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)

Stealing From A Thief
Anthrax Lyrics

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Don't want a life like my parents had
Don't want a life like my rich friends have
Don't want to live by association
Don't want to live the great maybe
I want a life, not a name online
I want to live it in real time
I want a life just so I can be
I never asked what was in it for me

I never asked what was in it for me

Stealing from a thief
My humanity
I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency
Stealing from a thief
Dancing with the beast
I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency

As a kid I'd play make believe
As a man I play make believe
As a kid I'd do anything
As a man I do everything

I live my centered and humane
I live my life like a man insane
I live my life just so I can be
I never asked what was in it for me
I never asked what was in it for me

Stealing from a thief
My humanity
I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency
Stealing from a thief
Dancing with the beast
I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency

I get up, I get up, I get up and go
I grab a hold and reach way down
To find something that I really believe
I don't need to console myself
If I don't like what I see

I never asked what was in it for me

Stealing from a thief
My humanity
I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency
Stealing from a thief
Dancing with the beast

I know my name, I know my pain
I know my frequency

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Anthrax's "Stealing From A Thief" are a commentary on the desire for individuality and authenticity in a world that often rewards conformity and material success. The singer rejects both the life of their parents and their wealthy friends, instead seeking a life of meaning and purpose on their own terms. The repetition of the line "I never asked what was in it for me" reinforces this idea that the singer is not interested in personal gain or external validation, but rather in living a life that is true to themselves.

The chorus of the song, "Stealing from a thief, my humanity, I know my name, I know my pain, I know my frequency," further emphasizes this theme of rejecting societal norms in favor of one's own values and personal truth. The metaphor of stealing from a thief suggests that the singer is taking back something that was rightfully theirs but had been taken by an unjust system or society.

The final verse of the song highlights the singer's commitment to living authentically, even if it means being perceived as crazy or unconventional. The repetition of the line "I know my name, I know my pain, I know my frequency" suggests a deep sense of self-awareness and self-knowledge, reinforcing the singer's rejection of external validation and their focus on personal truth.

Overall, "Stealing From A Thief" is a powerful expression of the desire for individuality and authenticity in a world that often values conformity and material success.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't want a life like my parents had
I don't want to live the same way my parents lived.

Don't want a life like my rich friends have
I don't want to live like my wealthy friends, either.

Don't want to live by association
I don't want to be defined by the people I associate with.

Don't want to live the great maybe
I don't want to live in uncertainty or indecisiveness.

I want a life, not a name online
I want to live my own life, not just have a social media persona.

I want to live it in real time
I want to live in the moment and experience things in real life.

I want a life just so I can be
I want to live my own life simply to exist and be myself.

I never asked what was in it for me
I never considered what advantages or benefits I may receive from my life.

Stealing from a thief
Taking something back from someone who has already taken it from you.

My humanity
My fundamental nature as a human being.

I know my name, I know my pain
I am aware of my own identity and struggles.

I know my frequency
I understand my own existence and place in the world.

Dancing with the beast
Engaging with something dangerous or powerful in order to conquer it.

As a kid I'd play make believe
When I was young, I would pretend things were different than they really were.

As a man I play make believe
As an adult, I still have moments where I imagine things that aren't true.

As a kid I'd do anything
When I was young, I was open to trying new things and taking risks.

As a man I do everything
As an adult, I try to experience as much as I can.

I live my centered and humane
I live my life with balance and understanding of others.

I live my life like a man insane
I live my life with intense passion and energy.

I get up, I get up, I get up and go
I am always pushing forward and taking action.

I grab a hold and reach way down
I dig deep in order to find strength and motivation.

To find something that I really believe
To discover a belief or cause that is truly meaningful to me.

I don't need to console myself
I don't need to comfort or reassure myself, because I am strong enough to face challenges.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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