Released: June 12, 2002

Songwriter: Chumbawamba

Producer: Chumbawamba

Salt fare, North Sea
Salt fare, North Sea

Salt fare, North Sea
Salt fare, North Sea

Roll on, roll off
With these words I drown
Topmast secured
Hatches battened down
Sometimes I think
It must be different on land
But from the mast I can only see tyrants
Still in command

Fish and chip supper
Battered, no bones
Hung, drawn and quartered
Drifting alone
One thousand lashes
For the Age of Reason
Salt for your wounds
When the cod's in season

Salt fare, North Sea
Salt fare, North Sea
Salt fare, North Sea
Salt fare, North Sea

We reach the horizon
And sail over the edge
Drunk on our memories
More sober than a judge
I'm wasting time
That I can't afford
I know I'd die on the gallows
Before I'd die of being bored

Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea
Drifting alone, drifting alone, drifting alone
Salt fare, North Sea

Chumbawamba

Anarcho-pop band from Leeds.

Originally formed in the early 1980s as Chimp Eats Banana, Chumbawamba first emerged in the anarchopunk scene which was dominated by bands such a pacifist punks Crass. As Chumbawamba increasingly differed from their peers in outlook and tactics, they began to adopt a new musical style which incorporated elements of folk music, indie rock and hip-hop.

After drifting between labels, their change in direction culminated in signing a record deal with major label EMI, a choice which sparked outrage amongst their former comrades, outrage that culminated in a “Fuck Chumbawamba” compilation. By chance, Chumbawamba’s new work with EMI resulted in an internationally best-selling single, “Tubthumping”, and a sudden rise to fame.