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.
The Liar
Adolescents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last whispers come bleeding from lips
They stole your freedom for military might
Prostituted like the whores of the apocolypse
CHORUS:
Reagen plays the liar - power's his desire, theres nothing for the world we can do!
Reagen plays the lyre - the flames are burning higher, while the world burns down around you!
They say they're telling us the honest truth,
Then they stab us in the back and lie to our face.
They say they're building a new free world,
But it's just the empire of a new master race.
They say "It's not our policy to kill civilians,
But it's to make the world safe for democracy..."
The fact they're still lying while our children are dying
Only stands as proof of man's insanity.
CHORUS
Do you wave the flag, can you support a man
Who'd rather arm the world than give it food.
As the new master twists the nuclear screw,
He laughs as Kiev burns on the six o'clock news.
CHORUS
They say they're telling us the honest truth,
Then they stab us in the back and lie to our face.
They say they're building a new free world,
But it's just the empire of a new master race.
They say "It's not our policy to kill civilians,
But it's to make the world safe for democracy..."
The fact they're still lying while our children are dying
Only stands as proof of man's insanity.
Reagen plays the liar - power's his desire, theres nothing for the world we can do!
The Adolescents' song The Liar is a political commentary on the Reagan Administration's role in the political and military conflicts of the 1980s. The lyrics describe the violence and corruption that occurred during this time, particularly in the context of the United States' involvement in international affairs. The first stanza alludes to the conflict in Libya, where the US government supported military action that led to the loss of civilian lives. The chorus suggests that Reagan himself is responsible for these actions, as he is portrayed as a "liar" who is obsessed with power and has no regard for the consequences of his actions.
The second verse expands on this theme by pointing out the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the Reagan administration. They claim to be working towards a "new free world," but their actions indicate the opposite: they are creating an "empire of a new master race." The phrase "stab us in the back and lie to our face" suggests that the Reagan administration is deliberately deceiving the public about their true intentions. The final lines of the verse condemn the administration for continuing to lie even as innocent people are dying as a result of their policies.
The final verse returns to the theme of Reagan's warmongering and greed. The lines "Do you wave the flag, can you support a man/Who'd rather arm the world than give it food" suggest that Reagan's priorities are misguided, as he is more interested in building up the US military than in helping those who are suffering from poverty and hunger. The verse ends with a condemnation of Reagan's nuclear policies, as the lyrics describe the destruction of Kiev on the news.
Overall, The Liar is a powerful condemnation of the Reagan administration's policies and actions during the 1980s. The song speaks to the frustration and anger felt by many Americans at the time, and its themes continue to resonate today.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch the skies light up Libya tonight
The violent and destructive actions of those in power are causing chaos and destruction in other countries.
Last whispers come bleeding from lips
People are dying due to the actions of those in power and their last words are pleas for help.
They stole your freedom for military might
The government has taken away people's freedom and rights in order to increase their military power.
Prostituted like the whores of the apocalypse
People are being used and exploited for the benefit of those in power in a way that is destructive and apocalyptic.
Reagan plays the liar - power's his desire, theres nothing for the world we can do!
The president is lying for his own benefit and people feel powerless to stop him.
Reagan plays the lyre - the flames are burning higher, while the world burns down around you!
The president is contributing to the destruction of the world through his lies and inaction.
They say they're telling us the honest truth,
Those in power claim to be truthful and transparent with the public.
Then they stab us in the back and lie to our face.
But in reality, they are lying and betraying the public's trust.
They say they're building a new free world,
Those in power claim to be working towards a better and more equitable world.
But it's just the empire of a new master race.
But in reality, they are building a new empire that benefits only the powerful and privileged.
They say "It's not our policy to kill civilians,
Those in power claim to be against harming innocent civilians.
But it's to make the world safe for democracy..."
But their actions and policies demonstrate otherwise and show their true intentions.
The fact they're still lying while our children are dying
Despite the devastating consequences, those in power continue to lie and deceive the public.
Only stands as proof of man's insanity.
This behavior highlights the irrational and destructive nature of human actions and decisions.
Do you wave the flag, can you support a man
The song questions whether people can continue to support and be complicit in the actions of those in power.
Who'd rather arm the world than give it food.
The government prioritizes military power and weapons over basic necessities like food and aid for those in need.
As the new master twists the nuclear screw,
The song depicts a powerful figure in control of destructive weapons and their lack of concern for the consequences.
He laughs as Kiev burns on the six o'clock news.
Their indifference to the destructive consequences of their actions is highlighted by their apparent entertainment and enjoyment of news of destruction.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADELE ROBERTS, MICHAEL STONE, LEE GRAVES, ELROY POWELL, THOMAS YEO
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"