Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble under the name Mind Power, Bad Brains developed a very fast and intense punk rock sound which came to be labeled "hardcore", and was often played faster and more emphatically than many of their peers. The unique factor of the band's music was the fact that they played more complex rhythms than other hardcore punk bands, also adapting diverse guitar styles into their songs.
Bad Brains have released nine studio albums (one of which is entirely composed of instrumental versions of their early material). The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Since 1994, the "classic" lineup of singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson has reunited, albeit performing sporadically.
Discography:
• Bad Brains (1982)
• Rock for Light (1983)
• I Against I (1986)
• Quickness (1989)
• Rise (1993)
• God of Love (1995)
• I & I Survived (2002)
• Build a Nation (2007)
• Into the Future (2012)
• Mind Power (TBA)
Big Takeover
Bad Brains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When nobody turned to be clean
Was not even touched by the water
Just another Nazi scheme
Yeah, the big takeover yeah
My, big takeover yeah, yeah
Prepare yourself for the final quest
This world is doomed with its own segregation
Just another Nazi test
Yeah, the big takeover yeah
My, big takeover yeah, yeah
So understand me when I say
There's no love for this USA
This world is doomed with its own segregation
Just another Nazi test
Yeah, the big takeover yeah
My, big takeover yeah, yeah
The lyrics to Bad Brains’s song “Big Takeover” are a scathing indictment of American society, its institutions, and its people. The song is a stark warning about the possibility of a Nazi takeover, an ever-present danger that is never far away. The lyrics are a bitter commentary on the state of modern America, where racial segregation and discrimination continue to be a reality for millions of people. The opening lines of the song, “No one dared to show for that shower, When nobody turned to be clean,” evoke the horrors of the Holocaust, and the fear and terror that permeated the concentration camps.
The lyrics continue to paint a bleak picture of American society. The second verse of the song suggests that the country is on the brink of disaster: “All throughout this so-called nation, prepare yourself for the final quest.” The final quest is a reference to the final solution, the Nazi plan for the extermination of the Jewish people. The song’s title, “Big Takeover,” is a reference to the Nazi takeover of the world, which the lyrics suggest is imminent. The final verse of the song is a dire warning about the future of the country: “This world is doomed with its own segregation, just another Nazi test.”
Overall, “Big Takeover” is a powerful and haunting song that warns of the potential for evil that lies within all of us. It is a call to action, urging people to fight against oppression and segregation wherever it is found.
Line by Line Meaning
No one dared to show for that shower
People did not show up for a supposed cleansing event because they knew it was just another ploy by oppressive systems to harm them
When nobody turned to be clean
The people did not fall for the oppressive systems' facade of promoting purity and morality
Was not even touched by the water
The people managed to escape the harmful effects of the oppressive systems by avoiding participating in it
Just another Nazi scheme
The oppressive systems were designed and operated like Nazi schemes, aimed to control and harm populations.
Yeah, the big takeover yeah
The oppressors were in control and their aim was to take over everything
My, big takeover yeah, yeah
The oppressive powers are consistently aiming to expand their control and reach
All throughout this so called nation
The oppressive systems are everywhere, throughout the country
Prepare yourself for the final quest
Prepare yourself for a final push for liberation and resistance
This world is doomed with its own segregation
The world is divided and marginalized by oppressive structures
Just another Nazi test
The oppressive systems are operating like Nazi regimes, testing populations to see what they can get away with
So understand me when I say
The singer is urging the listener to listen carefully to what they are saying
There's no love for this USA
The artist does not have any positive feelings or intentions towards the country he is in
This world is doomed with its own segregation
The oppressive structures are causing separation and division in the world that will ultimately lead to its downfall
Just another Nazi test
The oppressive structures in place are operating like a test of the people's endurance and willingness to resist.
Yeah, the big takeover yeah
The oppressive powers are consistently aiming to expand their control and reach
My, big takeover yeah, yeah
The oppressive powers are consistently aiming to expand their control and reach
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Darryl Aaron Jenifer, Gary W. Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
epaj95
This is amazing. No separation from the crowd and the audience, all the energies fused into one crazy intense explosion of music and aggression.
Andrew Grant
@III Don't know how you extrapolated that from my comment about when barriers appeared. Never stage dove. The lack of barriers only meant more "bouncers" at the front protecting everything. They were usually the opening band. haha. That closeness did lend itself to an extra energy surge
III
@Andrew Grant Maybe you were too busy destroying expensive equipment owned by some skilled musician that makes his living out of it...
King TuT NZAMBI X 👻🖤 RR
Oh I hvii hi hi gihv
misternaturalist
This is pure, distilled, punk rock. 100 degree proof. No B.S. Go H.R. go!
Lunatic4Bizcas
@Iron Man : This bands as others emerged from the Punk scene and then became their own thing.
Iron Man
I WOULDN'T CALL THIS PUNK ROCK, THIS IS MORE LIKE PROTEST MUSIC, ALTERNATIVE HARD CORE
coreycox2345
Such a compelling presence.
JAHJAWiii
Arguably one of the most underrated frontmans of all time
Humble 9300
HR gets so much shit these days. Hes in his older years, he went hard for so long. He deserves to chill and take care.