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
Never Go Home
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a new crazy plan I'll wake up I'll be 50 if I wait for you baby
And you know you have your whole career to think about
And if follow right behind you all I'll do is dink around
It's a big call ya but its a bigger world and I'll see it all
Cause I'm a big dream type of girl.
My daddy said your only young for a minute
Then it passes like a blink love
Cause you never go back home
You can never go back no you'll never get it back
Not never ever its gone
So with that guess it's goodbye for this evening
Goodbye babe I'm leaving say hi when you see me.
The lyrics of Sweatshop Union's song Never Go Home showcase the internal conflict that arises when one is forced to choose between love and ambition. The singer is torn between leaving her lover behind and following her dreams. She feels optimistic about the new plan she's made and the life she wants to create for herself. She's aware that if she waits for her lover, she might miss out on opportunities and end up regretting it in the future.
The lyrics suggest that the singer's father has advised her to seize the moment and live life to the fullest because youth is fleeting. She's aware that life is precious and opportunities are fleeting, and if she doesn't take the chance to pursue her dreams, she might never get another chance. She acknowledges that if she chooses to follow her lover, she might end up regretting it in the future.
The lyrics of Sweatshop Union's song Never Go Home highlight the difficult decisions that individuals must make in life. They must choose between love and ambition, and sometimes one must take precedence over the other. It reminds us that life is fleeting, and opportunities don't always come knocking twice.
Line by Line Meaning
She said I'm feeling optimistic now
She expressed positivity and hopefulness in her current state.
Got a new crazy plan I'll wake up I'll be 50 if I wait for you baby
She has a new ambitious plan and feels that waiting for someone will only delay her reaching her goals. She fears time is running out and is eager to take action.
And you know you have your whole career to think about
She recognizes that her partner has their own career to consider and doesn't want to hold them back or be a burden.
And if follow right behind you all I'll do is dink around
She believes that following her partner blindly will only lead to wasting time and being unproductive.
It's a big call ya but its a bigger world and I'll see it all
She acknowledges that leaving her comfort zone is a major decision, but emphasizes the vast opportunities that await outside of it.
Cause I'm a big dream type of girl.
She identifies herself as someone with big aspirations and ambitions.
My daddy said your only young for a minute
She reflects on advice that her father gave her about the fleeting nature of youth.
Then it passes like a blink love
She emphasizes how quickly time flies by and how important it is to take action before it's too late.
You'll feel it when its finished
She suggests that the regret of not taking action will only be felt when it's too late.
Cause you never go back home
She believes that leaving your comfort zone means there's no returning to it. Once you leave, things will never be the same.
You can never go back no you'll never get it back
She emphasizes that once you've left, you can't go back and everything you left behind will be forever changed.
Not never ever its gone
She stresses the finality of leaving and moving on. There is no going back.
So with that guess it's goodbye for this evening
She acknowledges that it's time to say goodbye for now.
Goodbye babe I'm leaving say hi when you see me.
She says farewell to her partner and suggests that they remain in contact.
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.