In 1981 Ebbot Lundberg met Patrik Caganis at a U.K. Subs gig. They shared a common musical taste in hardcore music, and the friendship that followed produced the forming of a punk band - "Sure Tråkings Trio". During the years that followed, "Sure Tråkings Trio" was disbanded and Patrik Caganis spent a year as an exchange student in Minneapolis, USA. Going to gigs with bands like Hüsker Dü, Replacements and Soul Asylum, he claims to have been heavily musically inspired. In 1986, Ebbot Lundbergs friend Emrik had tried out as a singer for a band called Heartbeat City. Emrik, (who was also the singer of the domestically famous Swedish funkrockband Stonefunkers), didn't want to stay in the band, and instead suggested that Ebbot Lundberg should audition. Patrik Caganis, a Heartbeat City fan, decided to team up with Lundberg and they went to the audition together.
Heartbeat City then consisted of Björn Olsson on the guitars and Henrik Rylander on the drums. The audition and jams that followed proved to work out well - fitting in Caganis' guitars with Olssons' and adding Lundbergs' improvised lyrics and melodies.[citation needed] After a while Lundberg brought in long time friend Per Helm on bass - an addition that also proved to add to the groups evolving sound. This composition formed Union Carbide Productions. They started writing songs, and on June the 14th 1986 they had their live debut. It took place at the "Save the Forest" festival in Gothenburg. The gig resulted in an amplifier hitting someone's head, and a crowd of skate punk friends creating chaos - a phenomenon that would set the key for many of their gigs to come.
At the end of 1986 the band recorded three songs at Music-a-Matic Studio in Gothenburg: "Financial Declaration", "Summer Holiday Camp" and "So Long". Since they had no record deal, the band paid for the sessions themselves. They sent a demotape to Carl Abrahamsson, the then editor of underground fanzine Lollipop, who liked the band so much that he got Financial Declaration distributed on a flexi-disc that was sold along with the fanzine. In the spring of 1987, the band managed to get a record deal with the small label Radium 226.5, which released their first album "In The Air Tonight". Later the same year, they played at the Swedish festival Hultsfredsfestivalen. In 1988, UCP continued touring in Sweden and also did some gigs abroad. One of the more notable venues being CBGB's in New York where they were the opening act for another band. Before going to USA, Per Helm (bass) was replaced by Adam Wladis (bass) - a former bandmate of Henrik Rylander. During the tour, UCP continued to build on their reputation as a crazy live-act. Before recording their next record, Financially Dissatisfied, Philosophically Trying, Adam Wladis quit and was replaced by returning member Per Helm.
During the years, the band changed its members a lot, but in 1989 they settled and appeared in their final incarnation, consisting of: Ebbot Lundberg, Patrik Caganis, Henrik Rylander, Jan Skoglund, Ian Persson and Christian Martinius. Some of the band's material was produced by Henryk Lipp - a Swedish producer who has worked with Millencolin, Thåström, Håkan Hellström and Sator. The band recorded their last album - "Swing" - in 1992 in Chicago, and it was produced by Steve Albini. The band broke up in 1993. Ebbot Lundberg and Ian Persson later went on to form the successful rockband The Soundtrack of Our Lives, of which also Björn Olsson has been involved both as a musician and as a producer. In 2003, they made a temporary reunion and returned to Hultsfredsfestivalen, sixteen years after their first appearance there.
Baritone Street
Union Carbide Productions Lyrics
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But that would be a thousand lies
So I'll just try to make another statement
Before you break right through the ice
I guess that life has been too easy
Well, that isn't hard to tell
When all you care about is reputation
And you try to live up to somebody else
But don't you think that it's a pity
Well, you know I'm sorry too
That your face is no longer pretty
When truth comes down to someone like you
But don't you know the world's still waiting for you to make a move
Let's not talk about class
'Cause that is something to forget
Well, I'm not living in the past
But I tell you I'm not a cigarette
And so you think you've got it made
That's really hard for me to understand
Don't try to solve another problem
Just save it right until the end
But don't you think that it's a pity
Well, you know I'm sorry too
That your face is no longer pretty
When truth comes down to someone like you
Well, I'd really like to see what you can do
'Cause something inside
That was always denied
And you couldn't swallow your pride
And now you've got nowhere to hide
I'm not talking about my dreams
And I'm not talking about a different song
'Cause there were so many oppurtunities
And you're the one who's got it wrong
Well maybe I could be your mirror
And maybe I could be a fool
You know it doesn't really matter
'Cause I've got no one left to screw
But don't you think that it's a pity
Well, you know I'm sorry too
That faces ain't no longer pretty
When truth comes down to someone like you
When truth comes down to someone like you
Like you
The lyrics to Union Carbide Productions' "Baritone Street" start with the singer acknowledging their inclination to tell a thousand stories but decides against it because they would all be lies. They instead attempt to make a statement before the listener breaks through the ice. The song then hints at the subject's easy life, which is evident from their sole focus on reputation and trying to live up to someone else's standards. The chorus repeats, "But don't you think that it's a pity/Well, you know I'm sorry too/That faces ain't no longer pretty/When truth comes down to someone like you."
The singer contrasts themselves from the subject and urges them not to talk about the class but to look forward to making a move in their lives. The implication is that the subject feels that they have "made it" already - a sentiment that the singer neither comprehends nor agrees with. The chorus repeats, "But don't you think that it's a pity/Well, you know I'm sorry too/That faces ain't no longer pretty/When truth comes down to someone like you." Towards the end of the song, the singer suggests that he could be the subject's mirror or fool; furthermore, they confess that they have no one left to screw. The final chorus repeats the same lines as the earlier sections, highlighting the subject's downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
Like to tell a thousand stories
I have many tales to share with you
But that would be a thousand lies
However, I cannot share them all since most of them would be false
So I'll just try to make another statement
Thus, I will attempt to express my point in a concise manner
Before you break right through the ice
Before you become too impatient or overwhelmed
I guess that life has been too easy
It appears that your life has lacked challenges
Well, that isn't hard to tell
This is evident from your behavior and priorities
When all you care about is reputation
Since all you prioritize is how others perceive you
And you try to live up to somebody else
And you strive to conform to another person's standards
But don't you think that it's a pity
Don't you find it unfortunate
Well, you know I'm sorry too
I, too, feel remorseful
That your face is no longer pretty
That your exterior appearance is no longer as youthful or attractive
When truth comes down to someone like you
When reality is evident to someone like you
But don't you know the world's still waiting for you to make a move
Nonetheless, the world is hopeful for you to take action
Let's not talk about class
Let's avoid the topic of social hierarchy
'Cause that is something to forget
Since it is irrelevant to this discussion
Well, I'm not living in the past
I am not fixated on prior events
But I tell you I'm not a cigarette
However, I am my own person and not a societal crutch
And so you think you've got it made
And thus, you believe you have everything under control
That's really hard for me to understand
This is difficult for me to comprehend
Don't try to solve another problem
Do not attempt to fix another complication
Just save it right until the end
Rather, reserve it for the conclusion
'Cause something inside
Perhaps there is something internal
That was always denied
That was perpetually suppressed
And you couldn't swallow your pride
And you were unable to humble yourself
And now you've got nowhere to hide
And now you can no longer evade the situation
I'm not talking about my dreams
I am not discussing my aspirations
And I'm not talking about a different song
Nor am I referencing an entirely separate topic
'Cause there were so many opportunities
As there were numerous prospects
And you're the one who's got it wrong
Yet, you remain misguided
Well maybe I could be your mirror
Perhaps I can provide a reflection
And maybe I could be a fool
Although, I may also seem foolish
You know it doesn't really matter
Regardless, it is unimportant
'Cause I've got no one left to screw
Because there is no one left for me to disappoint
When truth comes down to someone like you
When reality is apparent to a person such as yourself
Like you
Similar to yourself
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTIAN JAN PERSON, HENRIK CARL RYLANDER, JAN KRISTER SKOGLUND, PATRIK CAGANIS, TORBJOERN LUNDBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind