Before Underworld, Hyde and Smith started out in 1979 on The Screen Gemz band while working together in a diner in the city of Cardiff, where both had been studying. In 1983 they recorded two albums for CBS Records with a new wave synthpop band whose name was a graphic squiggle, later entitled Freur.
In 1986 Hyde and Smith formed Underworld, after disbanding of Freur. They tried a more guitar-oriented funky electropop sound on their two albums released on Sire Records: Underneath the Radar (1987) and Change the Weather (1989). This initial lineup (also called Underworld Mk1) consisted of Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas, Bryn Burrows, Baz Allen and Pascal Consoli before sinking back into obscurity and disbanding in 1990.
British DJ Darren Emerson hooked up with Hyde and Smith in 1992 and helped them refine their sound into something more sleek and beat-oriented, yet still shot through with tinges of blues, rock and spoken-word streams of consciousness. After several releases on Junior Boy's Own as Lemon Interupt, the trio re-adopted the Underworld name in 1992. Two songs from this era are Rez and Spikee.
In addition to their music, Hyde and Smith are members of Tomato, a graphic design company which has done high-profile work for clients around the world as well as art for all of Underworld's releases. Hyde, along with former Freur keyboardist John Warwicker, has also published two typographic journals, Mmm... Skyscraper, I Love You (1994) and In The Belly Of Saint Paul (2003).
Their first full-length, dubnobasswithmyheadman, was released in 1994 to rave reviews and is still considered a landmark. It spawned several hit singles (Dark & Long, Cowgirl, Dirty Epic) and was followed a couple years later by the Born Slippy single.
The sophomore album Second Toughest in the Infants was released in 1996. This album showed Underworld maturing as a trio, mixing elements of techno, house, drum and bass and pop music to spectacular effect. The first track Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love (three parts) is one of the longest songs recorded by Underworld, with a length of over 16 minutes.
In the same year they issued an EP Pearl's Girl, containing various mixes of the song Pearl's Girl and five new tracks (one of them is Cherry Pie, an early version of Rowla). Underworld's much-praised remixography also grew, including Björk, Saint Etienne, Simply Red, Massive Attack and Leftfield.
After licensing out a remix of Born Slippy (entitled Born Slippy .NUXX) for the 1996 cult classic film Trainspotting, Underworld gained instant worldwide fame and found themselves touring the world. Their fame continued to run high into the release of Beaucoup Fish in 1999. Five singles were released: Moaner, Push Upstairs, Jumbo, King of Snake, and Bruce Lee.
Underworld issued a live set and a DVD named Everything, Everything in 2000, after which Emerson left the group to concentrate more on his DJ career. The mellower album A Hundred Days Off followed in 2002. It was promoted by two singles: Two Months Off and Dinosaur Adventure 3D.
In 2003 Underworld released a 2 CD compilation entitled 1992-2002, comprising some of their best songs. Also since 2003 the group has been trickling out new music on their official website www.underworldlive.com via a series of downloadable mp3s dubbed "The Riverrun Project". Each mp3 bundle features 25-or-so-minute of mixed new material, hundreds of photographs and traditional album art.
In 2005 the band issued another live album, Live in Tokyo 25th November 2005, a recording of Underworld's live performance at the Electraglide festival in Tokyo on 25 November 2005. There were apparently only 7000 copies of the album made.
Oblivion with Bells, their fifth studio album was released in October 2007, the first with additional collaboration with Darren Price who joined the band's live setup in 2005. It spawned four singles: Crocodile, Boy, Boy, Boy, Beautiful Burnout, and Ring Road.
On 13 May 2010, Underworld released a new single Scribble (Radio Edit), available for free download on their official site. This single was followed by a new album later that year, called Barking, which is still in the process of releasing singles, beginning with the aforementioned Scribble, Always Loved a Film and finally Diamond Jigsaw. Also released on a beatport remix contest was Bird 1 where amateur producers were able to put their take on Underworld's collaboration with Dubfire. As of 2011, the duo can also attach to their resumes soundtracking a live stage play. Frankenstein, produced and directed by Danny Boyle, starring both Johnny Lee Miller & Benedict Cumberbatch who are, on alternating nights, both Frankenstein, or the Creature. The Soundtrack is available through Underworld's Website.
January 2016 saw the release of I Exhale, in advance of Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future, released in March 2016.
In April 2018, Underworld released a standalone single, Brilliant Yes That Would Be, an ambient piece with its accompanying video inspired by the Icelandic landscape and their first performance in Reykjavík since 1994.
In May 2018, Underworld unveiled the World of Underworld project, which focuses on reflecting and re-imagining their nearly 30 year body of work. It also serves as an outlet for experimentation, new releases and spontaneous creativity. Brilliant Yes That Would Be was the first track to be released through the World of Underworld, which was recorded and mixed just days before it was released.
Later in that same month, Underworld debuted a new collaboration with Iggy Pop titled Bells & Circles, live at the BBC Biggest Weekend 2018. Shortly after, a four-track collaborative EP with the two artists was released, Teatime Dub Encounters.
On November 1st, 2018, Underworld announced the Drift project, an ongoing music-and-video experiment that publishes new Underworld material on their official website every week. The first instalment began with Another Silent Way, also released on the same day.
On November 1st, 2019, Underworld released Drift Series 1, their tenth studio album. It is the conclusion of the first year of the band's year-long music-and-video experiment Drift. Underworld announced the Drift project will continue on for another year. The now-renamed Drift Series 1, was released exactly one year after the launch of the series, as a box set featuring 7 CDs, a Blu-ray, and an 80-page book documenting the creative process around Drift. A single-disc Drift Series 1 Sampler Edition was also released simultaneously.
Dirty Epic
Underworld Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake well before use she said
You never touch me anymore this way
Connector in
Receiver out
You let me in through the back door
Ride the sainted rhythms on the midnight train to romford
Ride the sainted rhythms
Sweet in winter sweet in rain
Shake well before use she said
You never touch me anymore this way
Oh no
Connector, connector, connector, connector
You're a connector, connector, connector, connector
I'm so dirty
And the light blinds my eyes
You're oh so dirty
And the light it blinds my eyes
Here comes christ on crutches
Call me wet trampoline she said today
Well I was too busy with my hand
Shake well before use she said
But you never touch me anymore
I was busy listening for phone sex
Coming through the back door
In skin-tight trunks
And we all went mental and danced
I get my kicks on channel six
To the off-peak electricity
And the light blinds my eyes
And I feel dirty
And the light blinds my eyes
And I feel so shaken in my faith
Here comes christ on crutches
And here comes another god
Here comes another god
Like a buffalo thunder
With a smell of sugar
And a velvet tongue
And designer voodoo
And I got phone sex to see me through the emptiness in my 501s
Freeze-dried with a new religion
And my teeth stuffed back in my head
I get my kicks on channel six
I
I get my kicks on channel six
The light it burns my eyes
And I feel so dirty (feel so dirty)
Here comes christ on crutches (christ on crutches)
I will not be confused
Will not be confused
They left me confused
I will not be confused...with another man
This pressure of opinions
Lighten up
Listen to your eyes you said
But all I could see was doris day
In a big screen satellite
Disappearing down the tube hole on farringdon street
With whiplash willy the motor psycho
And the light it burns my eyes
And the light it burns my eyes
Get my kicks on channel six
I get my kicks on channel six
"Dirty Epic" is a song by Underworld, a British electronic dance music group. The song's lyrics are cryptic, with a mix of abstract imagery and suggestive language. Some of the lyrics appear to be about sexual intimacy, while others seem to allude to drug use and the sensory overload of modern life. The opening lines "Sweet in winter sweet in rain, shake well before use she said" could be interpreted as a reference to recreational drug use or the ritual of preparing for intimacy. The phrase "connector in, receiver out" could be a subtle reference to sexual intercourse, or more broadly, the idea of connecting with others through technology or other means.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "I'm so dirty, and the light blinds my eyes." The word "dirty" could be interpreted in a sexual context or more generally to refer to the feeling of being overwhelmed, overstimulated, or morally compromised. The phrase "the light blinds my eyes" could be a reference to the sensory overload of modern life or the disorienting effects of drugs.
Other lyrics in the song appear to be more explicitly about drug use or drug culture. The line "I get my kicks on channel six" could be a reference to watching television while high on drugs, or more specifically, to watching adult content on cable TV stations like Channel 6. The line "here comes Christ on crutches" could be a reference to the idea of the suffering Christ, or to the experience of feeling elevated or religious while high on drugs.
Overall, the lyrics to "Dirty Epic" are highly suggestive and open to interpretation. They paint a picture of a world that is simultaneously exhilarating and overwhelming, where pleasure and danger are intertwined.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet in winter sweet in rain
Our relationship is comforting to me in all circumstances, whether it be the cold of winter or the rainfall of spring.
Shake well before use she said
She cautioned me to be patient and wait until our relationship was properly mixed and prepared before continuing.
You never touch me anymore this way
I miss the way we used to connect physically and emotionally in our relationship.
Connector in
We are linking together and forming a connection between us.
Receiver out
Our connection must allow for communication to be received and acknowledged by both parties.
You let me in through the back door
I feel like I was granted a secret or less conventional way of entering and being part of her life.
Ride the sainted rhythms on the midnight train to romford
We are taking a spiritual journey together and connecting through shared experiences and emotions.
Ride the sainted rhythms
We are following the divine, sacred rhythms of the universe and living in harmony with them.
Oh no
Expressing surprise and concern at the current state of the relationship.
Connector, connector, connector, connector
Repeating the importance of building and maintaining our connection and relationship.
You're a connector, connector, connector, connector
Acknowledging that my partner is also an integral part of maintaining our connection and relationship.
I'm so dirty
Feeling impure and corrupted in the face of challenges and struggles.
And the light blinds my eyes
Suggesting that something is overwhelming or blinding me to the truth or reality of the situation.
You're oh so dirty
Acknowledging that my partner feels the same sense of impurity and corruption as I do.
Here comes christ on crutches
The arrival of someone or something significant, possibly signifying a new beginning or redemption.
Call me wet trampoline she said today
My partner is indicating I am not taking our relationship seriously and am just something to be used or taken advantage of.
Well I was too busy with my hand
Admitting neglect and not making enough of an effort to be present and attentive in the relationship.
But you never touch me anymore
She is feeling neglected and starved of physical, emotional and sexual intimacy in the relationship.
Coming through the back door
Suggesting that I am trying to enter and reconcile our relationship through unconventional or secretive means.
In skin-tight trunks
A visual representation of the physicality and sexuality of the relationship.
And we all went mental and danced
Celebrating and embracing the wild abandon and energy of being caught up in our relationship and connection.
I get my kicks on channel six
Finding pleasure and fulfillment in activities that allow me to escape and disconnect from the reality of my current situation.
To the off-peak electricity
Highlighting the idea of disconnect or disconnection from the usual energy and intensity of life.
And I feel so shaken in my faith
Doubting and questioning the stability and reliability of the relationship and its impact on my life as a whole.
And here comes another god
Fearing the arrival of a new, more powerful force that could shake the foundations of my relationship and worldview.
Like a buffalo thunder
Comparing this force to something massive, powerful and awe-inspiring, like the thundering of the buffalo.
With a smell of sugar
Alluding to the idea of temptation and excess, and the potential for this force to be irresistible and overpowering.
And a velvet tongue
Imagery of deception and manipulation, and the seductiveness of this force.
And designer voodoo
A more modern interpretation of the concept of magic and trickery, and the idea that this force may not be what it appears to be.
And I got phone sex to see me through the emptiness in my 501s
Using temporary pleasures or distractions to fill the void of my unfulfilling relationship.
Freeze-dried with a new religion
Possibly a statement on how new ideologies or belief systems can be easily manipulated and packaged.
And my teeth stuffed back in my head
Feeling a sense of repression or constraint in the current state of the relationship, possibly due to feeling controlled or hidden.
I will not be confused
Asserting a sense of clarity and confidence in my decision to not be unsure or uncertain in this relationship.
They left me confused
Implicating outside forces or societal pressure for the confusion and disorientation in the relationship.
This pressure of opinions
Acknowledging the complexity and intensity of conflicting viewpoints that surround the relationship.
Lighten up
Suggesting the need to relieve the tension and pressure of the current situation, and take a more easygoing approach.
Listen to your eyes you said
Encouraging me to trust my own instinct and feelings, rather than relying on outside opinions or societal norms.
But all I could see was doris day
Feeling stuck and unable to see the reality or truth of the situation, possibly due to societal expectations or ideals.
In a big screen satellite
Feeling disconnected and isolated from the reality of the relationship, due to outside influences or societal norms.
Disappearing down the tube hole on farringdon street
Metaphor for the loss of connection and communication in the relationship, and the idea of being sucked into the void or abyss.
With whiplash willy the motor psycho
An example of how outside forces, like societal expectations or people in our lives, can be disruptive and harmful to the relationship.
The light it burns my eyes
Feeling overwhelmed or burdened by the intensity of the current situation or relationship.
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: KARL HYDE, RICHARD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fatima Llama
Sweet in winter sweet in rain
Shake well before use she said
You never touch me any more this way
Connector in receiver out
You let me in through the back door
Ride the sainted rhythms on the midnight train to Romford
Ride the sainted rhythms
Sweet in winter sweet in rain
Shake well before use she said
You never touch me any more this way
Oh no
Connector connector connector connector
You're a connector connector connector connector
I'm so dirty
And the light blinds my eyes
You're oh so dirty
And the light it blinds my eyes
Here comes Christ on crutches
Call me wet trampoline she said today
But I was too busy with my hand
Shake well before use she said
But you never touch me any more
I was busy listening for phone sex
Coming through the back door
In skin-tight trunks
And we all went mental
And danced
I get my kicks on Channel 6
I get my kicks on Channel 6
I get my kicks on Channel 6
I get my kicks on Channel 6
To the off-peak
Electricity
And the light blinds my eyes
And I feel dirty
And the light blinds my eyes
And I feel so
Shaken in my faith
Here comes Christ on crutches
And here comes another god
Here comes another god
Like a buffalo thunder
With a smell of sugar
And a velvet tongue
And designer voodoo
But I got phone sex to see me through the emptiness in my 501s
Freeze-dried with a new religion
And my teeth stuffed back in my head
I get my kicks on Channel 6
The light it burns my eyes
And I feel so dirty
Here comes Christ on crutches
I will not be confused
Will not be confused
They left me confused
I will not be confused
With another man
This pressure of opinions
Lighten up
Listen to your eyes, you said
But all I could see was Doris Day
In a big screen satellite
Disappearing down the tube hole on Farringdon Street
With whiplash willy the motor psycho
And the light it burns my eyes
And the light it burns my eyes
I get my kicks on Channel 6
I get my kicks on Channel 6
SirSeppuku
There's nothing like this out there! 2020 and this still sounds more futuristic than any of today's 'progressive' music
JCL
One of my all time favorite songs and easily the best Underworld track IMO.
Claudia Iacovelli
I can vividly imagine Karl in a smart italian theatre, wearing a jacket, alone on stage as always, a philharmonic orchestra behind him, celebrating in music this masterpiece, as it deserves. A true audience, a true artist, precision💚
Andriejus Lasys
Existential masterpiece....
"I got phone sex to see me through my emptiness in my 501's. Freeze dried like a new religion, my teeth step back in my head"
Pure poetry...
Alexei
...teeth STUFFED back in my head
Michael Elijah
You still get your kicks on channel 6 ?🎼 Here comes Christ on crutches 🎶
Nude Karate Guy
Used to eat mushrooms and lay on my back and stare at the ceiling with this on headphones, for hours. Still feels trippy now just to hear it again.
Michael Elijah
We recorded the music played Totally trippin' balls on LSD ! it was pure 🪄 magic....Heard it back a couple days later...it sounded like Hell opened up !
It was horrible !!
iAMsorrow
In 50 years this will still be way ahead of its time!?
Carmelita
Yes