Dash Rip Rock has long been celebrated for tight musicianship, high energy live shows, and songs of raw insolence and longing that are sometimes cut with whimsy. Bill Davis, Dash Rip Rock's founder and frontman, is a songwriter known for his blistering guitar work. For over 25 years the band has amassed a loyal, diverse following. Dash Rip Rock's rhythm section is bassist Patrick Johnson alongside drumming juggernaut Kyle Melancon.
DRR has released 15 records that have all been hailed as cult and underground classics. Though Dash Rip Rock is an infamous live powerhouse who is often credited with founding the musical genre known as "Country Punk," Dash has always been a roots-based band inspired by a variety of styles, including rock, country, soul, and power pop. Influential in shaping genres of modern rock and alternative country acts, Dash has fans that span the globe. The wide tent of their cross-genre fan base includes aficionados of roots-rock and Americana as well as rockabilly, country, and punk fans.
Legacy
Dash Rip Rock Lyrics
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I can't breathe in this old stangnat rice field
All along the stifled southern wept waterlands
It's breeding wishes to see what the outside is
I'm so tired of the legacy, the heritage
There's no way I could ever fill my daddy's shoes
Waking up inside a vacant town by no means
It's a burning shame to mock hospitality
You'll never feel the tears we really cry
Is it my fault I wasn't born to royalty
You'll never feel the tears we cry
Everyday is another nail into the lid
I can't stay here and hide like my family did
Even though I cry to see their lives just watered down
I'll be the first to step into another world
The lyrics to Dash Rip Rock's "Legacy" speak to the desire to escape from and move beyond the confines of one's heritage and legacy. The singer expresses a sense of suffocation in their current environment, which they describe as a "moon covered bayou" and an "old stagnant rice field". They long to explore the world outside of their stifling Southern homeland, which they describe as "breeding wishes to see what the outside is". The weight of their family's legacy and heritage weighs heavy on the singer; they lament that they could never fill their father's shoes.
The lyrics also touch on themes of shame and class consciousness. The singer acknowledges that it is a "burning shame to mock hospitality", implying that they feel a sense of guilt or discomfort about their perceived lower class status. They also express frustration with the limitations and expectations placed upon them by their inherited social status, noting that they were not "born to royalty". However, the singer also rejects the idea of hiding away from the world like their family did; they proclaim that they will be the "first to step into another world", suggesting a willingness to break free from the confines of their heritage and explore new possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's escape from this moon covered bayou
Let's leave this swampy area filled with stagnant water and darkness.
I can't breathe in this old stagnant rice field
I feel suffocated in this rice field filled with old and stale air.
All along the stifled southern wept waterlands
The waterlands in the southern part of the country seem depressed and sad.
It's breeding wishes to see what the outside is
Being stuck here is making me crave to see and experience the outside world.
I'm so tired of the legacy, the heritage
I'm exhausted by the expectations and traditions passed down from previous generations.
There's no way I could ever fill my daddy's shoes
I can never live up to the standards set by my father.
Waking up inside a vacant town by no means
Living in a deserted town is not an ideal way to start my day.
Is an awakening to stir my restless soul
This feeling of loneliness is motivating me to seek something more meaningful.
It's a burning shame to mock hospitality
It's shameful and disrespectful to disregard the welcoming nature of my community.
You'll never feel the tears we really cry
You can't comprehend the true level of sadness and pain within our community.
Is it my fault I wasn't born to royalty
Am I to blame for not being born into a family with high social status?
You'll never feel the tears we cry
You cannot possibly understand the depth of our emotions and experiences.
Everyday is another nail into the lid
Each day feels like another obstacle or challenge to overcome.
I can't stay here and hide like my family did
I cannot continue living a sheltered life like my ancestors did.
Even though I cry to see their lives just watered down
While it pains me to see my family's legacy diminished, I still wish to pursue my own path.
I'll be the first to step into another world
I will bravely be the first in my family to venture beyond the familiar, and into the unknown.
Writer(s): Bill Davis
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.