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.
Sorrow
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How have I let you down?
I curse the day that I was born
And all the sorrow in this world
Let me take you to the hurting ground
Where all good men are trampled down
Just to settle a bet that could not be won
Will you guide me now, for I can't see
A reason for the suffering and this long misery
What if every living soul could be upright and strong
Well, then I do imagine
There will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow no more
When all soldiers lay there weapons down
Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns
Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves
It's easy to imagine
There will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow no more
There will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow no more
Yeah, there will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow no more
The opening lines of Bad Religion's "Sorrow" are addressed to a father figure who may or may not be present or listening. The singer poses an existential question, asking how they have let their father down. The following lines express a profound sadness and sense of futility, citing the day of their birth as a curse and all the sorrow that exists in the world. The song's melancholy mood is sustained, as the singer imagines himself taking the listener to a "hurting ground" where all good men are trampled down. This line could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle of marginalized and oppressed people, who are at a significant disadvantage to those who hold power.
Line by Line Meaning
Father, can you hear me?
The artist is addressing his father and wants to know if his father is listening to him.
How have I let you down?
The artist is questioning himself and wants to know how he has disappointed his father.
I curse the day that I was born
The artist feels cursed and is blaming his existence for bringing him sorrow.
And all the sorrow in this world
The artist feels that the world is full of sorrow and he is also experiencing it.
Let me take you to the hurting ground
The artist wants to take his father to a place where people are suffering.
Where all good men are trampled down
The artist is referring to a place where even good men are oppressed and suffering.
Just to settle a bet that could not be won
The artist is talking about how people fight over things that can never be resolved, causing more pain and sorrow.
Between a prideful father and his son
The artist believes that the fight is between a father and his son, both of whom are too proud to back down.
Will you guide me now, for I can't see
The artist is asking his father for guidance because he feels lost.
A reason for the suffering and this long misery
The artist is expressing his despair and inability to understand why there is so much suffering in the world.
What if every living soul could be upright and strong
The artist is imagining a world where everyone is strong, honest and living an upright life.
Well, then I do imagine
The artist is saying that if this world existed, then he can imagine something beautiful.
There will be sorrow
The artist acknowledges that sorrow exists, and it's part of life.
Yeah, there will be sorrow
The artist repeats the previous line, emphasizing the point that sorrow is inevitable.
And there will be sorrow no more
The artist is indicating that there can be a world without sorrow.
When all soldiers lay there weapons down
The artist is referring to peace where soldiers don't have to fight anymore.
Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns
The artist is referring to a world where there is no monarchy, where everyone is equal.
Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves
The artist is talking about a savior who can free humans from their own destructive nature.
It's easy to imagine
The artist believes that it is easy to imagine a world that is free from sorrow.
Yeah, there will be sorrow
The artist repeats the previous line, emphasizing the point that sorrow is inevitable.
Yeah, there will be sorrow
The artist repeats the previous line, emphasizing the point that sorrow is inevitable.
And there will be sorrow no more
The artist repeats a previous verse, indicating that even though sorrow exists, it can be eradicated.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brett W. Gurewitz, 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….