The band members were Lars Frederiksen (vocals and lead guitar), Gordy (also credited as "Unknown Bastard") (vocals), Big Jay Bastard (bass), Craig Leg (rhythm guitar) and Scott Abels (also credited as "Skatty Punk Rock") (drums). Whilst Craig did not appear on the first album, he has always been a touring member of the band.
Both the untitled debut and the second effort 'Viking' have been produced by Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Operation Ivy, The Transplants).
To Have and to Have Not
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother says there be no work next year
Qualifications once the Golden Rule
Are now just pieces of paper
Just because you're better than me
Doesn't mean I'm lazy
Just because you're going forwards
Doesn't mean I'm going backwards
Well if you look the part well then you'll get the job
In last year's trousers and your old school shoes
The truth is son it's a buyer's market
They can afford to pick and choose
Just because you're better than me
Doesn't mean I'm a lazy
Just because that I dress like this
Doesn't mean I'm a Communist
Well the factories are closing and the army's full
I don't know what I'm going to do
But I've come to see in the land of the free
There's only room for a chosen few
Just because you're better than me
Doesn't mean I'm a lazy
Just because you're going forwards
Doesn't mean I'm going backwards
Well at 21 you're a top of the scrap heap
At 16 you were top of your class
Well I dropped outta high school in Campbell, California
Got a guitar and I never looked back
Just because you're better than me
Doesn't mean I'm a lazy
Just because that I dress like this
Doesn't mean I'm a Communist
The lyrics of "To Have and to Have Not" by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards tell a story of a young person's struggle to find their place in society, where the system that used to reward hard work and education, now only values appearances and connections. The song opens with the singer's mother informing them that there will be no work next year, suggesting that the job market is becoming increasingly scarce. This is followed by the realization that qualifications, which used to be the key to success, have lost their worth; they are "now just pieces of paper".
The lyrics also take aim at the prevalent notion that success is a reflection of personal superiority. The singer acknowledges that they might not be as well-dressed or as polished as others, but challenges the notion that this means they are lazy or a communist. They also point out that just because someone else is advancing, it does not mean that they are moving backward.
The song then describes the job market as a "buyer's market", where employers can afford to be picky about the people they choose to hire. The factories are closing and the military is over-enrolled, leaving the singer unsure about their future. The last verse reveals that the singer himself dropped out of high school and became a musician, suggesting that there may be alternative paths to success. The message is clear: society's idea of success needs to change to accommodate more people instead of only the chosen few.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the morning and out to school
Starting the day early in order to attend school
Mother says there be no work next year
The future job prospects are looking bleak
Qualifications once the Golden Rule
Having the right qualifications was once key to getting a job
Are now just pieces of paper
Having the right qualifications doesn't guarantee a job anymore
Just because you're better than me
Just because someone may be more privileged or successful than me
Doesn't mean I'm lazy
Doesn't mean I'm not working hard
Just because you're going forwards
Just because someone is progressing in life
Doesn't mean I'm going backwards
Doesn't mean I'm not making progress myself
Well if you look the part well then you'll get the job
Looks can play a role in getting hired
In last year's trousers and your old school shoes
Even if you dress the part, if clothes are old or outdated it may affect your chances
The truth is son it's a buyer's market
Employers have the upper hand in a job market with more candidates than jobs
They can afford to pick and choose
Employers can afford to be selective in hiring
Well the factories are closing and the army's full
Factory jobs are disappearing and the military is full
I don't know what I'm going to do
Not sure what options are left
But I've come to see in the land of the free
In America, where freedom is emphasized
There's only room for a chosen few
There are limited opportunities available
Well at 21 you're a top of the scrap heap
By age 21, your prospects may already be limited
At 16 you were top of your class
Having excelled academically at 16 may not matter in the job market years later
Well I dropped outta high school in Campbell, California
The singer dropped out of high school in a specific location
Got a guitar and I never looked back
Started pursuing a different path and never regretted it
Just because you're better than me
Just because someone may be more privileged or successful than me
Doesn't mean I'm a lazy
Doesn't mean I'm not working hard
Just because that I dress like this
Just because of my appearance, clothing style or outrageously colored hair or facial makeup etc...
Doesn't mean I'm a Communist
Doesn't mean I subscribe to a specific political ideology
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Bragg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind