Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble under the name Mind Power, Bad Brains developed a very fast and intense punk rock sound which came to be labeled "hardcore", and was often played faster and more emphatically than many of their peers. The unique factor of the band's music was the fact that they played more complex rhythms than other hardcore punk bands, also adapting diverse guitar styles into their songs.
Bad Brains have released nine studio albums (one of which is entirely composed of instrumental versions of their early material). The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Since 1994, the "classic" lineup of singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson has reunited, albeit performing sporadically.
Discography:
• Bad Brains (1982)
• Rock for Light (1983)
• I Against I (1986)
• Quickness (1989)
• Rise (1993)
• God of Love (1995)
• I & I Survived (2002)
• Build a Nation (2007)
• Into the Future (2012)
• Mind Power (TBA)
Banned in D.C.
Bad Brains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Banned in D.C. with a thousand more places to go
Gonna swim across the Atlantic, 'cause that's the only place I can go
You, you can't hurt me
Why? I'm banned in D.C.
D.C.
We, we got ourselves
Gonna sing it, gonna love it, gonna work it out to any length
Don't worry, no worry, about what the people say
We got ourselves, we gonna make it anyway
You, you can't hurt me
Why? I'm banned in D.C.
D.C., D.C
And if you ban us from your clubs
It's the right time, the right mind
And if you think we really care
You won't find in my mind
No, you can't afford
To close your doors, so soon no more
My, oh my, I'll let you down
Upon the ground, so soon no more
No, you can't afford
To close your doors, so soon no more
My, oh my, I'll let you down
Upon the ground
The song "Banned in D.C." by Bad Brains is a punk rock anthem of resistance against a system that judge and oppress those who they deemed as deviant or outcasts. The first two lines of the lyrics refer to the band's exclusion from clubs and gigs in the Washington, D.C. area due to their reputations as being unconventional, provocative, and incredibly loud. However, the band refuses to give up and surrender to the restrictions imposed by society. They are determined to venture beyond the boundaries of D.C., even if it means crossing the Atlantic Ocean in pursuit of new opportunities where they can play their music freely and loudly.
The chorus of the song, "You, you can't hurt me, why? I'm banned in D.C.," signifies the band's resilience and strength in the face of rejection and marginalization. They are unafraid of being banned in a city that does not accept their music or message, hence they have nothing to lose. The repetition of the phrase "D.C." emphasizes the setting of the song and reinforces the message about the oppression and censorship that the band experienced in this particular location.
Overall, "Banned in D.C." is a powerful and straightforward song that conveys a strong message of resistance, defiance, and perseverance, even when confronted by adversity and exclusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Banned in D.C. with a thousand more places to go
Being banned in D.C. doesn't stop me, I have so many other places to go
Gonna swim across the Atlantic, 'cause that's the only place I can go
I'll go to extreme lengths to continue doing what I love, even if it means leaving the country
You, you can't hurt me
Being banned in D.C. doesn't hurt me or my passion for music
Why? I'm banned in D.C.
I'm banned in D.C. for being myself and playing the music I love
D.C.
Referring to Washington D.C.
We, we got ourselves
We have each other as a community of musicians/outsiders
Gonna sing it, gonna love it, gonna work it out to any length
We will continue to play and express ourselves no matter what
Don't worry, no worry, about what the people say
We won't let the opinions of others dictate our actions
We got ourselves, we gonna make it anyway
We will persevere and succeed despite the obstacles in our way
And if you ban us from your clubs
Even if we are banned from clubs in this industry, we will find a way to make our music heard
It's the right time, the right mind
This is the perfect time to stand up for ourselves and our music
And if you think we really care
We don't care about conforming to the industry's expectations
You won't find in my mind
We won't let others influence or control our thoughts
No, you can't afford
Those who try to keep us down will eventually suffer the consequences
To close your doors, so soon no more
Don't close the doors on us yet, we will overcome and succeed
My, oh my, I'll let you down
Those who underestimate us will be proven wrong
Upon the ground, so soon no more
We will rise above the expectations and limitations set upon us
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Darryl Aaron Jenifer, Gary W Miller, Paul D. Hudson, Earl Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind