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Big Audio Dynamite — The Bottom Line
Album: This Is Big Audio Dynamite
Avg rating:
5.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 556









Released: 1985
Length: 4:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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The horses are on the track

There's a new dance that's going around
When the hits start flying, you gotta get down
All the young people dance 'round the square
That old time groove is really nowhere

So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing t'do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for

A dance to the tune of economic decline
Is when you do the bottom line
Nagging questions always remain
Why did it happen, and who was to blame?

So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing t'do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for

The horses are on the track

They've been doing it down at the zoo
And I can show ya, here's what t'do
All of the States and over UK
Even the Soviets are swinging away

So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing t'do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything y'want is yours


The road ahead's clear as a motorway
Give us this day our daily breads, and send us on our way
Perchance to dream or take a holiday
Romeo, oh, Romeo, y'gotta have your say

When you reach the bottom line
The only thing t'do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for

When you reach the bottom line
The only thing t'do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything y'want is yours

I'm gonna take ya to
I'm gonna take ya to
I'm gonna take ya to
Part 2
Comments (108)add comment
Brings back so many happy 80's memories!
Posted 6 years ago by Spots_Stew    [ Reply ]
Nagging questions always remain: why did it happen and who was to blame?

--

My favorite song for months in high school and I say it was visionary. The groove of it holds up today.  
Posted 7 years ago by paulmcnett    [ Reply ]
Yawn. {#Sleep}

Is this a long version or something?
Posted 7 years ago by Clyde_Bedow    [ Reply ]
It's not about The Clash vs. BAD vs. everything else in the 80s or since.... it's about how far ahead of the time Mick Jones was. Musical visionaries like this are few and far between... appreciate it if you can. 
Posted 13 years ago by mikexican    [ Reply ]
The purpose of this tune here on RP is to allow us to REALLY appreciate the ending and whatever follows.{#Dancingbanana_2}

Posted 13 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Yuk, 80's music. About the only band I like from that decade is REM.
Posted 13 years ago by emmidad    [ Reply ]
This always reminded me of something from Melle Mell and Grandmaster Flash.
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Had to take my headphones OFF for this one.     {#Skull}
Posted 13 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
 Balthazar wrote:

I was big fan of Clash, but never liked B A D. This song sucked in 85 and still sucs.
 
Disagree.... The Clash are obviously superior but this is still good stuff even with all of the 80's cheese goodness!

Posted 14 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
 orpheus wrote:
I can't believe this has such a LOW rating, great tune in it's time (especially for the dance floor) and to this day still retains its wit, integrity and great melody. Whatup?{#Yell}{#Stupid}{#Exclaim}{#Question}
 
I was big fan of Clash, but never liked B A D. This song sucked in 85 and still sucs.


Posted 14 years ago by Balthazar    [ Reply ]
Definitely the 80's, electro drums, marginal guitar riff and echo chorus and vocals. 
Posted 14 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
I like the song, but the Acoustic version is much better than the album version, IMO.
Posted 14 years ago by kevinc    [ Reply ]
I like this song but I thought, when first glimpsing the cover art, that it was the Village People!
Posted 14 years ago by twitterpated    [ Reply ]
Wha-hooooo! Love it.

Have not heard this song since....well since it was first released on vinyl. Have to dust that off!

Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:


Somebody else has also been logging in multiple times with the 1 votes, this rating defies rational expectations.  This song really is a classic.
 
{#High-five} That's the bottom line!

Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
 squibbb wrote:
I logged on specifically to comment on this song... Badly dated 80s production, pretentious *and* obnoxious to boot.  What a bonus.  No thanks!
 

Somebody else has also been logging in multiple times with the 1 votes, this rating defies rational expectations.  This song really is a classic.
Posted 14 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 lophrequa wrote:
it's funny, i have to admit the nostalgia i have for drum machines... 
 
Well, maybe you can hear some drum samples in this song, but their drummer, Greg Roberts, was pretty good. Saw 'em in concert—not a drum machine to be found anywhere.

Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
it's funny, i have to admit the nostalgia i have for drum machines... 
Posted 14 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
Oh my... I used to listen to some blues and rock from 80s and it was good/acceptable.
Now I understand why only blues/rock...
Posted 14 years ago by zanref    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:
Well, I still like it!
 
me too!

Posted 14 years ago by tinybubbles    [ Reply ]
Explosive! {#Yell}{#Whipit}
Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
i love it
Posted 14 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
Some of the guitar work is reminiscent of Television.
Posted 14 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Well, I still like it!
Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 superfido wrote:


Still think the same thing 2 plus years later. Timelessly bad.
 
i use to listen to this alot in the day, now i think it is really horrible. time did no favors for this song.

Posted 14 years ago by rickhoran    [ Reply ]
I remember being a big fan of this album back in the day.
This song is alright, but there are other, much better, songs on the record.

Posted 15 years ago by flatpicker    [ Reply ]
 superfido wrote:
My god, this is why the 80's had to end.
 

Still think the same thing 2 plus years later. Timelessly bad.
Posted 15 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
ooh ah, ooh ooh ah!

i know you sang along with that bit.
Posted 15 years ago by greg6494    [ Reply ]
 jwb wrote:
Playing this back to back with Yello makes a nice contrast between the kind of interesting music you can make with electronic synthesizers and drum machines, and the kind of insipid garbage you get with this song.
 
?
I dig both  
Posted 15 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
What's all the hubbub, bub?  Nice to hear this again after all these years.
Posted 15 years ago by dedawson    [ Reply ]
Playing this back to back with Yello makes a nice contrast between the kind of interesting music you can make with electronic synthesizers and drum machines, and the kind of insipid garbage you get with this song.
Posted 15 years ago by jwb    [ Reply ]
 grandkrok wrote:
B A D..
After the CLASH !
Do Y, anymore knows about The Clash ?
This is a..  No song. Disapointing indeed....

Dude!!! {#Whisper} Mick Jones of B.A.D was one of the founding members of The Clash!! That's why B.A.D after the Clash. That and the fact that this is a rocking tune with an all too relevant message.
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
I logged on specifically to comment on this song... Badly dated 80s production, pretentious *and* obnoxious to boot.  What a bonus.  No thanks!
Posted 15 years ago by squibbb    [ Reply ]
B A D..
After the CLASH !
Do Y, anymore knows about The Clash ?
This is a..  No song. Disapointing indeed....

Posted 15 years ago by grandkrok    [ Reply ]
 orpheus wrote:
I can't believe this has such a LOW rating, great tune in it's time (especially for the dance floor) and to this day still retains its wit, integrity and great melody. Whatup?{#Yell}{#Stupid}{#Exclaim}{#Question}

 

no doubt, what do people have against this?  I don't get it.
Posted 15 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 orpheus wrote:
I can't believe this has such a LOW rating, great tune in it's time (especially for the dance floor) and to this day still retains its wit, integrity and great melody. Whatup?{#Yell}{#Stupid}{#Exclaim}{#Question}

 
Totally agree - it ages well!
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
So boring that I can't even think of some funny comment to contribute
Posted 15 years ago by marcello    [ Reply ]
 chucc wrote:
it started with a rating of 5 then 4 then 3  lets not play this anymore!!!!!   :)
 

One of the classics..saw them at Hammerjacks in Baltimore and still one of my favorite shows.
Posted 15 years ago by Skarp    [ Reply ]
it started with a rating of 5 then 4 then 3  lets not play this anymore!!!!!   :)
Posted 15 years ago by chucc    [ Reply ]
Love it!!{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}{#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajumprope}{#Bounce}{#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana}{#Hug}{#Jump}{#Notworthy}{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 16 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
I can't believe this has such a LOW rating, great tune in it's time (especially for the dance floor) and to this day still retains its wit, integrity and great melody. Whatup?{#Yell}{#Stupid}{#Exclaim}{#Question}

Posted 16 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
driver8 wrote:
A dance to the tune of economic decline
Is when you do the bottom line
Nagging questions always remain
Why did it happen and who was to blame? hahahaha - love this song

Could have been written last week... {#Money-mouth}

Great stuff.


Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
Big Audio Dynamite - The Bottom Line
Yello - The Race

That was a segue.
Posted 16 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
A dance to the tune of economic decline
Is when you do the bottom line
Nagging questions always remain
Why did it happen and who was to blame?
 
 
 
hahahaha - love this song

Posted 16 years ago by driver8    [ Reply ]
 reason06 wrote:
FUN!
 

Yup!
Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
I prefer The Clash, personally...
Posted 16 years ago by Gish05    [ Reply ]
Coming from Yello - The Race to this is kinda a letdown.
Posted 16 years ago by bugleboy624    [ Reply ]
FUN!
Posted 16 years ago by reason06    [ Reply ]
Excelsior wrote:
Spot on.
maybe but it sure ain't boring. Creativity is seen as ridicculous by some.
Posted 16 years ago by Gednabb    [ Reply ]
they've been doing it down at the zoo...ooh ah, ooh ooh ah. still cracks me up.
Posted 16 years ago by greg6494    [ Reply ]
Lonestar wrote:
These guys sound as ridiculous as they look.
Spot on.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
AlonzoTheArmless wrote:
I remember being bummed when Mick left the Clash to form BAD. And being a Joe Strummer fan, I was even more bummed when the first BAD album was so much better than the Clash album that came out the same time (The crummy "Cut The Crap.") At the same time, I was pretty happy that the first BAD album was pretty good. I love this song and "Medicine Show."
Oh God yeah medicine Show is amazing. That's a 10 this is a 9!
Posted 16 years ago by Gednabb    [ Reply ]
esotericderek wrote:
Following Yello's "The Race", it's clear we're doing a racing theme here. It would be nice to follow these two dogs (pun intended) with a song about the races that's actually worth listening to....Blur's "Parklife."
Although I have no complaints about switching topics by going from "The Bottom Line" to Pink Floyd's "Money." Nice multi-tracking there, Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by esotericderek    [ Reply ]
DoctorHooey wrote:
That is one HILARIOUS album cover!!
Almost! All they need is one guy wearing nothing but a pair of striped spandex bike shorts and a tall pair of FMP's with spurs.
Posted 16 years ago by lwilkinson    [ Reply ]
I remember being bummed when Mick left the Clash to form BAD. And being a Joe Strummer fan, I was even more bummed when the first BAD album was so much better than the Clash album that came out the same time (The crummy "Cut The Crap.") At the same time, I was pretty happy that the first BAD album was pretty good. I love this song and "Medicine Show."
Posted 16 years ago by AlonzoTheArmless    [ Reply ]
Following Yello's "The Race", it's clear we're doing a racing theme here. It would be nice to follow these two dogs (pun intended) with a song about the races that's actually worth listening to....Blur's "Parklife."
Posted 16 years ago by esotericderek    [ Reply ]
sounds like they sampled a little Grandmaster Flash. White Lines anyone?
Posted 16 years ago by kaosmonkey    [ Reply ]
Now, that was ... ah ... interesting.
Posted 16 years ago by Ericac    [ Reply ]
diazo wrote:
....in the finest British tradition.
yeah people still have wooden teeth there....LoL
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
junebaby65 wrote:
Anyone seen Mick's teeth lately? Not good at all....
....in the finest British tradition.
Posted 16 years ago by diazo    [ Reply ]
rtrudeau wrote:
Fashion is a cruel mistress. Er, master. Whatever.
The Village People on a low $$ budget and with less imagination.
Posted 16 years ago by lwilkinson    [ Reply ]
Even at the time, this seemed rather disposable compared to Jones' earlier work with the Clash. Yet more than 2 decades later, it's still damn fun.
Posted 16 years ago by diazo    [ Reply ]
Anyone seen Mick's teeth lately? Not good at all....
Posted 16 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
robco1 wrote:
The horses are on the track...
"It is now post time!"
Posted 16 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
This is not particularly good BAD. But, I guess bad BAD is better than no BAD.
Posted 16 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
I dunno...I still get a smile whenever I hear Mick singing, even if the backdrop is a bit, um, dated.
Posted 16 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
The horses are on the track...
Posted 16 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
Lonestar wrote:
These guys sound as ridiculous as they look.
Fashion is a cruel mistress. Er, master. Whatever.
Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
fine fine memories, . . . crappy song. . . .
Posted 16 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
Such Great memories from this time!
Posted 16 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
That is one HILARIOUS album cover!!
Posted 16 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
Does nothing for me...Bring back the Clash!!!
Posted 16 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
OK, I just called my old girlfriend from high school to let her know I was thinking of her!
Posted 16 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
rtb wrote:
YES!!
Posted 16 years ago by allisonscola    [ Reply ]
I hear this as one of the Jems from the 80's.
Posted 16 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
crowhog2000 wrote:
More BAD please!
Posted 16 years ago by rtb    [ Reply ]
white lines...
Posted 16 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
superfido wrote:
My god, this is why the 80's had to end.
Going to agree with you on this. Total suckage.
Posted 17 years ago by ajamison    [ Reply ]
Daniel_Pittenger wrote:
I totally concur.
Like, totally.
Posted 17 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
trowel wrote:
Class of 1987 BAD Asses
Word.
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
My god, this is why the 80's had to end.
Posted 17 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
Someone below had mentioned that BAD sucked in concert, but I remember really enjoying their show at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz in the mid-late '80s. Happy you're playin' em Bill, thanks!
Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
More BAD please!
Posted 17 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
This is truly awful :P
Posted 17 years ago by s_k    [ Reply ]
Still got a signed B.A.D. baseball cap somewhere ...
Posted 17 years ago by Irksome    [ Reply ]
Lonestar wrote:
These guys sound as ridiculous as they look.
I totally concur.
Posted 17 years ago by Daniel_Pittenger    [ Reply ]
Kurt_from_La_Qui wrote:
And "Medicine Show"!
I LOVE Medicine Show. That one rules. Especially the sound of firing guns layered over the music, which is ridiculously beautiful considering that it's the sound of guns! Gets me every time.
Posted 17 years ago by queenjill    [ Reply ]
These guys sound as ridiculous as they look.
Posted 17 years ago by Lonestar    [ Reply ]
IMHO The first two B.A.D. LPs/CDs = Good :-) The rest of them = Bad :-(
Posted 17 years ago by Monoman    [ Reply ]
Reminding me of my days as a clubkid on X in the late '80's.
Posted 17 years ago by squidish    [ Reply ]
Dang, I thought I heard Mick Jones in there somewhere. And I was right!
Posted 17 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
Oh man! This reminds me of my sophomore year at Humboldt State in 1987. Good times!! Sara, whatever happened to you?
Posted 17 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
Ever listen to the lyrics of this one? Sort of a road map to the '80s. Then again, they describe the impact of economic boom-and-bust on any underclass. "The horses are on the track Theres a new dance that's going around When the hits start flying you gotta get down All the young people dance round the square That old time groove is really nowhere So when you reach the bottom line The only thing to do is climb Pick yourself up of the floor Don`t know what you`re waiting for A dance to the tune of economic decline Is when you do the bottom line Nagging questions always remain Why did it happen and who was to blame? When you reach the bottom line The only thing to do is climb Pick yourself up of the floor Don`t know what you`re waiting for The the the the the the horse the the horses are on the track They`ve been doing it down at the zoo And I can show ya heres what to do All of the States and over UK Even the Soviets are swinging away When you reach the bottom line The only thing to do is climb Pick yourself up of the floor Anything you want is yours The road ahead's clear as a motorway Give us this day our daily bread and send us on our way Perchance to dream or take a holiday Romeo oh Romeo You gotta have your say When you reach the bottom line The only thing to do is climb Pick yourself up off the floor Don't know what you're waiting for So when you reach the bottom line The only thing to do is climb Pick yourself up off the floor Anything you want is yours Part two - Part two I`m gonna take you to part two part two" It's okay for the anti-lyrics mavens to start savaging...
Posted 17 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
ScottishWillie wrote:
If you like this track get the album (its also got E=MC2 on it).
And "Medicine Show"!
Posted 17 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Love em!
Posted 17 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
If you like this track get the album (its also got E=MC2 on it).
Posted 18 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
Never thought I'd hear anything like this from RP. (Not necessarily a bad thing - this is a 5.)
Posted 18 years ago by fjordless    [ Reply ]
the only album i own on vinyl, cassette and cd (due to an odd sequence of hardware events). guess i should record it to 8-track and reel-to-reel and rip it to mp3 to go for the sexfecta.
Posted 18 years ago by greg6494    [ Reply ]
Love this! Thanks! How about playing Champagne?
Posted 18 years ago by Re    [ Reply ]
Looks like I missed "Rush" which was played last week. Dang! Well this is almost as good, a "9".
Posted 18 years ago by cmrump    [ Reply ]
i thought these guys were great until i saw them live. terrible. they were on a double bill with public image limited. p.i.l. was great but the prerecorded samples and drum machines of b.a.d. just didn't translate well live.
Posted 18 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Looks like I missed "Rush" which was played last week. Dang! Well this is almost as good, a "9".
Posted 18 years ago by cmrump    [ Reply ]
This seems like something RP has been playing all along. I was surprised to find it's a new addition. 8.
Posted 18 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Early '80s flashback with the Enz and B.A.D. Cool. Saw them at the old Bayou in DC. Blazing set with Prince's "1999" as an encore.
Posted 18 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Class of 1987 BAD Asses
Posted 18 years ago by trowel    [ Reply ]
I love it when they do, "YMCA". That is soooo fun!
Posted 18 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
'bout time, woohoo!
Posted 18 years ago by brewgoat    [ Reply ]
A High School favorite (yes, class of 87)
Posted 18 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]