Tumi and the Volume are made up of four members. Tumi Molekane (vocals), the centerpiece of the group, is an accomplished South African poet from Johannesburg. In 2002, he met Tiago and Paulo Chibanga and Dave Bergman, who were playing backup for MCs at the Bassline, in Melville, Johannesburg. Tiago and Paulo are both members of the Mozambiquean, South African-based band 340ml. For the production of their first album, At the Bassline the group added Kyle Rose Smith, a violinist, to complete The Volume. On their second album, the self-titled studio release, Smith is featured but she left the band in early 2005 to join Freshlyground.
Tumi and the Volume was founded when then-solo emcee Tumi Molekane met The Volume, a backup band at the Bassline. The first collaborative project, which evolved into At the Bassline, began in the beginning of 2003. Yet since before the release of their first album, Tumi and the Volume have been performing across southern Africa and Europe.
Their first year together, 2002, saw them mostly tour South Africa and contribute to music festivals across the country, as well as open for bigger international groups performing in Johannesburg and Cape Town, such as Positive Black Soul, from Senegal, and Blackalicious, from the United States.
The release, and following critical acclaim of, At the Bassline, shot them onto a bigger stage, as the group performed at the Quart Festival in Norway, alongside with The Roots and Coldplay.
2005 through 2006 saw the successive releases of their second album--and first studio album--Tumi & the Volume, in first South Africa, and then Europe and North America. Through June and July of 2006, the band traveled to Canada and performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
In August of 2006, their first album was re-released on Apple iTunes Music Store.
Bus Stop Confessions
Tumi and the Volume Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to focus and open your eye-eye-eyes
Time keep rolling on by
Can't keep spoke in your moment's surprise
Bus stop confession, lady with the black suit
And the new shoes on, better move on
I'm saying, her perfume's strong
That has got drawn to his futon
Spend a night, and now you're proved wrong
It ain't a new song, it's been around for too long
The game of life is pre-recorded for the latest view of
The duals, of man and women
Numerous had to tune in
Glued to their asses, rude
For one rolled in the beautiful lens
Now you in the duvet, made to face the music
It's loud as fuck when you're sleeping
With the one that you hate
Get over the highs, open your eyes
Why would you wait?
The notion is rise, go for the pie
Bite the huge cake
But that ain't never been one for lames
Never been one for games, it's life:
The peddles that come from pain
Bus stop confession, lady with the black mascara
Running down what's got be bothered
Interrupt mine with her problems
What's that? I'm guessing
Maybe it's another act from that performance
An audience will applaud while feeling awkward
Come to the village water
Reflect in a hidden foyer
Smile to a newer horror
We sex to give women order
And whither; a little sawdust never hurt
But it will a lawyer
One day, love ain't gonna be adequate to solve that
Draw back, from experience it is your doormat
All that, would be a hindrance
Leave on the four flat
What's your an-gle on the issue
It'll piss you off black
When your match is bitching
Itching like a sore scratch
Ignore that, but you're feeling under pressure like
You in a scrum, with a bunch of meat
Eating all blacks
Now I ain't never been one for pain
Never been one for games in life
Never been one for lames
I'm at the bus stop watching this dime cry
Like "Fuck it man, I can't explain life with a rhyme now"
Two fifteen in the morning not falling asleep
I'm intrigued with the walls and they're talking to me
What you seek is involved, life is deep
The song "Bus Stop Confessions" by Tumi and the Volume is a reflection on life and its ups and downs. The lyrics suggest that life is not easy, and we should make the most of what we have. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that sometimes we get high in life, but it is essential to focus on the present and be alert. The lyrics also stress that time moves fast and we shouldn't be caught off guard.
In the second verse, the singer meets a lady at a bus stop, who confides in him about her problems. The singer suggests that maybe it's an act and the woman may be seeking attention. The verse also highlights that we all have our struggles in life. The song ends with the singer reflecting on life and how it can be complicated, and we should try to make the most of what we have.
Overall, the song "Bus Stop Confessions" is a reflection on life and its challenges. The lyrics urge the listeners to stay focused and not to be caught off guard. It also highlights that we all have our struggles but encourages us to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
I get over the high
I move past the feeling of euphoria
Time to focus and open your eye-eye-eyes
It's time to pay attention and be alert
Time keep rolling on by
Time continues to pass
Can't keep spoke in your moment's surprise
You can't stay stuck in unexpected moments
Bus stop confession, lady with the black suit
A woman in black confesses at the bus stop
And the new shoes on, better move on
She's wearing new shoes and should keep walking
I'm saying, her perfume's strong
I notice her perfume is potent
But I must stop stressing, maybe it's another dude
I shouldn't worry, maybe it's another guy she's seeing
That has got drawn to his futon
He's attracted to her bed
Spend a night, and now you're proved wrong
After spending the night, you realize your mistake
It ain't a new song, it's been around for too long
This situation is nothing new, it's been happening for a while
The game of life is pre-recorded for the latest view of
Life's outcomes are already set, for us to discover
The duals, of man and women
The opposing forces of men and women
Numerous had to tune in
Many people pay attention
Glued to their asses, rude
People are obsessed, and it's impolite
For one rolled in the beautiful lens
One person arrived on the scene
Now you in the duvet, made to face the music
Now you're in bed, forced to confront the situation
It's loud as fuck when you're sleeping
It's disruptive when you're trying to rest
With the one that you hate
With the person you dislike
Get over the highs, open your eyes
Don't get too swept away, be aware
Why would you wait?
Why delay?
The notion is rise, go for the pie
The idea is to strive for success
Bite the huge cake
It's time to indulge in something great
But that ain't never been one for lames
But simple things have never been enough
Never been one for games, it's life:
I don't play games, that's how life is
The peddles that come from pain
The struggles that result from hurt
Bus stop confession, lady with the black mascara
A woman with black mascara confesses at the bus stop
Running down what's got be bothered
She's bothered by what's happening
Interrupt mine with her problems
She interrupts me with her issues
What's that? I'm guessing
I'm not sure what's happening
Maybe it's another act from that performance
It could be part of her act or routine
An audience will applaud while feeling awkward
People may clap, but it's still an awkward situation
Come to the village water
Come drink from the village well
Reflect in a hidden foyer
Take a moment to reflect in private
Smile to a newer horror
Laugh in the face of a new challenge
We sex to give women order
We use sex to control women
And whither; a little sawdust never hurt
And it's not a big deal, like a little sawdust
But it will a lawyer
But it will trouble a lawyer
One day, love ain't gonna be adequate to solve that
Eventually, love won't be enough to fix this
Draw back, from experience it is your doormat
Retreat, it's something that you always experience
All that, would be a hindrance
It would all be an obstacle
Leave on the four flat
Leave immediately and quickly
What's your an-gle on the issue
What is your perspective on the situation?
It'll piss you off black
It will make you angry, immediately
When your match is bitching
When your partner is complaining
Itching like a sore scratch
Complaining constantly and irritably
Ignore that, but you're feeling under pressure like
Ignore it, but you're still feeling stressed and anxious
You in a scrum, with a bunch of meat
You're surrounded by a chaotic and aggressive crowd
Eating all blacks
Consuming everything in sight, without regard for others
Now I ain't never been one for pain
I don't enjoy pain
Never been one for games in life
I don't play games with life
Never been one for lames
I don't settle for the ordinary
I'm at the bus stop watching this dime cry
I'm at the bus stop watching this beautiful woman cry
Like "Fuck it man, I can't explain life with a rhyme now"
She's thinking that life can't be simplified with poetry
Two fifteen in the morning not falling asleep
It's 2:15AM and I can't sleep
I'm intrigued with the walls and they're talking to me
I'm fascinated by the walls and feel like they're communicating with me
What you seek is involved, life is deep
The things you want in life are complex, life is profound
Contributed by Elena K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@happymbele1663
One of the collaboration in our time
@thabisomkhaliphi2741
Funny how this isht got only 5.7k views