1) The English two-tone ska band The Beat known as The English Beat in North America and The British Beat in Australia.
2) The American power-pop band became known as Paul Collins' Beat in Europe.
1. The Beat are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.
The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (1930 – 2017) (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".[3]
Although the group’s main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country’s college radio.
After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as “Free Nelson Mandela”. In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.
Ranking Roger’s son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys’ single “Boys Will Be Boys”. In 2003, The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).
The Beat’s lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Saxa died on 3 May 2017, Ranking Roger died on 26 March 2019.
2. The Beat (known in Europe as The Paul Collins Beat or Paul Collins' Beat), were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat. Frontman Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.
Drowning
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you hear the accountant's call?
Could you refuse another dollar?
Could you stop yourself from falling?
You dream that you are winning fights
But then it happens, dreadful thing
A wave appears too big to swim
You're drowning, you're drowning
You're drowning, you're drowning
Buy a beach before next summer
How do you feel in the morning?
If the light's an awful bother
I could always close the curtains
Just close your eyes and count to ten
See if you still remember when
Your life seemed easy, you had friends
But that was different, that that was then
You're drowning, you're drowning
(Round and round and round)
You're drowning, you're drowning
(In a frenzy now)
You want fe go in a de ocean
(A so me say)
I saw you drowning in slow motion
(And now me learn)
Far too late to make a commotion
Too late for you to show easy motion
That's why you go down to the bottom, say you can't reach the top
Get stuck on the bottom, say you can't reach the top
A two days later say they find you 'pon the rocks
Say ha ha ha ha ha, bad luck, eh, so
Tell yourself until you're certain
When you hear the accountants call
You'll buy a beach before next summer
Swim away and leave it all
So underwater, deaf and blind
Under such pressures you might find
A secret right before the end
That makes you want to breathe again
You're drowning, you're drowning
(Round and round and round)
You're drowning, you're drowning
(In a frenzy now)
You're drowning, you're drowning
(Round and round and round)
You're drowning, you're drowning
(Round and round and round)
The song "Drowning" by The Beat is a poignant commentary on the pressures of modern life and the struggle to keep one's head above water, both literally and figuratively. The lyrics describe a life of compromise, where a sense of satisfaction is constantly elusive, and the pursuit of money and success seems to lead only to deeper despair.
The song starts with a question: "Compromise around the corner, can you hear the accountant's call?" This suggests that the pressures to conform and succeed are always looming, and that sometimes it's hard to resist the lure of financial gain. But the question is quickly followed by another: "Could you refuse another dollar? Could you stop yourself from falling?" Here, the singer suggests that there's a moral and emotional cost to constantly compromising one's values and interests just to make ends meet.
The chorus then kicks in with the refrain "You're drowning, you're drowning," repeated over and over to convey a sense of panic and distress. The next verse offers some temporary relief, as the singer imagines buying a beach before next summer and escaping from it all. But this respite is fleeting, and soon the singer is back in the water--this time, drowning in slow motion.
The final verse offers some redemption, as the singer suggests that even in the darkest moments, there may be a hidden secret that gives us the strength to keep going. "Under such pressures you might find a secret right before the end that makes you want to breathe again." This suggests that there is hope in spite of everything, and that even when we feel like we're drowning, we can still find the will to survive.
Overall, "Drowning" is a haunting and powerful song that speaks to the struggles of modern life and the human spirit's ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Compromise around the corner
There's a temptation to make a deal, even if it's not the best decision.
Can you hear the accountant's call?
Are you listening to your financial advisers?
Could you refuse another dollar?
Would you be able to turn down money, even if it's not the ethical thing to do?
Could you stop yourself from falling?
Can you resist temptation and not make a mistake?
So in between the sleepless nights
During stressful times when you can't sleep
You dream that you are winning fights
You think you're doing well and succeeding
But then it happens, dreadful thing
Something unexpected happens and things start to go wrong
A wave appears too big to swim
A problem arises that seems insurmountable
You're drowning, you're drowning
You're overwhelmed and can't handle the situation
Buy a beach before next summer
Make a purchase before it's too late
How do you feel in the morning?
Are you happy with the decisions you've made?
If the light's an awful bother
If things aren't going well
I could always close the curtains
I could ignore the problems and pretend everything is fine
Just close your eyes and count to ten
Take a deep breath and try to calm down
See if you still remember when
Think about a time when things were easier
Your life seemed easy, you had friends
Looking back to a happier time
But that was different, that that was then
Things have changed and are not the same anymore
You want fe go in a de ocean
You want to forget everything and start fresh
I saw you drowning in slow motion
I saw the problems getting worse and worse
Far too late to make a commotion
It's too late to make a big deal out of the situation
Too late for you to show easy motion
It's too late to fix things easily
That's why you go down to the bottom, say you can't reach the top
Giving up and not trying anymore
Get stuck on the bottom, say you can't reach the top
Feeling powerless and hopeless
A two days later say they find you 'pon the rocks
Later on, it might be too late to fix the problems
Tell yourself until you're certain
Believing in something even if it's not true
When you hear the accountant's call
When you're faced with a difficult financial decision
You'll buy a beach before next summer
You're willing to take a risk and make a big purchase
Swim away and leave it all
Starting fresh and forgetting about past mistakes
So underwater, deaf and blind
Feeling lost and confused
Under such pressures you might find
When you're stressed and anxious
A secret right before the end
Discovering something important just before it's too late
That makes you want to breathe again
Finding hope and inspiration to keep going
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jubjub2112
One of my favorite Beat tunes! They had so many great songs . . . Dave Wakeling stil performs all around Southern California . . . I have seen him several times over the past few years, and when it is billed as The English Beat, that means he has at least one horn playing with him, which makes it absolutely perfect! Dave's voice has not diminished in the least! And he is an incredibly cool cat! LOVE this band!
@kind2311
I saw him(EB) perform in 2013 at a TINY dive near my house, and afterwards he just chilled in the crowd watching the next band and complimenting them on their performance. It was almost surreal to just stand there and enjoy music with someone who's music I had enjoyed immensely for years.
@kevinskad4life799
Another aa side, to.....Doors of your Heart😎👍legends...................
@keithfrance6191
Favourite track off the 'Wha'ppen album & then 'get a job' !
@keithfrance6191
"out of one's depth " !
@melvinwren
Grew outta my sublime phase but always catch myself listening to their influence. Same with nirvana....
@kind2311
20 years later, I still come back to Sublime for those summer days with relatively no cares.
@kind2311
would you refuse another dollar?
could you stop yourself from falling.....?
@matthewmontague7937
Searching for lyrics one my all time favorite songs
@melvinwren
Read this was the "mad man" Riddim... Sublime uses it on a couple songs I know "greatest hits" also uses "zungunZung" by yellow man. But when I hear this song with similar roots, I notice it sounds like another sublime song "garden grove" mostly in the chords and melody.... Something bout roaches in the pot.