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
Pot Of Stew
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And once you've got a modest pot you want a lot it's true
And once you've got a lot you gotta stop and lock your view
On those that need it most get em on their feet and show em
How to do what they gotta do just to get their pot of stew
And once they got a modest pot they'll want a lot it's true
And once they got a lot... They gotta lock their view
On those that need it get en on their feet and walk em through
At the end of the day if my rent isn't paid
Then I'll be living in a tent or begging friends for a place
To rest my head so yes my bread's on my brain
It'a a lead ball and chain but I get it all the same cause
Everybody's got a struggle man you could either
Let it stress you out or say fuck it get up and start
Hustlin'... Shit... Stop making someone else rich
Hell get selfish, then split the wealth if
I happen to get caught... Time to sit down
Analyze the risk and revise the scripet nowadays
I play it safe cause even loyal people lie
Right to my face and try destroying me behind
My back that's why I keep the lawyer fees aside
I can't get by with what royalties provide
So I... Steer clear of the rats and venomous snakes
They'll get theirs at the end of the day
Trying to get some property under me and stay properly funded see
I'm talking bout real wealth not monopoly money
Cause paper ain't worth a damn thing but acres of land brings
A place for my family to build and live-forever
Gotta get the parmesan, gouda, swiss and cheddar
And keep it in the freezer so my kids can better
Their lives with it and hopefully they use their brains
And get themselves in a position to improve and change
The lives of others... Cause at the end of the day
Why strive and struggle for nothing making minimum wage?
Cause if I get paid then I could give some away
That's why I hustle for tomorrow but I live for today
You do what you gotta do just to get your pot of stew
And once you've got a modest pot you want a lot it's true
And once you've got a lot you gotta stop and lock your view
On those that need it most get em on their feet and show em
How to do what they gotta do just to get their pot of stew
And once they got a modest pot they'll want a lot it's true
And once they got a lot... They gotta lock their view
On those that need it get en on their feet and walk em through
The lyrics to "Pot of Stew" by Sweatshop Union talk about the struggle of making ends meet and the idea of "pot of stew" as a metaphor for wealth. The chorus repeats that once you have a little bit, you want more, but at the same time, you should never forget those who are struggling to make their own "pot of stew." The song talks about the different ways people make money, from hustling to working minimum wage jobs, but emphasizes the importance of using that money to create opportunities for yourself and others.
The first verse talks about the lead ball and chain of bills to pay and how everyone has their own personal struggles. The idea of "hustling" is highlighted as a way to take control of your own financial situation and not rely on others. The second verse emphasizes the importance of investing in something more permanent, like property or land, rather than just paper money. The mention of different types of cheese, like Parmesan and Gouda, represents a higher quality of life.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the capitalist system and the importance of helping others while also striving for success. It encourages listeners to think beyond temporary gratification and aim for true wealth and stability.
Line by Line Meaning
You do what you gotta do just to get your pot of stew
You will do anything you need to do to get what you need to survive.
And once you've got a modest pot you want a lot it's true
Once you have enough to survive, you always want more.
And once you've got a lot you gotta stop and lock your view
When you have accumulated a lot, you need to look around and see who needs help.
On those that need it most get em on their feet and show em
Help the people who need it the most and show them how to get what they need to survive.
How to do what they gotta do just to get their pot of stew
Show them how to survive and get what they need.
And once they got a modest pot they'll want a lot it's true
Once they have enough to survive, they will want more.
And once they got a lot... They gotta lock their view
When they have accumulated a lot, they should look for ways to help others in need.
On those that need it get en on their feet and walk em through
Help those in need to get what they need to survive.
At the end of the day if my rent isn't paid
If I can't pay my rent, I'll be homeless.
Then I'll be living in a tent or begging friends for a place
If I can't pay rent, I'll have to live on the streets or rely on friends for shelter.
To rest my head so yes my bread's on my brain
I am constantly thinking about money because it is necessary for survival.
It's a lead ball and chain but I get it all the same cause
Money is a heavy burden, but necessary to survive.
Everybody's got a struggle man you could either
Everyone has their own difficulties, and you have to decide how to handle them.
Let it stress you out or say fuck it get up and start
Don't let your struggles stress you out, but instead, take action and start improving your situation.
Hustlin'... Shit... Stop making someone else rich
Work hard for yourself rather than making someone else rich.
Hell get selfish, then split the wealth if
Take care of yourself first, then share with others if possible.
I happen to get caught... Time to sit down
If you get in trouble, take time to assess the situation and come up with a new plan.
Analyze the risk and revise the script nowadays
Assess the risk and alter your plan accordingly in today's times.
I play it safe cause even loyal people lie
I am cautious because even trustworthy people can deceive you.
Right to my face and try destroying me behind
People can lie to you even while looking you in the eyes and try to cause damage behind your back.
My back that's why I keep the lawyer fees aside
I am cautious by keeping money aside for legal fees, as anyone can turn on you.
I can't get by with what royalties provide
I cannot survive on the money I make from royalties alone.
So I... Steer clear of the rats and venomous snakes
I avoid people who are dishonest and can harm me.
They'll get theirs at the end of the day
People who take advantage of you will eventually suffer the consequences.
Trying to get some property under me and stay properly funded see
I aim to acquire property and have a stable source of funding.
I'm talking bout real wealth not monopoly money
I want to accumulate significant wealth, not just play-money like in Monopoly.
Cause paper ain't worth a damn thing but acres of land brings
Money is meaningless, while land and property can provide long-term stability.
A place for my family to build and live-forever
I want to provide a stable and secure place for my family to live for generations to come.
Gotta get the parmesan, gouda, swiss and cheddar
I need to have a variety of assets for security, like different types of cheese.
And keep it in the freezer so my kids can better
Store assets in a safe place for children to use later.
Their lives with it and hopefully they use their brains
I hope my children use their intelligence to make wise decisions with these assets.
And get themselves in a position to improve and change
I want my children to be able to improve their own lives and make a difference in the world.
The lives of others... Cause at the end of the day
I want my children to use their success to help others in need.
Why strive and struggle for nothing making minimum wage?
It's not worth working hard for nothing while making the minimum wage.
Cause if I get paid then I could give some away
If I earn a good income, I can use it to help others in need.
That's why I hustle for tomorrow but I live for today
I work hard for the future, but also enjoy and appreciate the present.
Contributed by Isaac D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.