This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Genocide on genocide - destroyed knowledge crushed pride
Lost culture to civilization - reduced abused beyond dignity
Contemplation exploitation - ring the bell of information
Blocked the truth convincing, controlling - held us down unthinking, unknowing
Oppressed so many for so long - we've ignored the facts, and moved along
We gotta pump the brakes
Wasting resources, face some facts and detect the causes - cause our progression equals
Destruction, people getting killed by government corruption
Cause making most of the land, that's the plan, you gotta understand
That 50 years down the line, there won't be no time, the time is now.
Drained so much for so long - we've ignored the costs and moved along
Time to pump the brakes
Gotta pump the brakes, pump pump the brakes...
Lost culture to civilization - reduced abused beyond dignity
Contemplation exploitation - ring the bell of information
Blocked the truth convincing, controlling - held us down unthinking, unknowing
Oppressed so many for so long - we've ignored the facts, and moved along
We gotta pump the brakes
Wasting resources, face some facts and detect the causes - cause our progression equals
Destruction, people getting killed by government corruption
Cause making most of the land, that's the plan, you gotta understand
That 50 years down the line, there won't be no time, the time is now.
Drained so much for so long - we've ignored the costs and moved along
Time to pump the brakes
Gotta pump the brakes, pump pump the brakes...
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Pump the Brakes Lyrics as written by Par Hansson Magnus Bjorklund
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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it bothers me that refused are so blatant in their songs that it leaves little to the imagination to interpret them to a personal effect; but not enough to actually get mad. i'm glad there actually IS a message.
i think thats the point, is that they dont want you to confuse their message; a socialist reformist band wants you to be able to hear their message and get it immediately so you will mobilize with them
This is propably one of the greatest songs ever made. Refused, togehter with Rage Against The Machine, is the best politically influenced rockbands of all time. 'nuff said!
i agree with ya proddie.but when i first saw this song i didn't know it was them.it's probably because i heard the shape of punk to come before this song.the beginning lyrics must be about the Rwanda genocide, that was happening at the time of this song.