John Butler was born on April 1, 1975 in Torrance, California, to an Australian father and American mother. He moved to the small Western Australian town of Pinjarra in January 1986, when he was eleven. Butler began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, and by 1996 started his career as a busker in Fremantle, Western Australia. The John Butler Trio was formed in 1998 when Butler was joined by Gavin Shoesmith on bass and Jason McGann on drums, and by the end of that year had recorded their debut album John Butler.
They then released Three in 2001, Sunrise Over Sea in 2004 and Grand National in 2007, all of which were certified platinum.
In June 2009, a new line up of the ever evolving John Butler Trio emerged. Prominent Melbourne musician Nicky Bomba of Bomba fame and principal drummer on Sunrise Over Sea joined the band on drums and percussion, as did bass player Byron Luiters from Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The latest album entitled April Uprising came from a journey John Butler undertook for the ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ TV series. He traces the Butler name through generations of hardship to a matriarch who sang for her survival and follows his Bulgarian ancestry to a forebear caught up in a violent revolt called the April Uprising. The recording process for the new album was shared with avid followers via a special studio sessions page on the band’s website.
John Butler comments on the forthcoming new album,
“The whole rehearsal and recording process so far has been a lot of fun and very gratifying. I feel the sounds and general spirit and energy of this album are best summed up in the words – free, melodic, funky, phat and rocking. There’s definitely a certain attitude that comes across on the album. Perhaps there’s a conviction, in a song writing and production sense, that I haven’t tapped into so much on earlier works that seems to be more prevalent on April Uprising. There’s chemistry and language that Nicky, Byron and I have found that really compliments these songs in all their different facets”.
Revolution
The John Butler Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch it all go down the great big sink.
Watch how the scum it rises to the top.
Don't you wonder when it's all gonna stop?
Sometimes I wonder how we do sleep,
Serving the dodgy companies we keep.
All kicking and scrounging for the very first place,
Dictionary definition of a rat race.
Stealing from the mouths that we're meant to feed.
Enslaving the very clothes upon my back,
I feel the sting but I hear no crack, no crack, I'm saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
Big Heavy Pirates man digging those holes,
Messing with something that they can't control.
Trespassing lands where they don't belong,
All I hear is screaming where there once were songs.
I got my brothers there fighting those wars,
Fighting over scraps and scraping their souls.
Under a blanket of a fire and pride
That can't keep us warm for the cold inside,
Inside, I'm saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
So tell me when you think we're gonna rise?
Wake from this slumber wipe the tears from our eyes?
Yes from this nightmare yes I must now wake,
Open my fist my destiny I take !
Good people sick and tired of being pushed around,
We call them kings but I see no crown.
Tell me when you think we'll just stand up,
Say enough is enough is enough,enough I'm saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
Take back your feet, take back your hands.
Take back your words, take back your lands.
Take back your heart, take back your pride.
Don't got to run, don't got to hide.
Revolution.
The John Butler Trio's song "Revolution" begins with the singer engaging with his listeners and asking them their opinions on the world around them. He then goes on to express his deep concern about the state of things, describing how "the scum rises to the top" and wondering when it will all end. He expresses frustration with the rat race and how people pay off "losers we elect to lead," which leads to the stealing of food from people's mouths and the enslavement of their clothing. Butler expresses his pain but does not hear any crack, symbolizing the lack of action to address the situation. The chorus of the song is about running through the fire, pushing through the blame, and the hopelessness and shame that comes with this reality.
In the second half of the song, the singer describes how corporations and pirates are damaging the earth and causing chaos while individuals are fighting for resources during times of war. He questions when people will rise up and stop being pushed around. The final line of the song, "Revolution," is a rallying cry for change. The song advocates for people to take back their lands, words, and hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
So tell me family now what do you think?
Asking for thoughts and opinions about the current state of events and society
Watch it all go down the great big sink.
Observing the decline of society and how it's falling apart
Watch how the scum it rises to the top.
Noticing how those with bad intentions seem to find success in society
Don't you wonder when it's all gonna stop?
Questioning when this decline will come to an end
Sometimes I wonder how we do sleep,
Questioning how people can rest easy when there is so much injustice and corruption
Serving the dodgy companies we keep.
Acknowledging that we are contributing to the problem by supporting corrupt businesses
All kicking and scrounging for the very first place,
Describing society as a competition for wealth and power
Dictionary definition of a rat race.
Comparing society to a never-ending race where people are willing to do anything to get ahead
Pay off those losers we elect to lead,
Noting how even our elected officials can be corrupt and bought off
Stealing from the mouths that we're meant to feed.
Highlighting the injustice that those in power are taking resources from the vulnerable
Enslaving the very clothes upon my back,
Describing how even our own possessions are the product of the injustice around us
I feel the sting but I hear no crack, no crack, I'm saying
Expressing the pain caused by these injustices, but acknowledging that there has been no significant change
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Portraying the struggle and intensity of the battle for change
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Acknowledging the emotions and blame that come with the struggle for change
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Describing the emotional toll of feeling helpless and shameful about the state of society
Revolution already underway.
Stating that the call for revolution has already begun
Big Heavy Pirates man digging those holes,
Critiquing corporations or governments that exploit resources and exploit other countries
Messing with something that they can't control.
Suggesting that these organizations are damaging things they don't fully understand or are not equipped to handle
Trespassing lands where they don't belong,
Describing the exploitation of land and resources without proper consent or respect for those who live there
All I hear is screaming where there once were songs.
Noting how the previous beauty and harmony of nature are being destroyed by human actions
I got my brothers there fighting those wars,
Acknowledging the people who are fighting for change and justice
Fighting over scraps and scraping their souls.
Highlighting the emotional toll of fighting for change and the small rewards from the effort
Under a blanket of a fire and pride
Describing the passion and commitment of those fighting for change
That can't keep us warm for the cold inside,
Implying that the passion and pride cannot overtake the hopelessness and pain felt about society
Inside, I'm saying
Personal emotional statement indicating that this is an internal feeling about the current state of society
Take back your feet, take back your hands.
Encouraging people to take back control and take action to create change
Take back your words, take back your lands.
Encouraging people to speak up and reclaim their communities and culture
Take back your heart, take back your pride.
Encouraging people to feel empowered and take back their sense of self-worth
Don't got to run, don't got to hide.
Encouraging people to stand up and fight, rather than running away or feeling helpless
Revolution.
Restating the call for revolution and change
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: CANDICE MONIQUE BUTLER, IVAN KHATCHOYAN, LUCAS JOSEPH TARANTO, MICHAEL LEE CHAN, Lucas Taranto, Michael Chan, Candice Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stacik2905
It's 2020, and it's the first time I'm even discovering John Butler Trio. I feel like I have to truly savor this moment, you know>?
@trixnhoez2964
I grew up listening to JBT on the radio but lately rediscovered them and tbh never really appreciated them for how good they truly are.
@connorobrien4279
This song is timeless. Comments from 9 years ago with more new ones every day. Too good.
@antikoerper256
Bulgarian here. John has bulgarian origin through his ancestors. He went dighing and researching his family history and came to BG. His trip and the things he learned about the bulgarians and the April Uprising which happened in Bulgaria in 1876 served as the inspiration for the album. The bulgarian coat of arms since the medieval times has always incorporated lions. Suh was the flag for the April Uprising as well and such is the album cover as well as the model of letters for the album title who are made in the exact old bulgarian-cyrillic-like style. Stand vigilant and defend your rights and freedoms no matter who or how big or small you are! This is what makes the bulgarian 19th century and Englightment period so akeen to the US one or the one in the English-speak countries - the desire for freedom, justice and fairness. To each his own!
@Webnivore
Very cool to know, I’ve seen them live and this was one of my favorite songs by them - they are amazing live btw.
@terso07
i was very lucky 2 meet john butler, im from Ireland and i was touring around oz, and i bumped into him in a little book shop in Perth, i had my guitar with me and he sined it for me, he is a true gent and his music is amazing, as he said 2 me, spread the love and save the world :-) legend!!
@kellhalla5301
2020 and this song is so absolutely relevant today
@CaptainRhodes_7767
I completely forgot this song till it came up in my recommendations, one of my favorite songs back in the day
@kolerbear420
seen them for the first time live at All Good 2011, and majorly impressed, they are quite and amazing trio much love & love the positive messages!viva revolution!
@pachamamapeople7403
"I got my brothers, they are fighting those wars. Fighting over scraps and there scraping their souls" Gives me chills every time.