History
The Shakin' Pyramids originally formed in the late 70's as buskers and quickly gained a reputation for their spontaneous and dynamic live performances on the streets of Glasgow. The band then spent time in France writing material and developing their sound and using their busking skills to pay their way.[1] Upon returning to Scotland, The Shakin' Pyramids signed a record deal with the new Glasgow indie label 'Cuba Libre' who also had The Cuban Heels and James King and the Lone Wolves on it's roster. The Pyramids recorded and released two studio albums and several singles via the label: Skin 'Em Up (1981), is regarded as one of the classic albums of the 80's rockabilly revival and remains highly influential on artists who followed in the 'Rockin' scene. With it's strong original material, stripped down driving rhythms and crisp production, the album gained 5 star reviews from music magazines such as NME and Rolling Stone. Celts & Cobras (1982) was more diverse in it's style but didn't achieve the commercial success or critical acclaim of the bands debut release. The band toured worldwide through the early eighties establishing a reputation as a hugely exciting live act. Shakin' Pyramids (1983), was a compilation album released on Scotti Brothers Records aimed at introducing the band to a wider U.S. market. The group disbanded in the mid 1980's but a live set recorded at a festival in Glasgow in 1981 was released as Reeferbilly Blowout by Raucous records in 2001. Several bootleg albums have also appeared and contain virtually the entire catalogue of Shakin' Pyramids songs.
Take A Trip
The Shakin' Pyramids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got worries by the score
You don't know why you did it
You're shouldn't like a bad hit
You better pack your bags
And make a bee-line for the station
Take a trip, take a trip, take a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
You gotta get to her, but you can't afford the fare
But you gave all you got, it wasn't very hard
You made it on the train by the skin of your teeth
Everything's fine, we're rollin' down the line
You got to be there in one hour's time
Take a trip, take a trip, take a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
You're sweatin' like a pig
You say you're feelin' sick
A dose of rockin' reeferbilly I bet is gonna do the trick
Well, it ain't helpin' to get in line
'Cause it's the only chance you got
They won't let you in when you're on the run
The man in blue has gotta have some fun
(C'mon boys...)
Poor you, you might get shot
Better keep movin' or you're gonna get caught
Don't look around, you might hit the ground
You better do it quick and make it out of town
Take a trip, take a trip, take a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
You say you're feelin' sick
You're sweatin' like a pig
Old rockin' reeferbilly I bet is gonna do the trick
Take a trip, take a trip, take a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
Take a trip, a trip, a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
Take a trip, a trip, a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
Take a trip, a trip, a trip on the train
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
Yeah, I'm the same
Oh, I'm the same
But it's the end of the game!
The Shakin' Pyramids's song "Take a Trip" is a catchy and upbeat tune about running away and taking a journey on a train. The lyrics convey a message about feeling burdened with worries, running away from them, and seeking refuge in a new place. The song starts with an acknowledgment that the listener is also on the run with a lot of worries, and they do not know why they are in such a situation. The song then encourages them to pack their bags, head to the station, and take a trip on the train, which seems to be the solution to their problems.
As the song progresses, the listener is told to hurry up and catch the train by any means necessary, even if it means sweating like a pig, feeling sick or taking a dose of rockin' reeferbilly. The lyrics give a sense of urgency and danger, suggesting that if the listener is not careful, they might get caught, "they won't let you in when you're on the run," or worse yet, "you might get shot." The song comes to an intense climax towards the end when the singer urges the listener to keep moving and get out of town quickly because it's the end of the game.
Overall, "Take a Trip" is an enjoyable song that captures the essence of running away from troubles and seeking a new beginning on a journey. The lyrics convey the message effectively, and the song's bright, catchy tune keeps the listener engaged throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Like me, you're on the run once more
You, just like me, are constantly on the move
You got worries by the score
You have multiple concerns
You don't know why you did it
You are unsure of the reason behind your actions
You're shouldn't like a bad hit
You feel uneasy like a negative consequence
You better pack your bags
You need to prepare for a trip
And make a bee-line for the station
Head straight to the train station
Take a trip, take a trip, take a trip on the train
Travel by train and take a break
Trip-trip-trip-trip, oh baby I'm the same
The journey feels repetitive, but I'm still me
Don't be confused, no time to lose
Don't get sidetracked, we have a schedule
You gotta get to her, but you can't afford the fare
You need to get to someone important, but the cost is too high
But you gave all you got, it wasn't very hard
You did your best, but it wasn't a challenge
You made it on the train by the skin of your teeth
You just made it on the train in the nick of time
Everything's fine, we're rollin' down the line
The train ride is going smoothly
You got to be there in one hour's time
You have to arrive at your destination in an hour
You're sweatin' like a pig
You're sweating profusely
You say you're feelin' sick
You claim to be unwell
A dose of rockin' reeferbilly I bet is gonna do the trick
Listening to rock music will make you feel better
Well, it ain't helpin' to get in line
Joining a line won't assist your situation
'Cause it's the only chance you got
It's your only opportunity
They won't let you in when you're on the run
You won't be allowed in while avoiding the authorities
The man in blue has gotta have some fun
The police need to do their job
(C'mon boys...)
Encouraging the band to play
Poor you, you might get shot
You may be shot in your situation
Better keep movin' or you're gonna get caught
Keep moving to avoid getting caught
Don't look around, you might hit the ground
Be focused or risk serious consequences
You better do it quick and make it out of town
You need to leave the town quickly
Yeah, I'm the same
I'm still the same person
Oh, I'm the same
I'm still the same person
But it's the end of the game!
The game is over
Contributed by Bella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alimackenzie719
Fabulous to see those comments and what an honour to have produced this album.
@benbop1965
Fabulous Job ! 👍
@ralphriehl
Great tunes
@redwobble7
Nice job , absolute cracking album .
@witoldjanowicz6255
Thanks from Poland! We here Shakin Pyramids in 1982 from Polish plate
@thevoodoo57
Fantastic times! The LP is up there with many of the other great pieces of vinyl History!
@V8Deuce
RIP James G. Creighton
@ntaylor3860
The Shakin' Pyramids do rockabilly as good as or better than American bands, and their sound is not dated. Discovered them in the early '80's and they sound just as fresh now.
@AYTAZED
A very underrated band and fucking awesome. Much better than the stray cats.
@Rockabilly999
A very underrated band