They were described as the first true stadium house band (by Bill Drummond), though their music is difficult to place into one particular genre and they have been compared to Underworld, Fluke, The KLF, and even Ministry or Nine Inch Nails.
They first had chart success with the singles What Can You Do For Me, Something Good and Believe In Me, which they described as their vocal sample trilogy as those singles sampled Gwen Guthrie, Kate Bush and Human League respectively (What Can You Do For Me also features a sample from Eurythmics). Contrary to one rumour, the band were not sued by Kate Bush over the use of a sample from Bush's track Cloudbusting in the Utah Saints track Something Good, the sample was legally cleared before use. Utah Saints then moved away from vocal samples with singles such as I Want You and I Still Think Of You (Jez Willis providing original vocals on each).
After their first album, the self-titled Utah Saints, and one further single Ohio, Utah Saints seemed to disappear for several years, spending a long time producing their second album as well as doing remixes and producing tracks for other artists such as Terrorvision. During this time they produced a handful of Utah Saints tracks that to date have never had a proper release, with titles such as Star, Train and Rock.
They eventually re-appeared in late 1999 with charting singles Love Song, Funky Music (featuring Edwin Starr on guest vocals), Power To The Beats and Lost Vagueness. In 2002 they went back into hibernation and fans are still waiting for their next re-appearance.
Sick
Utah Saints Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Pleasure seekers
Hustlers
Obsessives
Subverters
Pimpers
Hookers
Loners
Overdosers
Sirens
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Hustlers
Perverters
Subverters
Pimpers
Posers
Voyeurs
Pleasure seekers
Zoo keepers
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Sick
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Trippers
Madmen
Hustlers
Sirens
Perverters
Subverters
Trippers
Madmen
Hustlers
Sirens
Pleasure seekers
Zoo keepers
Trippers
Madmen
Hustlers
Sirens
Neurotic
Overdosers
Trippers
Madmen
Hustlers
Sirens
Sick
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Sick
Nighttime brings out all the rejects... sick...
Nighttime brings out sick... sick... sick... sick...
Nighttime turns people into animals
Madmen
Dope fiends
Trippers
Pleasure seekers
Sick
The lyrics of Utah Saints' song "Sick" portrays the dark side of nightlife, where people in the shadows come out to play. The chorus ("Nighttime turns people into animals / Madmen, dope fiends, trippers, pleasure seekers...") repeats and gradually adds to the list of those who come out at night, including hustlers, subverters, pimpers, hookers, loners, overdosers, and sirens. The song ends with the repeated word "sick," emphasizing the negative and dangerous aspects of nightlife.
The lyrics also suggest that the behavior of people at night is a result of a different set of rules and social norms compared to those during the day. The animalistic nature of the people, their extreme desires and urges, is emphasized by the repetition of "sick" in the last verses of the song, suggesting that such behavior is a sickness.
Overall, the lyrics of Sick reflect the dangers of the nightlife while also painting a descriptive, vivid picture of the types of unacceptable behaviors that occur under the cover of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Nighttime turns people into animals
The darkness of night transforms individuals into their primitive, instinctual selves.
Madmen
Insane individuals who exhibit behavior outside the social norm.
Dope fiends
Drug users who are dependent on illegal substances and cannot function without them.
Trippers
Individuals who are under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs and are experiencing altered perceptions of reality.
Pleasure seekers
Individuals who prioritize immediate gratification and indulgence over long-term goals and responsibilities.
Hustlers
Individuals who engage in shady or illegal business dealings to achieve success.
Obsessives
Individuals who become fixated on certain ideas or objects, which can lead to irrational behavior.
Subverters
Individuals who aim to overturn or undermine the status quo through unconventional means.
Pimpers
Individuals (usually men) who exploit others (usually women) for profit through prostitution, escort services, etc.
Hookers
Prostitutes who engage in sexual acts for money or other forms of compensation.
Loners
Individuals who prefer solitude and distance themselves from social situations and connections with others.
Overdosers
Drug users who take excessive amounts of a substance, often leading to dangerous health consequences.
Sirens
The allure and temptation of nightlife and the dangerous individuals that inhabit it.
Perverters
Individuals who deviate from normal behavior in ways that are considered abnormal or perverse.
Posers
Individuals who pretend to be something they're not in order to gain acceptance or respect from others.
Voyeurs
Individuals who derive pleasure from observing others in sexual or intimate situations.
Zoo keepers
Individuals who control and manipulate others by exerting power and dominance over them.
Sick
The twisted, disturbing, and dangerous world that emerges in the dark of night.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEZ WILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@badnewswade
Originally found this on a Carmageddon soundtrack, but it became the soundtrack to my life when I lived in the dodgy part of town back in the tough, pre-gentrification years. Fuck yeah!
@peterkinsman8353
Another serious tune! Sick! hehe Used to work out to this album, particularly to this track :-)
@assajacket9202
great music
@Kydor
Carmageddon bought me here, hats off UTAH
@mschiebold
ATV Offroad Fury 2 introduced me to Utah Saints, been a fan ever since.
@gracjanrotke
Tight fucking track!!!
@melthebell33
i have the two cd
@beverleyosullivan9294
Feckin awesome wow
@HAV0X_
I just want a high quality version of the version in Wipeout Fusion (no vocals)
@themetavirus
I know it's been a year, but I got you covered. https://youtu.be/FObtVWEHUes