Pease Porridge

Album: De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is based around a deceptively jaunty sample of American whistling and bone-playing recording artist Brothers Bones' "Black Eyed Susan Brown." You may know Brother Bones from his recording of the standard "Sweet Georgia Brown," which became internationally famous after being adopted as the theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team in 1952.

    Other samples in the song include James Browns' "Make It Funky," the Headhunters' "God Made Me Funky" and Harrell & Sharon Lucky's "Pease Porridge Hot" and "Finger Fun."
  • The lyric finds De La Soul pointing out that just because they are laid-back, it doesn't mean they'll let any one walk over them. Trugoy the Dove explained to Melody Maker: "That song's just saying that if people want to test us, we're not gonna stand for it. Just 'cos we spoke about being peaceful and positive, it doesn't mean we're gonna let ourselves be trampled on. We will do whatever it takes to defend ourselves. There have been situations where people tried to test us, and we defended ourselves, and whether it was worse for us or for them, it doesn't really matter."

    Trugoy added that he's not talking about gangsta rappers but kids of different ages that the band met in clubs. "They'd come to see our show, so it wasn't to do with music, it was just them wanting to test us as so-called peaceful people." he said.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.