Brian Baker, formerly of Minor Threat, formed Dag Nasty with Colin Sears, R… Read Full Bio ↴Brian Baker, formerly of Minor Threat, formed Dag Nasty with Colin Sears, Roger Marbury and Shawn Brown in 1985. Shawn's replacement on vocals (by ex- DYS frontman Dave Smalley) shortly before the recording of their debut full-length, Can I Say, began a revolving door membership that was to continue throughout their duration as a band (ultimately leaving Brian as the only original member.) Dag Nasty recorded Can I Say in June 1986, and Wig Out at Denkos in July 1987, for Dischord Records before moving to Giant Records for the release of Field Day in 1988. The Can I Say line-up reformed in 1992 to record Four on the Floor for Epitaph Records and again in 2002 to record a full-length for Revelation Records. In 1991, Dischord combined the Can I Say and Wig Out LPs onto one maxi-CD. Dischord re-mastered both records in 2003 and re-released them back onto two separate CDs, both including extra live and unreleased tracks.

Dag Nasty(1985 - 1991)

Dave Smalley - vocals on #19
Peter Cortner - vocals on #26
Brian Baker - guitar
Roger Marbury - bass on #19
Doug Carrion - bass on #26
Colin Sears - drums

Broken Days
Dag Nasty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now you really should be above all this
But in fact I can't avoid your Judas kiss
And I keep turning the other cheek for you to slap me down
It hurts when the knife's in deep, but I won't make a sound
Turn off the song of broken days
Burn through another masquerade
And I don't see it all as a blaze of glory
Fidelity is a timeless thing

I hold it dear it's what I'm offering
It's priceless like a matter of faith
Time to pass it on hold the light in the darkness until it's gone
Turn off the song of broken days
Burn through another masquerade
And I don't see it all as a blaze of glory
And I keep turning the other cheek for you to slap me down
It hurts when the knife's in deep, but I won't make a sound
Broken days in the hourglass
Broken days in the hourglass

Broken days in the hourglass
Broken days in the hourglass

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dag Nasty's song "Broken Days" speak to the struggle of maintaining integrity and remaining faithful in a world where betrayal and deceit seem to reign. The lines "Now you really should be above all this/But in fact I can't avoid your Judas kiss" suggest that the singer knows they should be above the petty politics and backstabbing of others, but they still find themselves hurt and affected by the actions of those around them. Despite this, they continue to turn the other cheek and keep their pain hidden: "It hurts when the knife's in deep, but I won't make a sound."

The chorus, "Turn off the song of broken days/Burn through another masquerade/And I don't see it all as a blaze of glory," speaks to the idea of escaping the turmoil and chaos of the world and finding peace and clarity. The phrase "song of broken days" could refer to the endless cycle of pain and suffering that the singer is trying to escape. The reference to a "masquerade" suggests that the world is full of facades and false appearances, and that the singer is determined to push through them and see things as they truly are, even if it is not always pleasant.

The final lines of the song, "Broken days in the hourglass," suggest that time is running out and that the singer is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the idea that the world is broken and time is slipping away. Overall, "Broken Days" is a powerful commentary on the struggle to remain true to oneself in a world that often seems designed to tear one down.

Line by Line Meaning

Now you really should be above all this
You are expected to rise above your behavior

But in fact I can't avoid your Judas kiss
Your deceitful behavior is unavoidable

And I keep turning the other cheek for you to slap me down
I keep forgiving you even though you continue to hurt me

It hurts when the knife's in deep, but I won't make a sound
Despite the pain you cause, I won't complain

Turn off the song of broken days
Stop dwelling on past regrets and failures

Burn through another masquerade
Stop pretending to be something you're not

And I don't see it all as a blaze of glory
I don't see the outcome as something to glorify

Fidelity is a timeless thing
Loyalty is an enduring quality

I hold it dear it's what I'm offering
I value and offer loyalty

It's priceless like a matter of faith
Loyalty is invaluable, like a matter of belief

Time to pass it on hold the light in the darkness until it's gone
Time to share and spread loyalty and hope until darkness fades