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
L.A.M.M.
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Marlon Mary, Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Lucy Lucy Lucy
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
In that drag going HAM
I wake up in the fast land, tryna find a tropical oasis
Holograms in the sand, no vajin to make shift
Canvass spam this coast
We bandits, blam this toast
With a chalice make the most out of callous moments
When I opened up the whirlwind zone, see my song
Get back the words but these stars untold
Na ah we ain't far from those
Close to home but my dreams oppose
Yea, androids on my privial throws
Poison's inimitable
Moisten my pilot with alist
To the galaxy, apply that sabitical
Leisure Gang, yall not knowing
High off the kush, got my mind all open
And ionite floating on caramel coastin with a smile unbroken, ain't no jokin
Ain't no stopping, ain't no problems
They show up, they could just keep walkin
They show up, they could just keep walkin
They show up, they could just keep walkin
Yea, that's how we run it
Don't fear anything, so high we're above it
Please not a bitch, never would say fuck up
Reason why we stay high? ‘Cause of how we lovin
Reason why we stay high? ‘Cause of how we lovin
How we lovin, how we lovin
No time to fuck around
That's definitely another reason
Reason why we stay high? ‘Cause of how we lovin
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Molly Mary, Molly Mary
(Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Marlon Mary, Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Lucy Lucy Lucy
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
In that drag going HAM
Live fast, supernovas
Zooming on as high
I just told er say my sayonara
See you when the ride is over
Fly with locusts, uni rely in focus
We don't see the tree, we see the uni of microscopic
Rewrite the moment
They rose in tonight, I know that's my life
Standing in the lights like I fuckin own this
God knows this, what's the prognosis?
I recognize it's real
Life it ain't broken, won't fix, no shit
Went from the lamb to the blowfish
The gold dust down to discuss for my soul fish
Smoke stick, fuckin shit, that's high as a roach cliff
Leisure Gang bitch, come and get your woke spliff
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Molly Mary, Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Lucy Lucy Lucy Lucy
Bitch I'm on that lamb
Bitch I'm on that lamb
Bitch I'm on that lamb
In that drag going HAM
Lucy, she's the light bringer
They call her the morning sun
Alice took me by the hand
We went past where the boarders run
Molly gave me wings and Mary made me sing
I'm in love with four women but they're all the same same
The song "L.A.M.M" by Sweatshop Union features lyrics that are a combination of nonsensical and insightful paragraphs that can be open to interpretation. The lyrics revolve around the theme of being high on a combination of "L.A.M.M," which is never clearly defined. The chorus keeps repeating Lucy Alice Molly Mary, and Marlon Mary Molly Mary, which are names of four women that the singer is in love with, but it is unclear if they are real or part of a fantasy. The verse mentions the fast lane of life and the pursuit of finding a tropical oasis while dealing with callous moments.
One interpretation of this song could be that the artist is talking about the effects of drugs or addiction. The repetition of the four women's names could represent different drugs that the artist is obsessed with. The mention of "Leisure Gang" and "staying high" could be a reference to being a part of a group of drug users. The verse where the singer talks about being "in the fast land and trying to find a tropical oasis" could refer to the constant need for highs or the search for temporary moments of happiness.
Overall, L.A.M.M is a complex song that could have different meanings for different people. The artist's use of repetition of certain phrases, combined with a unique style of rap and beats, creates an atmosphere of confusion and euphoria.
Interesting facts about L.A.M.M by Sweatshop Union:
Line by Line Meaning
Lucy Alice Molly Mary
Repeating the names of four women who bring different things to their lives
Bitch I'm on that L.A.M.M
I'm feeling good and enjoying life
In that drag going HAM
Having a wild time and not caring about anything else
I wake up in the fast land, tryna find a tropical oasis
Living life quickly and searching for a way to escape and relax
Holograms in the sand, no vajin to make shift
Seeing illusions and not having anything real to hold onto
Canvass spam this coast
The area is covered in advertisements
We bandits, blam this toast
They feel like outlaws and celebrate by toasting with a drink
With a chalice make the most out of callous moments
They try to enjoy the good moments in life, even in difficult times
When I opened up the whirlwind zone, see my song
When I let my creativity flow, my true self is revealed
Get back the words but these stars untold
It's hard to express everything we feel
Na ah we ain't far from those
We're not that different from the stars
Close to home but my dreams oppose
Their ambitions take them away from their comfort zone
Yea, androids on my privial throws
Feeling like they're surrounded by robots or people who are not authentic
Poison's inimitable
Danger can come from unexpected sources
Moisten my pilot with alist
Wet the mouth with a drink to get ready for the next adventure
To the galaxy, apply that sabitical
Take a break from what you know and explore new frontiers
Leisure Gang, yall not knowing
They are part of a group that enjoys taking its time and relaxing
High off the kush, got my mind all open
They feel high from smoking marijuana and are open to anything
And ionite floating on caramel coastin with a smile unbroken, ain't no jokin
They are cruising along on a sweet and enjoyable ride
Ain't no stopping, ain't no problems
Nothing can slow them down or bring them down
They show up, they could just keep walkin
They don't have time for negative people or situations
Yea, that's how we run it
This is our lifestyle and we're very happy with it
Don't fear anything, so high we're above it
They are fearless and feel like they are above their problems
Please not a bitch, never would say fuck up
They are respectful and don't engage in petty arguments
Reason why we stay high? ‘Cause of how we lovin
They enjoy life to the fullest and that's why they feel high on life
No time to fuck around
They are very focused and don't want to waste time
Lucy, she's the light bringer
Lucy embodies positive energy and light
They call her the morning sun
Lucy is often associated with the warmth and light of the sun
Alice took me by the hand
Alice represents adventure and the unknown
We went past where the boarders run
They are exploring beyond what is normally known or allowed
Molly gave me wings and Mary made me sing
Molly represents freedom and Mary represents creativity and expression
I'm in love with four women but they're all the same same
They are drawn to certain characteristics that these women share, even if they are different people
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.