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
Labor Pains
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kimi wa nemuri yume wo toku
Dare mo inai hoshi no hikari ayatsurinagara
Tsuyoku naru tame wasureta egao
Kitto futarinara torimodosu
Kizuite
I′m here waiting for you
Ima to wa chigau mirai ga atte mo
Sakebi tsudzukete
Kitto kokoro wa tsunagu ito wo tagutteru
Ano koro no watashi me wo samasu you ni
No need to cry
Travel in silence te wo nobaseba fureru no ni
Kimi wa tooi sore wa omoide no naka no koto
Koe ga kikoeru me wo tojireba
Chiisana itamisae itoshikute
Mitsumete
I′m here waiting for you
Kaze ni fukare hitori mayoutte mo
I'm here waiting for you
Sora wo miagete
Zutto kokoro wa te wo hirogete mamotteru
Ano koro no kimi ga furikaeru made
No need to cry
(Feel something, Feel nothing)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Wide open ears
Disarm the dream tickler
In the constant moment
(You will find me where it's quiet)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Let the blood flow
Through all the spaces
Of the universe
Kizuite
I′m here waiting for you
Ima to wa chigau mirai ga atte mo
I′m here waiting for you
Sakebi tsudzukete
Kitto kokoro wa tsunaguito wo tagutteru
Ano koro no watashi me wo samasu you ni
No need to cry
(Listen closely, listen closely)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
The lyrics of Sweatshop Union’s Labor Pains speak of a sentiment of waiting and longing, with phrases including “I’m here waiting for you” and “no need to cry.” The lyrics highlight the idea that even though circumstances change, and the future may not be what was expected, the connection between people remains constant. The lyrics suggest that even though things may be different, that there is no reason to feel alone or abandoned. They provide a sense of hope for the future, acknowledging that despite changes and uncertainties, people always have each other.
The lyrics also use metaphors to describe the feeling of waiting, such as waiting for someone on the moon or being lost and alone in the wind. The song suggests that through this waiting, there is a sense of growth and change. The lyrics explain, “Travel in silence te wo nobaseba fureru no ni,” meaning that growth and change can happen in quiet moments and that sometimes the most poignant lessons come from the simple moments of being present.
Overall, Sweatshop Union’s Labor Pains is a song about the power of human connection, even in the face of changing circumstances. It encourages listeners to find comfort in the knowledge that they are not alone and reminds them that growth and change can happen quietly and unexpectedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Travel to the moon
Embark on a journey to the unknown, to places never before reached.
Kimi wa nemuri yume wo toku
You'll overcome the dreams you had while asleep, overcome your unconscious expectations.
Dare mo inai hoshi no hikari ayatsurinagara
As the lonely light of an undiscovered planet, we still have the power to shape things around us.
Tsuyoku naru tame wasureta egao
The smile we lost while we were trying to become strong, we will reclaim it.
Kitto futarinara torimodosu
We will surely regain it, if we are together.
Kizuite
Realize
I'm here waiting for you
I am waiting for you always, no matter what happens.
Ima to wa chigau mirai ga atte mo
The future that awaits us may be different from what we imagine now.
Sakebi tsudzukete
We must keep yelling into the void, never losing hope and resisting against negativity.
Kitto kokoro wa tsunagu ito wo tagutteru
Our hearts are definitely linked, just like the threads of a spiderweb.
Ano koro no watashi me wo samasu you ni
Just like back then, when I got awakened by something eye-opening, we will not close our eyes to reality.
No need to cry
There's no need to feel sad, as hope exists no matter how hard things may get.
Travel in silence te wo nobaseba fureru no ni
When we reach the highest point and stretch out our hands, will it lead to a tangible result?
Kimi wa tooi sore wa omoide no naka no koto
Even if you seem distant, it just illustrates that you exist in our memories.
Koe ga kikoeru me wo tojireba
When we close our eyes, we can hear a faint whispering voice.
Chiisana itamisae itoshikute
We cherish even the tiniest bit of pain.
Mitsumete
Keep on gazing.
Kaze ni fukare hitori mayoutte mo
Even if we go astray with the wind, feeling lonesome, we still keep going.
Sora wo miagete
We look up at the sky, wondering what's beyond the clouds.
Zutto kokoro wa te wo hirogete mamotteru
We always have our hands open and eyes watchful, ready to protect our hearts.
Ano koro no kimi ga furikaeru made
Until the moment when the version of you from the past looks back at us...
(Feel something, Feel nothing)
'Feel something, feel nothing' means to experience broad emotional spectrum.
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Pay attention to what is being said or what surrounds us because there might be a hidden message behind it.
Wide open ears
Having wide ears can be a good thing as it shows an eagerness to listen and learn.
Disarm the dream tickler
Having a dream that is too ambitious or far fetched can cause derision, so avoid those who belittle ambition.
In the constant moment
There's no other moment than the present, yet everything is in constant change and all we can do is be in it.
(You will find me where it's quiet)
You can find me in tranquility.
Let the blood flow
Be free and passionate, let the blood run through your veins.
Through all the spaces
Through all conceivable places
Of the universe
All there is.
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Stay focused and pay attention.
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Stay on the alert.
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Be attentive and hear what's being communicated.
Writer(s): Golmorad Moshiri, Robin Hooper, Bryan Trevitt, Steve Messinger, Lee Napthine
Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.