Punk rock band formed in 1989 by former All, DYS and Dag Nasty frontman Dav… Read Full Bio ↴Punk rock band formed in 1989 by former All, DYS and Dag Nasty frontman Dave Smalley, who is the only permanent member. The band has recorded 7 studio albums. They stayed on "Epitaph Records" until 1998 and have since switched to other labels. Down by Law has never achieved substantial commercial success, but a number of largely popular acts cite them as influential. After several lineup changes, the band went on hiatus from touring and recording in 2003, but resurfaced in 2008 before beginning work on new material and embarking on their first tour in six years in 2009.
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Independence Day
Down By Law Lyrics

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Well the kids hit the stands and the shit hit the fan
Too much security but not enough maturity
The band took the stage
The kids were in a rage
All the goons were terrified, they knew they were gonna pay

Every young heart in the house that night
Beat a million beats

Clenched fists and a little fright
No one knew who threw the first
But after that it just got worse
We said all we had to say
We did what we had to do
We meant every word we said
You can't stop a riot til its through

They tried to stop the show
We wouldn't go away
For once every voice screamed together for a day
Don't worry about me, mom and dad
Cause I'll be o.k.
What could I do but join the fight and pray?
We said what we had to say
We did what we had to do

We meant every word we said
Broken bottles, broken bones, and the night was through

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Down By Law's Independence Day describe a scene where a group of young people attend a concert and are confronted with an intense security presence. The lyrics suggest that the security personnel were not prepared for the level of passion and energy exhibited by the crowd, and as a result, tensions boiled over and a riot broke out.

The first verse describes the buildup to the riot, with the kids becoming more and more agitated as the band took the stage. The second verse explains how the situation escalated quickly, with no one knowing who threw the first punch or bottle. The chorus emphasizes the idea that the rioters meant what they said and did what they had to do. The final verse suggests that the riot was ultimately successful in achieving its aims, with the young people feeling empowered and confident in their ability to fight for what they believe in.

The lyrics of Independence Day are a powerful commentary on the energy and passion of youth, and the potential for that energy to be channeled in both positive and negative directions. The song speaks to the idea that young people can be a force for change in the world, but that their passion must be tempered with maturity and responsibility. The song also speaks to the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of opposition and adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Well the kids hit the stands and the shit hit the fan
Teenagers attended a concert and chaos ensued

Too much security but not enough maturity
The security measures were excessive but the attendees lacked maturity

The band took the stage
The musical act began their performance

The kids were in a rage
The young audience members were angry and rebellious

All the goons were terrified, they knew they were gonna pay
The security personnel were scared because they knew they would face consequences

Every young heart in the house that night Beat a million beats Clenched fists and a little fright
Every young attendee's heart was racing with fear and anticipation and they clenched their fists

No one knew who threw the first But after that it just got worse
The person who initiated the chaos is unknown and things escalated from there

We said all we had to say We did what we had to do We meant every word we said You can't stop a riot til its through
The attendees expressed their frustrations and took action, believing in their cause and not willing to back down easily

They tried to stop the show We wouldn't go away For once every voice screamed together for a day
The organizers attempted to end the concert but the audience refused to leave, coming together in a rare instance of unity

Don't worry about me, mom and dad Cause I'll be o.k. What could I do but join the fight and pray?
The attendees acknowledge the concerns of their parents but are determined to participate in the movement, feeling strong emotions and seeking spiritual guidance

Broken bottles, broken bones, and the night was through
The chaos resulted in injuries and destruction, with the night ending in a state of unrest

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE SMALLEY, SAMUEL CLARK III WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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