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)
Unidentified
Bad Brains Lyrics
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Living a fantasy
with my face laying flat on the floor.
How many days till the eagle flies.
Another one goes, another one gets by.
It's time to get high.
High up above
you search for our crop
Drop!
You,
you walk right through my door.
Unidentified,
now it's time to lesson they score.
Played by the rules of fools.
Now they've gone and convinced you of much more.
Now it's time to fly.
You're unidentified.
There's no way to avoid the blood you say.
Is it the taste you desire.
Do you know the right from the wrong.
The right from the wrong.
No I can't take it no more...
Living a fantasy
with my face laying flat on the floor.
How many days till the eagle flies.
Another one goes, another one gets by.
It's time to get high.
High up above
you search for our crop
And suddenly you drop.
The lyrics of Bad Brains's song Unidentified speak to a sense of frustration with the state of the world around them. The singer refuses to continue living in a fantasy and confronts the harsh reality of living in a society where individuals are identified and pigeonholed by others. The singer portrays a deep sense of helplessness in the face of societal expectations and norms. The opening lyrics convey this sense of futility, "No, I can't take it no more. Living a fantasy with my face laying flat on the floor." The image of the face planted on the floor illustrates the feeling of being overpowered and defeated.
The lyrics touch on themes of personal identity, societal expectations, and drug use. The phrase "Now it's time to lesson they score," speaks to the idea of rising above the expectations of others and taking control of one's own life. The singer insists on soaring and being "unidentified," free from the constraints imposed by societal norms. The lyrics also touch on drug use as a means of escape, "It's time to get high. High up above you search for our crop and suddenly you drop." The phrase "our crop" refers to marijuana, and the song has been interpreted as a call for the legalization of this substance.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I can't take it no more.
I cannot tolerate this situation any longer.
Living a fantasy with my face laying flat on the floor.
Living in an imaginary world where I am hopeless and defeated.
How many days till the eagle flies.
How long do we have to wait for freedom or a hopeful opportunity?
Another one goes, another one gets by. It's time to get high.
Another person gets through while we remain stagnant, it's time for us to find a way to escape or change our situation.
High up above you search for our crop and suddenly you drop. Drop!
You search for something valuable, but it leads to your downfall.
You walk right through my door. Unidentified, now it's time to lesson they score.
Someone enters my life unexpectedly, and now it's time for them to experience a downfall or negative consequence.
Played by the rules of fools. Now they've gone and convinced you of much more. Now it's time to fly. You're unidentified.
You followed the foolish actions of others, and they lead you to believe in something false. It's time to break free and discover your true identity.
There's no way to avoid the blood you say. Is it the taste you desire.
You cannot escape the consequences you mentioned, why do you gravitate towards negative things?
Do you know the right from the wrong. The right from the wrong.
Do you understand the difference between good and evil or moral and immoral decisions?
No I can't take it no more... Living a fantasy with my face laying flat on the floor. How many days till the eagle flies. Another one goes, another one gets by. It's time to get high. High up above you search for our crop And suddenly you drop.
Repeating the earlier sentiments of futility and hopelessness.
Contributed by Ella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.