In 1978, Tom Cochrane joined up with Rob Baker on drums, Jeff Jones on bass, Peter Boynton on keyboards and Ken Greer to form Red Rider. They were signed to Capitol Records and released their first album Don't Fight It in 1980. With the singles "White Hot" and "Don't Fight It", the album quickly reached gold status. Their second album As Far as Siam was released in 1981 and featured the hit "Lunatic Fringe" which was in the 1982 movie "Vision Quest.". "Lunatic Fringe" and two other tracks, "Cowboys in Hong Kong" and "What Have You Got To Do" were featured in an episode of Miami Vice in addition to which helped push the album to platinum. Boynton was replaced by keyboardist Steve Sexton on Red Rider's third album Neruda, released in 1983. The track "Napoleon Sheds His Skin" would become one of the more popular songs from the album.
For their 1984 album Breaking Curfew, John Webster replaced Sexton on keyboards. The album did not sell as well as Neruda and a dispute with Capitol Records over the future direction of the band resulted in Red Rider being dropped from the record label later in 1984.
The band subsequently signed with RCA. In what became a strong signal regarding the future of the band, they officially became known as Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, and released their self-titled fifth album in 1986.
In 1987, Capitol released a compilation CD titled Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider, covering the band's first four albums.
In the fall of 1988, the band released their sixth album Victory Day which contained the track "Big League", about a boy's dream of playing in the National Hockey League. The song was featured in a segment on CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada.
Red Rider's final album, The Symphony Sessions, was released in 1989 and saw the band performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, as Procol Harum had done seventeen years before. Cochrane's solo career was taking off and the band broke up shortly after the album was released.
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
Lunatic Fringe
Red Rider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you're out there
You're in hiding
And you hold your meetings
I can hear you coming
I know what you're after
We're wise to you this time (wise to you this time)
We won't let you kill the laughter
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Lunatic fringe
In the twilight's last gleaming
But this is open season
But you won't get too far
'Cause you've got to blame someone
For your own confusion
We're on guard this time (on guard this time)
Against your final solution
Oh no
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
We can hear you coming (we can hear you coming)
No, you're not going to win this time (not gonna win)
We can hear the footsteps (we can hear the footsteps)
Hey, out along the walkway (out along the walkway)
Lunatic fringe
We all know you're out there
Can you feel the resistance
Can you feel the thunder
Oh no
Hey!
The title of the song, "Lunatic Fringe," suggests a group of extremists or outcasts. The lyrics depict the singer's awareness of their existence and practices, contrasting with the general population's lack of awareness. The singer knows they're out there, hiding, and holding secret meetings. The group is likely seeking some sort of revolution or rebellion, which the singer recognizes as a threat to the status quo.
Despite the group's secretive nature, the singer reveals that they can hear them coming and know what they're after. This time, however, "we're wise to you." The "we" in this context could refer to society as a whole or a specific group that has been made aware of the lunatic fringe's intentions. The singer promises that the laughter will not be killed, likely meaning that the group's pursuit of their aims will not dampen society's joy or happiness.
The chorus repeats the title line, with added emphasis each time, as if building to a climactic confrontation with the lunatic fringe. The final lines of the song suggest that the group's "final solution" (likely a reference to Hitler's genocide of Jews during World War II) will not succeed, and the singer is prepared to resist at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
Lunatic fringe
Referring to individuals on the extreme fringes of society or ideology who hold dangerous, radical beliefs.
I know you're out there
Acknowledging the existence of the aforementioned lunatic fringe and their activities.
You're in hiding
Suggesting that the lunatic fringe operates covertly and is difficult to identify or track down.
And you hold your meetings
Implying that members of the lunatic fringe gather in secret to plan and coordinate their activities.
I can hear you coming
Possibly implying that the actions of the lunatic fringe have become more overt and noticeable.
I know what you're after
Claiming to understand the motivations or goals of the lunatic fringe.
We're wise to you this time (wise to you this time)
Asserting that the general population is aware of the presence and danger posed by the lunatic fringe.
We won't let you kill the laughter
Vowing not to allow the lunatic fringe to intimidate or silence those who oppose their views.
Lunatic fringe
Repeating the refrain to emphasize the ongoing presence and danger of the lunatic fringe.
In the twilight's last gleaming
Referring to a time of crisis or danger when the outcome is uncertain and the future is unclear.
But this is open season
Suggesting that the time is right to confront and oppose the lunatic fringe.
But you won't get too far
Arguing that the lunatic fringe will not succeed in achieving their goals.
'Cause you've got to blame someone
Suggesting that the lunatic fringe is quick to assign blame for problems or issues without taking responsibility themselves.
For your own confusion
Implying that the actions of the lunatic fringe are rooted in confusion, delusion, or misinformation.
We're on guard this time (on guard this time)
Claiming to be vigilant and prepared to stand up to the lunatic fringe.
Against your final solution
Referring to the ideology or beliefs of the lunatic fringe as a dangerous and potentially genocidal 'solution' to perceived problems.
We can hear you coming (we can hear you coming)
Reinforcing the idea that the activities of the lunatic fringe are becoming more pronounced and recognizable.
No, you're not going to win this time (not gonna win)
Asserting that the lunatic fringe will not succeed in achieving their goals or wreaking havoc on society this time around.
We can hear the footsteps (we can hear the footsteps)
Continuing with the idea that the actions of the lunatic fringe are becoming more pronounced and noticeable.
Hey, out along the walkway (out along the walkway)
Unclear, but may be an exclamation signifying the need for vigilance and awareness.
Lunatic fringe
Repeating the refrain once again to emphasize the ongoing presence and danger of the lunatic fringe.
We all know you're out there
Implies that the existence and danger of the lunatic fringe is a widely recognized fact.
Can you feel the resistance
Suggesting that opposition to the beliefs and activities of the lunatic fringe is growing stronger.
Can you feel the thunder
Possibly implying that the opposition to the lunatic fringe is reaching a critical mass and may soon erupt into necessary action.
Oh no
Unclear, but may be an expression of concern, frustration, or anger.
Hey!
Unclear, but may be an exclamation calling for attention or action.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Thomas William Cochrane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind