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

Going down
Dag Nasty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We're going down
Looking around this place man
I've got to get out of here
All those people here are crazy (gonna drive me nuts)
Looking at their race
I never wanted to be in
Where's the door, just get me out of here
We're going down

We're going down and out yeah down and out
Looking at all these cars
Now they're blocking my escape
L.A. Freeway , never free no way
15 miles an hour
The Clash tape up past ten
Ten more minutes and I can breathe again
"Do it right" but how can I?
When I'm not even given the chance
To correct
The mistakes
I've already made
So hard to answer questions

When I don't even know what they are
How can they expect me to try things their way?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dag Nasty's "Going Down" depict the feeling of being trapped and suffocated in a place where things seem out of control. The singer feels out of place in a world where people are consumed with their differences, their race, and their individual experiences. He sees the world of LA as limiting, suffocating, and indifferent to his struggles. The cars race through crowded streets, honking their horns impatiently, never giving way to the singer's need for escape. He is encumbered by a sense of anxiety and uncertainty regarding his future, unable to make decisions for himself because he is caught in a web of other people's expectations. He is frustrated because he feels that he is not given a chance to correct his mistakes, and every move he makes is scrutinized by people who he feels do not care about his struggles.

The lyrics to "Going Down" feature a variety of themes that are relevant to punk rock music. The song talks about the alienation of youth, the frustrations of living in a society where people are judged based on their looks and race, and the importance of standing up for oneself. The chorus, which consists of the repeated phrase, "We're going down," highlights the sense of despair that is prevalent among young people who are struggling to find their place in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

We're going down
Something is going wrong

Looking around this place man
Observing the surroundings

I've got to get out of here
Feeling the urge to leave, escape

All those people here are crazy (gonna drive me nuts)
Feeling overwhelmed by the behavior of people around

Looking at their race
Noticing people's differences

I never wanted to be in
Feeling misplaced and out of place

Where's the door, just get me out of here
Desperately seeking a way out

We're going down and out yeah down and out
Things are getting worse and worse

Looking at all these cars
Noticing the abundance of things that can limit freedom

Now they're blocking my escape
Feeling trapped by external factors

L.A. Freeway , never free no way
Reflecting on the limitations of living in a city