A tight tye-dye dress she was a psychadelic mess
we toured to the north, south, east, and west
we sold some mushroom tea we sold some ecstacy
we sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin, and pcp
and now I hear the police comin' after me
yes now I hear the police comin' after me
the one scarlet with the flowers in her hair
now she's got the police comin' after me
but there ain't nothin' wrong with the way she moves
all scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
and there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eye
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by
let it pass by
oh just let her pass by
In "Scarlet Begonias," the singer describes an encounter with a woman who stands out from the crowd. He's walking along when he sees her and becomes smitten with her immediately. She is wearing a tight tie-dyed dress with scarlet begonias tucked into her curls. She has bells on her shoes and rings on her fingers, and he knows without asking that she is "into the blues." The two hit it off, and the singer buys a microbus to travel around with her, selling drugs including mushroom tea, ecstasy, nitrous, opium, acid, heroin, and PCP.
However, things take a turn for the worse towards the end of the song. The police start to come after him because of his illegal drug trade. Despite this, the singer still finds nothing wrong with the woman or the love in her eye. The song suggests that the singer’s life has changed for the better because of this chance encounter.
One can interpret this song in various ways. It could be interpreted as a commentary on the life-changing effects of drugs, with the singer's encounter with the woman as a catalyst for a new way of living. Alternatively, it could be seen as a campy celebration of the countercultural movement of the 1960s, with the singer as a fearless and free-spirited young person who enjoys travelling around the country selling drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walkin' down rubadub square
As I was taking a leisurely walk near Rubadub Square
Not a chill to the wind, but a nip to the air
Although the weather was not too cold, there was a slight chill in the air
from another direction she was caught in my eye
Suddenly I caught a glimpse of her from a different direction
It could be an illusion but I might as well try
Although it could just be my imagination, I decided to take a chance and pursue her
she had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
She was adorned with rings and had bells on her shoes
and I knew without asking she was into the blues
Without even asking, I knew that she was a fan of blues music
she wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
There were red begonia flowers nestled in her curly hair
I knew right away she was not like other girls
I could tell right away that she was unique and unlike other girls
Well I ain't never been right as I ain't never been wrong
I have never been completely correct nor entirely incorrect
Cause heaven works out the way it does in this song (hey)
The events that occur are just the way they are meant to be, as in this song
'cuz once in awhile you get shown in the light
Because every once in a while, you may see things in a different light
of the strangest of places if you look at it right
Even in the oddest of places, you may find something quite beautiful if you observe it in the right way
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
This happened back in a time known as the Summer of Love, which I am grateful for
because a woman took her lovin' over me
A woman came into my life and showed me her love
and just to gain her trust I bought a microbus
I had to earn her trust, and so I bought a small bus to do so
because I sold off all my personal property
I sold everything I owned to gain her trust
A tight tye-dye dress she was a psychadelic mess
She wore a tight dress with swirling patterns, and she was quite unusual
we toured to the north, south, east, and west
We traveled and toured all around the country
we sold some mushroom tea we sold some ecstacy
We sold some psychedelic substances such as mushroom tea and ecstasy
we sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin, and pcp
We even sold more dangerous drugs, such as nitrous oxide, opium, acid, heroin, and PCP
and now I hear the police comin' after me
Now I hear that the police are after me
yes now I hear the police comin' after me
I definitely hear the sounds of the police approaching
the one scarlet with the flowers in her hair
The woman with the red flowers in her hair
now she's got the police comin' after me
Now she has caused the police to come after me
but there ain't nothin' wrong with the way she moves
Still, there is nothing wrong with the way she behaves
all scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
She is quite unique, with the red begonias in her hair and a bluesy vibe
and there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eye
There is also nothing wrong with the love that she has shining in her eyes
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by
I had to learn the difficult lesson of letting her go and moving on
let it pass by
Let her go and move on
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mr.wilkie2323
Lyrics:
As I was walkin' down rub-a-dub square
Not a chill to the window but a little to the air
From another direction she was calling my eye
It could be an illusion but I might as well try
Might as well try
She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew without asking she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away she was not like other girls, like other girls
Well I ain't never been right as I ain't never been wrong
As everything works out the way it does in this song
'Cause once in a while you get shown in the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
Because the women took a lovin' over me
And just to gain her trust, I bought a microbus
Because I sold off all my personal property
A tie-tie-dyed dress, she was a psychedelic mess
We toured to the north, south, east and west
We sold some mushroom tea,
We sold some ecstasy,
We sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin and PCP
And now I hear the police coming after me
Yes now I hear the police coming after me
The one scarlet with the flowers in her hair
She's got the police coming after me
Well there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves
All scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
And there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eyes
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by, let her pass by
Oh just let her pass by
@Val-sz8sk
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
Because the women took the lovin' over me
And just to gain her trust, I bought a microbus
Because I sold off my personal property
A tight tie-dyed dress, she was a psychedelic mess
We toured to the north, south, east and west
We sold some mushroom tea,
We sold some ecstasy,
We sold nitrus, opium, acid, heroin and PCP
Now I hear the police coming after me
Yes, now I hear the police coming after me
The one scarlet with the flowers in her hair,
She's got the police coming after me
@donaldschumacher9048
As I was walkin' down rub-a-dub square
Not a chill to the window but a little to the air
From another direction she was calling my eye
It could be an illusion but I might as well try
Might as well try
She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew without asking she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away she was not like other girls, like other girls
Well I ain't never been right as I ain't never been wrong
As everything works out the way it does in this song
'Cause once in a while you get shown in the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
Because the women took a lovin' over me
And just to gain her trust, I bought a microbus
Because I sold off all my personal property
A tie-tie-dyed dress, she was a psychedelic mess
We toured to the north, south, east and west
We sold some mushroom tea,
We sold some ecstasy,
We sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin and PCP
And now I hear the police coming after me
Yes now I hear the police coming after me
The one scarlet with the flowers in her hair
She's got the police coming after me
Well there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves
All scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
And there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eyes
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by, let her pass by
Oh just let her pass by
Source: LyricFind
@deningunlado3086
SCARLET BEGONIAS
As I was walkin' down rubadub square
Not a chill to the wind, but a nip to the air
From another direction she was caught in my eye
It could be an illusion but I might as well try
I might as well try...
She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew without asking she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away she was not like other girls
Like other girls
Well I ain't never been right as I ain't never been wrong
Cause heaven works out the way it does in this song (hey)
'Cuz once in awhile you get shown in the light
Of the strangest of places if you look at it right
It was the summer of love and I thank the stars above
Because a woman took her lovin' over me
And just to gain her trust I bought a microbus
Because I sold off all my personal property
A tight tye-dye dress she was a psychadelic mess
We toured to the north, south, east, and west
We sold some mushroom tea we sold some ecstacy
We sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin, and pcp
And now I hear the police comin' after me
Yes now I hear the police comin' after me
The one scarlet with the flowers in her hair
Now she's got the police comin' after me
But there ain't nothin' wrong with the way she moves
All scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
And there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eye
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by
Let it pass by
Oh just let her pass by
@SensoryTheater07
Both the Deads and Sublimes versions are great and every time I hear this song played live no matter who does it I have an eargasm. I think this is just the best musical arrangement of all time. Ever.
@BikiniTrill
😂 hope our version gives you an eargasm too: https://youtu.be/guEiHTSQtrc
@warzone6700
I don’t even like sublime that ska-punk nu “metal” kinda sounds never appealed to me but this cover is so good like,,,,, a modern version of Scarlet Begonias with some raggae thrown in there I love it
@christopherboxford9556
You know I've admittedly never been able to get into the dead. Although I haven't tried all that hard. I figured I'd get around to them eventually being a musician for over 20 years. I mainly come from a rock metal background so the super happy-go-lucky stuff is a lot harder for me to digest initially. However, I have ALWAYS been a huge sublime fan and always loved this song and it wasn't until about a week or two ago I found out that it was originally a dead song. And the vocal phrasing for "she wore a tye dye dress she was a psychedelic mess we toured to the n, s, e, and west we sold some mushroom, we sold some xtc, we sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin and PCP" is nothing short of phenomenal. Super catchy and gets you hyped in the same way a gnarly fast metal riff can without being evil, heavy, and even using the Major scale. And in hindsight of course this is a Grateful Dead song lol. I know they have a crazy amount of material they've released. Me revisiting this song with my newfound knowledge about it is making me want to go down a Grateful Dead rabbit hole. Have any song suggestions. Commonly loved songs amongst the real fans? I figured if this one kicks that much ass they gotta have a slew of others. I'd be very Grateful heh heh see what I did there lol
@Anabria
@Christopher Boxford Ever heard Ripple? If not, you’re welcome. ✌️
@christopherboxford9556
@Anabria Thank you, I'm going to check it out right now.
@finchiepunch
When I was a baby my mom would play this so loud and I’m 16 now and still love it to death
@jeffstoyles7805
is ur om single>????lol
@helenbutland2718
I'm 52 but born on 29-2-68 and have had 13 birthdays 🙃 First listened to these on holiday in Spain travelling with some mates.. suits all ages eh? Get the groove on 💗💟💫
@troybaugh4490
Childhood fave here. Nobody so effortlessly blended so many different styles of music as Brad did, and he didn't live long enough to see people find out what an astonishing talent he was. There is peace in this song.