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
Don't be Afraid
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
okay
du dududu do do doooo
Ahh here I come, the merchant of dirt
and here to convert the worthless birds that chirp
come get your just deserts
and discuss your worth
or just cuss your words
plus the verbs of any war minds
justice served and we don't have any more time
I find my self in truth and honor
got on bullet proof armor wherever you wander
ponder on soliloquies of stupidity
the epitome of misery that never needs company
Somebody stop me from settin' shit straight
and investin' my faith in a profession of rape
come on feul the fire, crucify
'fraid you might lose an eye
do and die suicide
lucky where you crucified
live a lie foo
all your life fool
we all want the nice schools
we all want the right moves the nike shoes
we all want the same tricks same clothes same wits
we all speak the same flow same old same shit
why?
'cause things never change
noose smotherings for ya blue collar chains
don't be afraid
it's all make believe any way
ya we can leave any day
keep the faith
despite what you hear people say
because the fears keep us chained
don't be afraid
it's all make believe any way
ya we can leave any day
keep the faith
despite what you hear people say
because the fears keep us chained
the fear keep us chained (chained chained chained)… but don't be afraid
okay
come on
who's the liar
testify scared to try
risk the fight
stakes are high make your life
through and through just what you like
you got the right to
speak your mind dude
we all have these strict rules
all have these shit blues spit fumes
all have the same myths same doubts same trips
all work the same shifts for same old same pricks
and it's only justified in blindfolded eyes
stiff suits and ties
Ahh here I stand
observin' this circus
here to convert the perfect words to verses
I'm with ya trust me sir
muster up the nerve
up we must be sure justice must be served
plus we work through plenty hard times
bust the verse for loose nickels pennies or dimes
I find my wealth in the hearts and minds
of those of you who truly understand our design
Dine on the trinity of faith and hope and love
though the buzz believe in they can open up
know enough to know we don't know enough so hold up
don't let lies control us, fuck no
with every day another page is turned
another way to earn your wages on your patient (hurr?)
every place we go is state affirmed
speak the truth as we know it to whomever it may concern
don't be afraid
it's all make believe any way
ya we can leave any day
keep the faith
despite what you hear people say
because the fears keep us chained
don't be afraid
it's all make believe any way
ya we can leave any day
keep the faith
despite what you hear people say
because the fears keep us chained
chained
(okay, aha!, yeah)
I don't wanna um depress you or frighten you
and maybe I do…
But only if we can move out of that depression or that uh um fear
And recognize that there are ways,
to make a difference here.
In "Don't Be Afraid," Sweatshop Union addresses the pressure that society puts on individuals to conform and the fear that holds them back from speaking their truth. The lyrics begin with a proclamation from the "merchant of dirt" who promises to convert those who are living empty lives. The band states that they can set things straight and invest their faith in a better world. However, they recognize that the fear of losing one's identity and being judged for being different keeps many people from speaking out.
Despite that fear, the band urges listeners to keep the faith and not be afraid to be themselves. The lyrics emphasize the importance of speaking your mind and taking risks to live the life you want to live. The band speaks to the universal desire for success and the ease with which people fall into the trap of conformity, wearing the same clothes, and speaking the same words. However, despite the prevalence of these limitations, the band urges listeners to open up to hope and belief in a better tomorrow. The song acknowledges the fact that change is difficult and requires risk, but encourages listeners to find the courage to be who they truly are and live a life of purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmmm okay du dududu do do doooo
Introductory melody to the song
Ahh here I come, the merchant of dirt
I am here to speak the truth and bring light to the dark reality
and here to convert the worthless birds that chirp
I am here to awaken those who blindly follow the status quo
come get your just deserts and discuss your worth
Let's have a conversation about the value of having integrity and standing up for what is right
or just cuss your words and discuss the herd
We can either have a productive dialogue or we can curse at each other and blindly follow the masses
plus the verbs of any war minds justice served and we don't have any more time
We need to act now and fight for justice before it's too late
I find my self in truth and honor got on bullet proof armor wherever you wander
I am committed to speaking the truth and standing up for what is right no matter where I go
ponder on soliloquies of stupidity the epitome of misery that never needs company
We need to reflect on the foolishness and misery that comes from blindly following harmful ideologies
Somebody stop me from settin' shit straight and investin' my faith in a profession of rape
We need to speak out for justice and stop supporting industries that harm others
come on feul the fire, crucify 'fraid you might lose an eye do and die suicide lucky where you crucified
We need to take risks and fight for what is right, even if it means facing negative consequences
live a lie foo all your life fool we all want the nice schools we all want the right moves the nike shoes
We are all conditioned to strive for material success and follow the latest trends
we all want the same tricks same clothes same wits we all speak the same flow same old same shit why?
We all conform to the same norms and do not challenge the status quo enough
'cause things never change noose smotherings for ya blue collar chains
We remain stuck in harmful systems that oppress the working class
don't be afraid it's all make believe any way ya we can leave any day keep the faith despite what you hear people say because the fears keep us chained
We should not be afraid to challenge the status quo and fight for a better world because fear holds us back
okay
A casual interjection
come on who's the liar testify scared to try risk the fight stakes are high make your life through and through just what you like you got the right to speak your mind dude
We need to challenge those who are lying and have the courage to fight for what we believe in
we all have these strict rules all have these shit blues spit fumes all have the same myths same doubts same trips all work the same shifts for same old same pricks and it's only justified in blindfolded eyes stiff suits and ties
We all face similar struggles in life due to societal norms and beliefs that are oppressive
Ahh here I stand observin' this circus here to convert the perfect words to verses
I am here to observe the absurdities of society and use my words to bring awareness and inspire change
I'm with ya trust me sir muster up the nerve up we must be sure justice must be served plus we work through plenty hard times bust the verse for loose nickels pennies or dimes
I stand with those who fight for justice and we must persist through hardships to make change happen
I find my wealth in the hearts and minds of those of you who truly understand our design Dine on the trinity of faith and hope and love though the buzz believe in they can open up know enough to know we don't know enough so hold up don't let lies control us, fuck no
My greatest wealth comes from connecting with people who share my values and I believe in the power of faith, hope, and love to inspire change. It's important to question what we are told and not let lies dictate our actions.
with every day another page is turned another way to earn your wages on your patient (hurr?) every place we go is state affirmed speak the truth as we know it to whomever it may concern
We have the opportunity every day to make a difference and challenge oppressive systems. We must speak the truth and stand up for what is right, no matter where we go.
chained (okay, aha!, yeah)
A repeating melody to emphasize the idea that fear holds us back
I don't wanna um depress you or frighten you and maybe I do… But only if we can move out of that depression or that uh um fear And recognize that there are ways, to make a difference here.
The singer acknowledges that their message may be depressing or scary, but the only way to make change happen is to recognize the problems and take action.
Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.