7 Seconds is one of the longest standing bands in Punk Music they have been touring and recording for three decades.
Because of the positive message in their music they are constantly being categorized as a Straight Edge Band. The band has continually rejected this label.
The band started by releasing some poorly-recorded, but highly energetic, EPs, most of which were later re-released as "alt.music.hardcore" and "Old School" compilation CDs. They also appeared on the 1985 hardcore compilation "Cleanse the Bacteria", in addition to numerous other compilations, such as "Not So Quiet On the Western Front," "Something to Believe In," and "Another Shot from Bracken."
7 Seconds has floated across several genres of rock. Their first full-length LP "The Crew" was recorded in 1983 and released by BYO Records, as was its successor - the classic hardcore EP "Walk Together Rock Together". With the "New Wind" LP, the band dramatically expanded its sound and style with audible elements of a sometimes quieter, more melodic and accessible sound. Many writers have credited this particular period of 7 Seconds' career as being highly influential on many pop punk, emocore and indie rock bands that came along much later. Subsequent LPs moved deeper into mainstream territory with proto-emo and U2-like sounds. The "7 Seconds" LP continued their musical experimentation. However, the band returned to an old-school hardcore sound in 1999 with the "Good to Go" album.
They are currently touring and plan to re-record their first three tapes Drastic Measures, Socially Fucked Up, Three Chord Politics, onto CD.
In the February, 2005 issue of AMP magazine, in an article titled, "7 Seconds: 25 Years of Our Core," Kevin Seconds explained how the band's name originated:
“We were big fans of The Dils, they had this EP, 198 Seconds of The Dils and I was so in love with punk rock that I would just write album titles on my clothes. This was still when Steve and I lived with my mom. We had this desk in this room we shared and I wrote ‘197 seconds of The Dils’, I miswrote the title. Over time, everything else faded, but the 7 Seconds part was there, and I circled it, I thought it looked cool.”
In 1982 7 Seconds is believed to be the first band to refer to themselves as Hardcore. For their first show on March 2 in Newsletter NWIN/SPUNK #1 they described their band as hardcore new wave [1]
Dim Menace's fist-brandishing scowl on the cover of the Skins, Brains, & Guts EP is one of the most iconic images in punk rock.[2]
Sacramento News & Review [3] speaks at length of their influence in the positive hardcore movement and their positive effect on the Punk Culture.
I Have a Dream
7 Seconds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The color of our skin we must ignore.
Do you feel the pain or see the hurt,
Or do you let it pass right by instead?
[Chorus]
This fighting, dividing, y'know we'll only lose
This fighting, dividing, y'know we'll only lose
How come we can stand for such a crime,
Racial hate, a real sign of the times.
We've gotta raise our voice, begin the fight
And equal world held high is in our sight.
[Chorus]
Is this prejudice a way of life, tell me!
Do you wanna be just like your friends, pressure!
Is it 'cause you just jumped by someone, is it?
You're condemning those who choose to live, unfair!
The lyrics of 7 Seconds's song "I Have a Dream" addresses the issue of racial discrimination and prejudice. The first verse begins with the lines "Hatred I can't stand it anymore. The color of our skin we must ignore." In these lyrics, the singer expresses their frustration with the prevalence of hate and racism, and calls for people to disregard the color of one's skin.
The second verse continues with the lines "How come we can stand for such a crime, Racial hate, a real sign of the times. We've gotta raise our voice, begin the fight And equal world held high is in our sight." Here, the singer questions society's acceptance of racism and calls for action to create an equal world.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the lines "This fighting, dividing, y'know we'll only lose." The repetition highlights the futility of fighting against each other and tearing each other apart. The overall message of the song is a call for unity and the end of prejudice and hate towards people of different races.
In conclusion, "I Have a Dream" is a powerful message against racial discrimination and prejudice. The lyrics urge listeners to recognize the pain that others may be experiencing and to stand together for a better and more equal world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hatred I can't stand it anymore.
I am unable to tolerate hatred any longer.
The color of our skin we must ignore.
We must ignore the color of our skin.
Do you feel the pain or see the hurt,
Do you perceive the pain and suffering?
Or do you let it pass right by instead?
Or do you ignore it completely?
[Chorus]
Repeated Chorus
How come we can stand for such a crime,
Why are we able to tolerate such a crime?
Racial hate, a real sign of the times.
Racial hate is a clear indication of the current period.
We've gotta raise our voice, begin the fight
We must raise our voice and start the struggle.
And equal world held high is in our sight.
We have a clear vision of a world of equality.
[Chorus]
Repeated Chorus
Is this prejudice a way of life, tell me!
Is this prejudice an accepted way of life?
Do you wanna be just like your friends, pressure!
Do you want to conform to peer pressure?
Is it 'cause you just jumped by someone, is it?
Is it because you were a victim of someone else's actions?
You're condemning those who choose to live, unfair!
It is unjust to criticize those who want to live their own lives.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Conversus W. Vans
Fucking love this CD. All I've been listening to lately is 7 Seconds, and I'm fairly new to the band.