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Sound System Lyrics

(chorus)
sound system gonna bring me back up
one thing that I can depend on

try to describe to the limit of my ability:
its there for a second
then it's given up what it used to be
contained in my music somehow more than just sound,
this inspiration coming and twisting things around
Because you always know that its gonna have to go.
you always know that you'll be back in the cold.
point of depatrure sublimated in a song
its always coming to give me that hope for just a second
then its gone but
(chorus)
static pulse inside of music bringing us escape
its always temporary changing nothing in its wake
just a second where were leaving all this shit behind
just a second but its leaving just this much in mind:
to resist despair that second makes you see
to resist despair because you cant change everything
to resist despair in this world is what it is to be free
(chorus)
wake up turn my box on
bust the shade let the sun in
times getting tougher bout time to start runnin
box in my hand music by my side
skanking to the rhythm of the music by my side
Song Info
Submitted by
emojustin On Nov 22, 2001
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Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

"to resist despair that second makes you see to resist despair because you cant change everything to resist despair in this world is what it is to be free"

these have to be some of the best lines i've ever seen anywhere, let alone in great ska music. so true.

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

This song is about no matter how many problems you have, and how little hope you have, you can forget all of your problems and the world's problems with music. It's a great message, as is all of Op ivy's music.

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

This is the first song I have ever heard by Op Ivy and is the last song I want to hear before I die.

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

One of my favorite OpIvy songs...lyrically it brings me back to the mid 90s when I was doing a lot of skating and constantly had headphones in my ears. Saw Rancid play it live once and about lost it. Still get a smile when I hear my favorite line:

...to resist despair that second makes you see to resist despair because you cant change everything to resist despair in this world is, what it is to be free...

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

This song is about the jamaican sound systems. DJ's would grab a generator, turntable and some mean speakers to have their own personal dancehall. The famous Studio One was started by a Sound System DJ.

Music is always there for us "sound system gonna bring me back up one thing that I can depend on"

And music is his way to express himself " contained in my music somehow more than just sound, this inspiration coming and twisting things around"

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

Point of departure sublimated in a song

This is a reference to Buddhism and Buddha's departure to seek sublime states of mind.

All of Operation Ivy and Rancid's music also was written about deep respect for and influenced by Jamaican ska music, especially 1950s era ska. Operation Ivy banded and disbanded in the late 1980s

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

this song is great...my fav.

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

kick ass song........op ivy rules!

this song is really cool. operation ivy kicks ass!

Cover art for Sound System lyrics by Operation Ivy

Another Feel Good Song By Op Ivy