Canadian hip-hop heavyweights Sweatshop Union, one of the hardest working ensembles to ever emerge from British Columbia, have been making righteous, politically charged music for over a decade but on their newest album Infinite (summer 2013), they’re ready to really enjoy themselves.
The 6-member crew took their time with this album, spending a year to gather sounds and lyrics, whereas previous records have been completed in mere months. It bridges the gap between conscious music and fun party jams, exploring heavy themes but it’s also built for kicking back and vibing. The group believes that the record’s strength lies in this dichotomy.
Infinite (nominated 2014 WCMA) follows 2011’s Bill Murray EP, which won the Western Canadian Music Award for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, and raised their profile beyond their grassroots following, some time after pair of Juno nominations from their previous work together (Natural Progression & United We Fall | 2004 & 2006).
The new LP contains a range of sounds, combining old-school hip-hop with futuristic, electro headbangers, not to mention some ballads and spoken word interludes. It accomplishes the tricky task of reflecting the outfit’s individual tastes, as they inform SSU’s collective vision.
The group is prolific and moves quickly but as of this moment, Infinite stands as the most eclectic record in the Sweatshop Union catalogue. Listeners will find it tricky to categorize but it’s clear the collective had a lot of fun making this music and they hope it’s contagious. After all, despite its title, Infinite reflects a group of men who know that life is short and that they need to savor all the joyful moments that making music together provides.
Discography
* Sweatshop Union 2001
* Local 604 2002
* Natural Progression 2004
* United We Fall 2005
* Water Street 2008
* Bill Murray EP 2011
* Infinite 2013
Comes & Goes
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don’t ever hear what they’re sayin’
You best move on without me
All I’m gonna do is keep delayin’
My strength my confidence, my common sense, my money’s gone
My soul I sing my songs, we’ve moved along now something’s wrong
I got a problem with the daylight
It ain’t right but it ain’t like I ain’t tryin’
Hard to be a star in the sunshine
I hear the night lines in the night time
Found when she left me lost was my right mind
So I write rhymes reachin’ for my lifeline
Who wants to be a millionaire anyway?
I’m a penny away from makin’ pennies a day
So lend me your ear and Imma take it away
Never pay you back with the sh*t that I say
I’ll get it by tomorrow give me somethin’ today
It comes and goes,
I heat it up and it froze
I need it somewhere that snows
Don’t ask me why I don’t know
I know it comes and goes
I build it up and it falls
I tear it down when it grows
Don’t ask me why I don’t know
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
Now there’s a church and a mosque and a temple
Had faith but it ain’t that simple
They use a symbol to get us assembled
Does fearing of God make us trust a devil?
Imma get well sittin’ by the citadel
Sip a bottle of Jack and wish on the wishing well
Then I catch a tale, everyone a fairy tale
I’m feelin’ alright yeah mother f*cker read the grail
Cuz they blind to the fact that the fact is the mind ain’t aligned
With the nature in divine
Only I can define what is yours what is mine
What is God made of hate? got mad at mankind
Cuz mankind ain’t made of kind man
Yet I’ll come in lookin for the next day back, yo
But all my money’s on the table can I have another hit
It comes and goes,
I heat it up and it froze
I need it somewhere that snows
Don’t ask me why I don’t know
I know it comes and goes
I build it up and it falls
I tear it down when it grows
Don’t ask me why I don’t know
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I don’t know (I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all
From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all
From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all
From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all
From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe (I don’t know)
I don’t know, I don’t know
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all (I know it comes and it goes)
(From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe)
I don’t know, I don’t know
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all (I know it comes and it goes)
(From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe)
I don’t know, I don’t know
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all (I know it comes and it goes)
(From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe)
I don’t know, I don’t know
I ain’t myself at all, (I don’t know, I don’t know, I know it comes and it goes)
The lyrics to Sweatshop Union's song "Comes & Goes" explore a variety of themes, including personal struggles, faith, and the constant ebb and flow of life. The opening lines suggest that the singer is aware that people are talking about them, but they don't care to listen. The repetition of "I don't know" throughout the song could be interpreted as the singer admitting their own uncertainty and acknowledging the unpredictable nature of life.
The lyrics also touch on the struggle to maintain success and stability. The line "Hard to be a star in the sunshine" suggests that it is challenging to maintain fame and fortune while also dealing with the pressures of daily life. This struggle is further emphasized in the lines "I’m a penny away from makin’ pennies a day / So lend me your ear and Imma take it away / Never pay you back with the sh*t that I say," which suggest that the singer is barely scraping by and may not have anything of substance to offer besides their words.
The lyrics also touch on themes of faith and spirituality. The lines "Now there’s a church and a mosque and a temple / Had faith but it ain’t that simple" suggest that the singer has struggled with their own beliefs and perhaps feels disillusioned by organized religion. Despite this, they seem to be searching for meaning and hope in their own way, as seen in the lines "Sip a bottle of Jack and wish on the wishing well."
Overall, the lyrics to "Comes & Goes" offer a complex and nuanced exploration of life's ups and downs, and the myriad ways in which people cope with the challenges that come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
People keep talkin’ about me
People gossip about me behind my back
I don’t ever hear what they’re sayin’
I am unaware of what people talk about me
You best move on without me
You should not wait for me, just leave me behind
All I’m gonna do is keep delayin’
I will keep stalling or procrastinating
My strength my confidence, my common sense, my money’s gone
I have lost all my valuable assets
My soul I sing my songs, we’ve moved along now something’s wrong
My passion for music has not helped heal the issues I am going through
I got a problem with the daylight
I have an issue with facing reality
It's only autumn and I follow with a straight right
I struggle with the changing season, but I still fight back
It ain’t right but it ain’t like I ain’t tryin’
I know my actions are not right, but I am still making an effort
Hard to be a star in the sunshine
It is difficult to shine in favorable circumstances
I hear the night lines in the night time
I feel more connected to my inner voice during the night
Found when she left me lost was my right mind
I lost my sanity when my lover left me
So I write rhymes reachin’ for my lifeline
Writing music is my way of coping during tough times
Who wants to be a millionaire anyway?
I question the value of material wealth
I’m a penny away from makin’ pennies a day
I am struggling financially and barely making enough to survive
So lend me your ear and Imma take it away
Listen to me and I will take you on a journey with my music
Never pay you back with the sh*t that I say
I cannot guarantee that my words will be worth your time
I’ll get it by tomorrow give me somethin’ today
I will be ready for tomorrow, but I need help today
I know it comes and goes
My situation is unpredictable
I heat it up and it froze
My situation can change drastically
I need it somewhere that snows
I need to be in a specific environment to feel comfortable
Don’t ask me why I don’t know
I am unsure why I feel the way I do
I build it up and it falls
I try to improve my situation, but it ends up worse
I tear it down when it grows
I destroy my progress by overthinking
Now there’s a church and a mosque and a temple
There are different religions with different beliefs
Had faith but it ain’t that simple
Religion does not always provide comfort or direction
They use a symbol to get us assembled
Religions use symbols to unite their followers
Does fearing of God make us trust a devil?
I question the idea of fearing God and putting trust in religion
Imma get well sittin’ by the citadel
I will find peace by isolating myself in a peaceful place
Sip a bottle of Jack and wish on the wishing well
I use alcohol to cope, and wish for better days
Then I catch a tale, everyone a fairy tale
I get lost in stories or tales, and forget reality
I’m feelin’ alright yeah mother f*cker read the grail
I am trying to convince myself that everything will be okay
Cuz they blind to the fact that the fact is the mind ain’t aligned
People ignore the fact that their minds need healing and alignment
With the nature in divine
People are disconnected with nature and their spirituality
Only I can define what is yours what is mine
Only I can define what is important to me, and what is not
What is God made of hate? got mad at mankind
I question why God may seem wrathful or punish humanity
Cuz mankind ain’t made of kind man
Humanity is not inherently kind or compassionate
Yet I’ll come in lookin for the next day back, yo
I look forward to a better tomorrow
But all my money’s on the table can I have another hit
I have nothing to lose and want to keep trying
I ain’t myself at all, can’t save myself at all
I feel lost, and cannot find a way to help myself
From fantasy to reality my dreams are nightmares I believe
My dreams do not match my reality, and make me anxious
I don’t know
I am uncertain
Contributed by Xavier A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.