Later that year, the group released the classic hardcore single "Amoeba" on Posh Boy Records. The Adolescents signed with Frontier Records in January 1981 and recorded The Adolescents the following month. Rikk Agnew left and was replaced by Pat Smear, formerly of The Germs. This line up lasted until the end of June when Smear left.
The Adolescents broke up in August 1981. Cadena formed The Abandoned, Soto and Agnew joined Legal Weapon, Royer formed D.I. and Agnew joined Christian Death after his departure.
Rikk Agnew made his solo album in 1983 then joined D.I. with Alfie Agnew, Frank and Rikk's younger brother.
In 1986 The Adolescents reformed with their original line-up and started to work on a new album. They recorded Brats in Battalions in the late summer. The record came out in August 1987 due to the band deciding to produce and release the album themselves with little cash or backing.
The Adolescents broke up in April 1989.
The band regrouped to tour for the 20th anniversary of their self-titled album in 2001 and have continued to perform.
The Adolescents have a new release out on Finger Records, O.C. Confidential in 2005. Finger Records is owned and run by Mel Schantz out of Orange County, California.
The Adolescents toured in support of OC Confidential, but Frank Agnew left the band in 2006. Rotating through as the band's live guitarists over the next few years were Matt Beld, Joe Harrison, and Soto's former Joyride bandmate Mike McKnight. O'Brien left the band in 2008 and was replaced by Armando Del Rio. Reflex and Soto became the band's sole constant members and primary songwriters from this point forward, and signed the Adolescents to German label Concrete Jungle Records. A split EP with the band Burning Heads was released in 2009. For the band's next album, 2011's The Fastest Kid Alive, the lineup was Reflex, Soto, Del Rio, McKnight, and Harrison. The band also contributed a cover version of the Runaways' "School Days" to the tribute album Take It or Leave It: A Tribute to the Queens of Noise that year.
Dan Root took Harrison's guitar position in 2012, and the Adolescents released the American Dogs in Europe EP in conjunction with a European tour. This was followed by the band's sixth studio album, Presumed Insolent (2013). Del Rio was replaced by Mike Cambra, and McKnight by Leroy Merlin, for 2014's La Vendetta..., which was given a North American release the following year by Frontier Records. Hot War, a split EP with Russian band Svetlanas, followed in 2015, containing one song from Presumed Insolent and one from La Vendetta... The Adolescents' most recent studio album, Manifest Density, was released July 8, 2016 by Concrete Jungle, with Ian Taylor taking Merlin's place as rhythm guitarist.
Democracy
Adolescents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're killing us, and you're killing me
Now I know better, now I can see
That I don't want to be in democracy
Now is the time for us to strike
Do we know what we're doing? Have we set things right?
And this what you call democracy
It's a cry for no government, a cry to be free
And I don't see freedom in democracy
Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian
Do you really care what party you're in?
Did you really think you could make it big
Living among these nuclear pigs
If you didn't know you'll never see
We're too far gone for democracy
Look what's it's done to you and me
Democracy is not for me
The lyrics of Adolescents's song Democracy convey a strong message of disillusionment with democratic systems of government and questioning the true meaning of democracy. The song starts with a critical question: "Is this what you call democracy?" The singer then stresses the fact that both the ruling and the governed are suffering, implying that there's no real freedom in democracy. The line "They're killing us, and you're killing me" suggests that democracy is a flawed system where people inadvertently hurt one another.
As the song progresses, the singer calls for action and asks if people know what they're doing and if they have set things right. The lyrics then depict democracy as being responsible for leading the world into World War Three. The message of the song is clear: democracy is not the solution, it's the problem.
The song lyrics also express feelings of individual powerlessness within a democratic system. It highlights the superficiality of party politics, calling out the inefficacy of identifying with any particular party. The line "Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian/Do you really care what party you're in?" is pointing to the fact that the labels that democracy often attaches to people only serve to divide them further. In essence, the song sees democracy as too far gone, and the only solution is to reject the system altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this what you call democracy?
Asking whether the current situation represents an ideal democracy
They're killing us, and you're killing me
Pointing out that both leaders and citizens are responsible for the negative consequences of democracy
Now I know better, now I can see
Indicating that the singer has gained awareness of the limitations and flaws of democracy
That I don't want to be in democracy
Expressing a clear rejection of the democratic system
Now is the time for us to strike
Encouraging action to change the status quo
Do we know what we're doing? Have we set things right?
Questioning whether the protesters are fully prepared and informed enough to pursue their goals
They're leading us into World War Three
Claiming that the democratic leaders are involving the country in a potentially catastrophic military conflict
And this what you call democracy
Asserting that the current situation does not match the ideals of democracy
It's a cry for no government, a cry to be free
Suggesting that the protesters are asking for more personal autonomy and less state intervention
And I don't see freedom in democracy
Stating that democracy does not necessarily bring true freedom
Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian
Mentioning some of the most popular political affiliations in the US
Do you really care what party you're in?
Questioning the significance and relevance of partisan labels
Did you really think you could make it big
Posing a rhetorical question about the feasibility of achieving individual success within a democratic system
Living among these nuclear pigs
Calling out some of the negative traits of the people in power
If you didn't know you'll never see
Hinting that some people are oblivious to the fact that democracy is not a perfect system
We're too far gone for democracy
Arguing that the current social, political, and economic landscape is not compatible with democracy
Look what's it's done to you and me
Pointing out that democracy has caused more harm than good to individuals and society
Democracy is not for me
Stating a clear and unambiguous opposition to democracy as a political system
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIM DONOHO, STEVE SOTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CR
on No Way
I perceive the "No ass, no head" lyrics to mean no sex, no blowjobs(head) hence the "gotta go home and jack off instead"