Greg Graffin, the band's frontman, holds a Master's degree in geology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University. His dissertation for Cornell was a comprehensive study of how modern scientists, especially those who believe in strict Darwinism, view theism and religion, and how their own religious beliefs, if any, affect their study and work. He has since published it for fans of the band.
In 1983, Bad Religion released into the unknown, a keyboard-driven psychedelic rock album that was enormously unpopular among the band's core fan base. It is now out of print, and generally disowned by the band. However, in past years it has become a collectors item, and has gained some acceptance from fans. It now can be seen going for more than $100 on eBay, and is often pirated.
In 1984, Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) replaced Gurewitz. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower, rock and roll version of their original sound with the back to the known, but they disbanded soon after.
The band reformed in 1987 and released suffer in 1988, cementing their comeback in the punk community. Not only is this album considered one of their best by most fans, but it is often credited with "saving" the Southern Californian punk rock scene by fans and Bad Religion's contemporaries alike.
no control (1989) and against the grain (1990) further increased the band's popularity, followed by generator (1992). Before the recording sessions for the latter album commenced, drummer Pete Finestone left the band in to focus on his other band, The Fishermen. Bobby Schayer joined the band as his replacement. recipe for hate (1993) followed shortly thereafter.
With alternative rock breaking into the mainstream, Bad Religion left Epitaph for major label Atlantic and quickly re-released Recipe for Hate on the major label. 1994's stranger than fiction followed, but shortly after its release Brett Gurewitz left the band again. Officially, he cited the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as the Offspring (then a part of the Epitaph roster) became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s. But it was well-known that the departure was not on good terms, as he later accused the band of selling out for leaving Epitaph in favor of a major label. Gurewitz recorded a song with his new band The Daredevils entitled "Hate You," reportedly directed towards Jay Bentley. Gurewitz, moreover, was struggling more seriously with heroin and other addictions that had plagued him for years.
Gurewitz was replaced by Brian Baker, former member of bands such as Minor Threat and Dag Nasty. Previously, Graffin and Gurewitz had split songwriting duties, but Gurewitz's departure left Graffin as the band's lone songwriter.
What followed were a series of moderately successful albums, the gray race (1996), no substance (1998), and the new america (2000). As their popularity waned, Bad Religion left Atlantic in 2001 and returned to Epitaph. Bobby Schayer left the band following a serious shoulder injury and was replaced by Brooks Wackerman (Suicidal Tendencies) and Brett Gurewitz rejoined the band in time to record the process of belief (2002). the empire strikes first was in June 2004. Both albums are widely regarded as a return to form for the band.
In 2004, the band released digitally-remastered versions of five of their early albums (How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain, and Generator). The How Could Hell Be Any Worse? re-issue also contained all of their first EP, the Public Service EP (alternative versions of Bad Religion, Slaves and Drastic Actions from the self titled EP) and Back To The Known.
Bad Religion's fourtheenth full-length studio album, titled new maps of hell, was released on July 10, 2007. It debuted at #35 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week. It was originally intended to be released in 2006, but was pushed back largely due to the release of Graffin's second solo album, cold as the clay and his work at UCLA.
In 2010, Bad Religion released 30 Years Live for the band's 30th anniversary. The album was available for free to subscribers of the Bad Religion mailing list. Later the same year, Bad Religion released their fifteenth studio album, The Dissent of Man. The album took nearly two years to write and record, mainly due to the band's heavy touring schedule.
Brett Gurewitz, who still heads Epitaph Records, still records with the band and plays local shows, but doesn't tour with them. Greg Hetson can still be found at the occasional Circle Jerks show and helped open a bar in LA. Wackerman is working on a side project called The Kidneys. Graffin spends 10 weeks a year teaching two classes (Life Sciences 1 and Earth and Space Sciences 116) at UCLA. Jay Bentley keeps the Bad Religion MySpace page updated.
Come Join Us
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you can't find the truth in the things you've found
And you're scared shitless 'cause evil abounds
Come and join us
Well I heard you were looking for a place to fit in
Full of adherent people with the same objective
A family to cling to and call brethren
All we want to do is change your mind
All you need to do is close your eyes
So come and join us
Come and join us
Come and join us
Don't you see the trouble that most people are in
And that they just want you for their own advantage
But I swear to you we're different from all of them
Come and join us
I can tell you are lookin' for a way to live
Where truth is determined by consensus
Full of codified arbitrary directives
Come and join us
All we want to have is your small mind
Turn it into one of our own kind
You can go through life adrift and alone
Desperate, desolate, on your own
But we're lookin' for a few more stalwart clones
So come and join us
Come and join us
Come and join us
We've got spite and dedication as a vehement brew
The world hates us, well we hate them too
But you're exempted of course if you
Come and join us
Independent, self-contented, revolutionary
Intellectual, brave, strong and scholarly
If you're not one of them, you're us already so
Come and join us
The song "Come Join Us" by Bad Religion is a satirical commentary on the idea of cults or extremist groups using false promises of belonging and easy answers to lure in lost and vulnerable individuals. The opening lines of the song set the tone, as the singer mocks the idea of needing to know the "why" of the world in order to find truth. The chorus repeats the invitation to "Come and join us," using a catchy melody and enthusiastic tone to mimic the language of recruiters for these kinds of groups.
The verses of the song describe the tactics these groups use to persuade people to join, including offering a sense of community and belonging (a "family to cling to"), promising to "change your mind" and free you from the confusion of the world, and presenting their own ideology as the one true path. The lyrics also suggest that these groups often prey on a sense of loneliness and desperation, and may manipulate people for their own gain.
Despite the dark subject matter, the song is also humorous and ironic, gently poking fun at the absurdity of these groups and the contradictions in their beliefs. Overall, the message seems to be that true wisdom and understanding come from seeking out diverse perspectives and experiences, rather than blindly following any one group or ideology.
Line by Line Meaning
So you say you gotta know why the world goes 'round
You have questions about the purpose of life and why things happen the way they do.
And you can't find the truth in the things you've found
You have sought answers to your questions, but haven't found a satisfying answer yet.
And you're scared shitless 'cause evil abounds
You are afraid because you see a lot of bad things happening in the world.
Come and join us
We have a solution to your problems and invite you to be a part of our group.
Well I heard you were looking for a place to fit in
We know that you are searching for a group that shares your interests and ideas.
Full of adherent people with the same objective
Our group is composed of individuals who all have the same goal and beliefs.
A family to cling to and call brethren
We offer a community where you can belong and be supported like family.
All we want to do is change your mind
Our group has an agenda and we want you to adopt it as well.
All you need to do is close your eyes
We want you to be open to our ideas and consider them without bias.
Don't you see the trouble that most people are in
We observe that many people are suffering and struggling in life.
And that they just want you for their own advantage
We recognize that some people will exploit others for their own gain.
But I swear to you we're different from all of them
Our group is not like those who would take advantage of you.
I can tell you are lookin' for a way to live
We sense that you are searching for a lifestyle that aligns with your values.
Where truth is determined by consensus
Our group has its own set of beliefs and values, which we agree upon by consensus.
Full of codified arbitrary directives
Our group has rules and regulations that may seem arbitrary to outsiders.
All we want to have is your small mind
We want you to conform to our way of thinking.
Turn it into one of our own kind
We want you to adopt our ideology and become one of us.
You can go through life adrift and alone
If you don't join our group, you may feel lost and disconnected from others.
Desperate, desolate, on your own
We believe that without us, you will feel hopeless and lonely.
But we're lookin' for a few more stalwart clones
We want more people who share our beliefs and will help us spread our message.
We've got spite and dedication as a vehement brew
Our group is fueled by anger and determination.
The world hates us, well we hate them too
We feel that outsiders don't understand us and are against our cause.
But you're exempted of course if you
If you join our group, you won't be considered an outsider anymore.
Independent, self-contented, revolutionary
Our group values independence and fighting for change.
Intellectual, brave, strong and scholarly
We believe that members of our group are intelligent, courageous, and knowledgeable.
If you're not one of them, you're us already so
If you are not like those who we are against, you are already aligned with our group.
Come and join us
We invite you again to join our group and be a part of our cause.
Come and join us
We invite you again to join our group and be a part of our cause.
Come and join us
We invite you again to join our group and be a part of our cause.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wow
on You
Everybody needs a slogan in their pocket or two
It never hurts to have a strategy you can go to
Sometimes I have no sense at all
As most flawed men are one to do
Just say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
You can even get cerebral if you want to
Make a radical assessment that sticks like glue
Sometimes it takes no thought at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
The reaction it brings, just one of those things
Your friends might not want you around
If the impulse is right you might get in a fight
Even though you can't hold your ground
But all rest assured, sometimes just a word
Is the most satisfying sound
Sometimes it makes no sense at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to your bad attitude
Just say fuck you
What you gonna do to your attitude
Just say fuck you
Wtf is this shit, what retard wrote the wrong spng down….