Keith Morris was their original lead singer. He left the band suddenly in 1979 to form the well-known band, Circle Jerks. Ron Reyes was the second singer for the band, but decided to leave the band not too long after. Dez Cadena would be their next singer, but switched to second guitar when they found fourth and final singer Henry Rollins in Washington D.C. in 1981.
While Black Flag were - and remain - very respected among their underground culture, their music has not been the stylistic model one might expect, in spite of their formidable reputation. Rather, their influence was seen primarily in their tireless promotion of a self-controlled DIY aesthetic. They're often regarded as pioneers in the movement of underground do-it-yourself record labels that flourished among the 1980s' punk rock bands.
Over the course of the 1980s, Black Flag's sound, as well as their notoriety, evolved in ways that alienated much of their early punk audience. They were part of the first wave of American West Coast punk rock, are considered a key influence on Punk culture band, and are especially important in the creation of hardcore punk. Their later sound, however, was often reminiscent of proto-heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath.
The band broke up in August 1986, when Greg Ginn decided to quit.
Through seemingly-constant touring throughout the USA and Canada, and occasionally Europe, Black Flag established an extremely dedicated fan base. Many other musicians would follow Black Flag's lead and book their own tours, utilizing a word-of-mouth, grass-roots network.
On January 25, 2013, it was announced that guitarist Greg Ginn and vocalist Ron Reyes would reform Black Flag, joined by Gregory Moore on drums, and 'Dale Nixon' on bass (Dale Nixon is a pseudonym sometimes used by Ginn, most prominently as the bassist on My War). The band will tour as well as release a new album, their first since 1985's In My Head. In March of that year, it was announced that Screeching Weasel bassist Dave Klein joined the band. On May 2, 2013, the band released a new song entitled "Down in the Dirt" through their website.
Around the same time, it was announced that the lineup that played at GV 30, Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson and Egerton, would tour performing Black Flag songs, under the name FLAG. It was later announced that the lineup would be joined by Dez Cadena.
My War
Black Flag Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
You don't want to see me live
You don't want me to give
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
But you're one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you're not
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I have a prediction, it lives in my brain
It's with me every day, it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I has a gun
I feel it in my heart,
I'd want to kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on! My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Tell me that I'm wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
My War
The lyrics to Black Flag's song "My War" address the turmoil of interpersonal relationships and the feeling of being betrayed by someone who claims to be a friend. The singer accuses the other person of not wanting him to succeed and "give," suggesting jealousy or selfishness on their part. The song touches on the idea of not knowing what a true friend is, but rather identifying who is not a friend. The singer's frustration with the situation builds until he imagines violence as a solution to his problems, expressing a desire for revenge or to simply escape the situation altogether.
The lyrics of "My War" reflect the intense emotions and raw energy of the hardcore punk genre. As a song from Black Flag's fifth studio album, also named My War, it marked a departure from their more straightforward punk sound into a heavier, slower, and more experimental sound. The album received mixed reviews from fans and critics at the time of its release but has since gained a cult following for its influential sound.
Line by Line Meaning
My war you're one of them
I am at war with people like you
You say that you're my friend
You claim to be my friend, but your actions prove otherwise
But you're one of them
You belong to the group of people that I am at war with
You don't want to see me live
You do not want me to succeed or thrive in any aspect of my life
You don't want me to give
You do not want me to give my best effort, or contribute positively to society
'Cause you're one of them
The reason for your behavior towards me is because you belong to the group of people that I am at war with
I might not know what a friend is
I am unsure of what true friendship entails
All I know is what you're not
However, I know for a fact that you are not a true friend
I have a prediction, it lives in my brain
I have a premonition about the future, it consumes my thoughts
It's with me every day, it drives me insane
This premonition torments me relentlessly and affects my mental well-being
I feel it in my heart, that if I has a gun
I am convinced that if I possessed a gun, I would use it
I feel it in my heart, I'd want to kill some
This conviction is so strong that I would go as far as to commit murder
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
I sense that a catastrophic event is impending
Come on! My war you're one of them
My animosity towards you intensifies as I realize that you belong to the group of people that I am at war with
Tell me that I'm wrong
Challenge me and tell me that I am incorrect
Try to sing me your ego song
Attempt to persuade me with your narcissistic attitudes and actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES DUKOWSKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
charlie Lgn
Lyrics
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
You don't want to see me live
You don't want me to give
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you're not
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I have a prediction, it lives in my brain
It's with me every day, it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I has a gun
I feel it in my heart,
I'd want to kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on! My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Tell me that I'm wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
My War
**ノルマンディー上陸作戦の人
My war you’re one of them
You say that you’re my friend
But you’re one of them
You don’t want to see me live
You don’t want me to give
Cuz you’re one of them
My war you’re one of them
You say that you’re my friend
But you’re one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you’re not
Cuz you’re one of them
My war you’re one of them
You say that you’re my friend
But you’re one of them
I have a prediction, it lives in my brain
It’s with me every day, it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I has a gun
I feel it in my heart, I’d wanna kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on!!
My war you’re one of them
You say that you’re my friend
But you’re one of them
Tell me that I’m wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You’re one of them
My war you’re one of them
You say that you’re my friend
But you’re one of them
My war.
Selton Lucas
LYRICS:
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
You don't wanna see me live
You don't want me to give
Cause you're one of them
[Hook]
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
Yeah!
[Screams]
[Verse]
War, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you're not
Cause you're one of them
Them
[Hook]
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
[Verse]
Yeah!
You're one of them
This time, this time
This lie
My life, my death
I have a prediction; it lives in my brain
It's with me everyday; it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I had a gun
I feel it in my heart, I'd wanna kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on
[Hook]
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
[Verse]
Tell me that I'm wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You're one of them
[Hook]
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
[Screams]
[Verse]
You're one of them
You're one of them
I can't believe you
You're one of them
And you're one of them
And you're one of them
And you're one of them
One of them, them, them
Them, them, them, them, them
My war!
kyle brown
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
You don't want to see me live
You don't want me to give
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you're not
'Cause you're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I have a prediction, it lives in my brain
It's with me every day, it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I has a gun
I feel it in my heart,
I'd want to kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on! My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Tell me that I'm wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You're one of them
My war you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
My War
Iris Генри
Okay — I have something to say.
I like punk music now, along with many other genres.
You know how I came on the scene?
Green Day.
Yes, I will say they aren’t punk — they are pop punk which is a different thing. But me, as a young person, used them to get introduced at first to Operation Ivy and Screeching Weasel, going to Black Flag and others. So next timé some kid is walking around with a Green Day shirt or says their favorite band is Green Day, don’t start hating on them or calling them a “poser.” What fucking good does it do? It’ll turn away kids from Punk music, not let them explore it. If at the very beginning, they are told that they are a fucking loser and a “poser” it will push them away.
So even if you may not like Green Day or other pop punk bands music — don’t turn kids away when they say they like punk music and list them as an example.
Okay that’s all I had to say.
(also isn’t punk supposed to be for the people that don’t fit in? creating that atmosphere kind of gets rid of the purpose)
비정한세상
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
You don't wanna see me live
You don't want me to give
Cause you're one of them
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
Yeah!
War, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
I might not know what a friend is
All I know is what you're not
Cause you're one of them
Them
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
Yeah!
You're one of them
This time, this time
This lie
My life, my death
I have a prediction; it lives in my brain
It's with me everyday; it drives me insane
I feel it in my heart, that if I had a gun
I feel it in my heart, I'd wanna kill some
I feel it in my heart, the end will come
Come on
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
Tell me that I'm wrong
Try to sing me your ego song
You're one of them
My war, you're one of them
You say that you're my friend
But you're one of them
Them, them, them, them, them
You're one of them
You're one of them
I can't believe you
You're one of them
And you're one of them
And you're one of them
And you're one of them
One of them, them, them
Them, them, them, them, them
My war!
Lake Roswell
"I might not know what a friend is. All I know is what you're not."
Love that lyric so much...
nativeswagho
Still rings true
Holden Caulfield
I'm pretty sure this song is about paranoia so that might not be such a good sign... lol
thefinalsolutionall
Henry's friend is money. Your money. You're one of them :)
Michael Ferrando
CAUSE YOURE
ONE OF THEM
Coletrain359
I've never understood why people get all butthurt when people are introduced to good music through games,movies,etc. I'm 18 and have been a huge punk fan since I was 11. No one I knew listened to this stuff, I found it through Tony hawk games and absolutely loved it. My little brother plays GTA V and when I first heard this song on there, I was stoked. It's pretty cool to see a 14 year old screaming all the words to a black flag song.
Chief Mangas
Coleballs359 I've been listening to rock since I was 5. And I I've been listening to to that every since.
Kyan Ward
Ayyy I was introduced to so many good bands through those Tony Hawk games!
slum chemist
Coleballs359 just stay with the good punk..not that pop punk bullshit
Doubtful Guest
If anything, the old fans should be mad Black Flag rather than the new fans.
Nothing says punk like shilling your work to a multinational capitalist corporation, which abuses and exploits its workforce.
At least the Original Tony Hawk games were made by independent devs.