Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 … Read Full Bio ↴Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands (along with Overkill and Nuclear Assault) to emerge from the East Coast. The band has released 11 studio albums, several other albums, and 26 singles, including collaborating on a single with American hip hop group Public Enemy. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Anthrax sold 2.5 million records in the United States from 1991 to 2004, with worldwide sales of 10 million. Four of the band's studio albums have also achieved gold certifications by the RIAA, including their third full-length record Among the Living (1987), which cemented Anthrax's reputation as one of the most successful thrash metal bands.

Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. The band has had a revolving cast of singers and lead guitarists, including Neil Turbin, John Bush, Dan Spitz and Rob Caggiano. Since 2013, the band has consisted of Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Ian and Benante (who replaced one-time drummer Greg D'Angelo in 1983) are the only two members to appear on every album, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing original bassist Dan Lilker. After two stints in Anthrax, from 1984 to 1992 and again from 2005 to 2007, Belladonna returned to the band in 2010.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_(American_band)

Studio albums
Fistful of Metal (1984)
Spreading the Disease (1985)
Among the Living (1987)
State of Euphoria (1988)
Persistence of Time (1990)
Sound of White Noise (1993)
Stomp 442 (1995)
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
We've Come for You All (2003)
Worship Music (2011)
For All Kings (2016)

P & V
Anthrax Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was a day to remember, twice as hard
As long
That was the day that I convinced myself
That I found my god

I tip my cap and I step up
I fix myself to the right
I move right into the firing zone

And I scream drink or fight
It's just a matter of respect
Or is that something I missed
This ain't no peace train that you are
Jumping on
So shake my hand and shake it strong
And everybody come along

Long, strong (am I)

Sometimes I can't stop the shaking
At least I know I'm not dead
I don't remember whose blood this is
I've got a hammer inside my head

I get put up, I get put down
And I don't even try
I've burned a bridge, I've burned a
Whole town
Cause I'm fortified
I tell the truth or just gilded lie
And then I charge like a bull with his
Balls tied

A heavy dose of reality
With a side of piss & vinegar
A free drink at the bar and you'll take it

A swift kick in the ass and you'll take it

Overall Meaning

The Anthrax song P & V is a hard-driving, high-energy track that muses on the themes of faith, power, and aggression. The lead singer reflects on a day where they felt like they found their god, but it came at a price. The day was twice as hard and long, and the singer convinced themselves they found their deity. The lyrics then shift to the present, with the singer aggressively asserting themselves in a firing zone, screaming either drink or fight. There's a sense of conflict and tension in the lyrics as the singer questions whether their actions are a matter of respect or something they missed. There's also a sense of camaraderie as the singer invites everyone to come along and shake their hand strong.

The second verse begins with a sense of physical turmoil, as the singer tells us they can't stop their shaking. However, they take comfort in knowing they're not dead, even if they don't remember whose blood is on their body. The singer then gets reflective, discussing how they've burned bridges and destroyed whole towns. They are fortified, meaning they are unbreakable and reliable. The lyrics become more combative as the singer charges forward with the truth, or a gilded lie, like a bull with its balls tied.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a day to remember, twice as hard As long
The day was memorable but difficult and seemed like it lasted twice as long as usual.

That was the day that I convinced myself That I found my god
On that day, the singer had a powerful experience that made them believe in something greater than themselves.

I tip my cap and I step up I fix myself to the right I move right into the firing zone And I scream drink or fight
The singer is bravely facing a challenge or confrontation, ready to defend themselves by any means necessary.

It's just a matter of respect Or is that something I missed This ain't no peace train that you are Jumping on So shake my hand and shake it strong And everybody come along
The artist is looking for respect and acknowledgement from those around them, and is willing to fight for it. They are urging others to join them in their cause.

Sometimes I can't stop the shaking At least I know I'm not dead I don't remember whose blood this is I've got a hammer inside my head
The artist has been through traumatic experiences that have left them physically and emotionally shaken. They are struggling to make sense of what has happened to them.

I get put up, I get put down And I don't even try I've burned a bridge, I've burned a Whole town Cause I'm fortified
The singer feels like they are constantly being tested and knocked down, but they are strong enough to survive and overcome any obstacle.

I tell the truth or just gilded lie And then I charge like a bull with his Balls tied
The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to defend their beliefs or their reputation, even if that means being confrontational or aggressive.

A heavy dose of reality With a side of piss & vinegar A free drink at the bar and you'll take it A swift kick in the ass and you'll take it
The artist is describing their worldview - that life is tough and you have to be tough to survive. They are using colorful language to convey this point.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOHN ROBERT BUSH, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS