On August 11, 1997, one of the most successful British singles, anarcho-punk Chumbawamba, was released.
“Tubthumping”, also known as “I Get Knocked Down”, climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
In America, it was also quite popular reaching No. 6, but not all the distinctions of the song were positive.
Rolling Stone magazine, for example, ranks it No. 12 on its list of the 20 Most Annoying Songs.
Despite its success, singer Dunstan Bruce notes afterward that, before writing it:
“We were in a mess: we had become aimless and dissimilar.”
Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “It’s not our most political or best song, but it brought us back together.”
According to guitarist Boff Whalley, part of their inspiration was the “Fforde Grene” pub in Leeds.
He even tells the “Guardian” that it was written about “the resilience of ordinary people”.
However, in the notes of the album, they state that they wanted to place it in a more radical context.
A song for anti-road protesters, in essence.
The release of the single begins with something like a football fan anthem, while the performance of the album begins with a monologue by Pete Postlethwaite from the 1996 film “Brassed Off”.
Finally, he uses the samples from the chorus of the song “Danny Boy” by Frederic Weatherly.
The story around the song…
Chumbawamba’s classic hit “Tubthumping” is full of inspirational lyrics.
Throughout the catchy chorus of the song, the narrator talks about being hit many times but getting up again and again.
And he tells the person or entity doing this to him that he is wasting their time, as they will never be able to keep him down.
What we can say for sure is that “Tubthumping” inspires listeners to never give up, no matter what their situation.
Speaking to the Guardian, Whalley confirmed the above.
According to him, the song is inspired by an Irish neighbor.
This neighbor often returned home completely drunk and fell while trying to enter his house.
However, he would obviously get up again and not give up trying to get home.
Hence the verse: “I get knocked down but I get up again…”.
The lyrical part is adapted by the band for every occasion, depending on what was appearing, occasionally, they also changed the lyrics.
It has even been heard in French.
The etymology of the word …
“Tub-thump”, which is a verb, is actually an informal word. Refers to the expression or expression of one’s views in a wild and noisy way.
The word “tub-thumping” as an adjective is used to describe a noun (person or entity) that does something violent or savage.
At the same time, the term “Tubthumping” is often used to refer to the Irish as a rebuke to their attitude towards the crown.
Because it describes the attitude or behavior of people when they support an idea or course of action in a very intense and sometimes aggressive way.