The band put out a series of EPs and was signed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. In 1998, the Dropkick Murphys released their first full-length album, Do Or Die. Lead singer Mike McColgan, who left the band later that year, was replaced by The Bruisers lead singer Al Barr. In 1999, they released their followup album, The Gang's All Here. In 2001, they released their third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud. The album showcased the group’s developing sound and included collaborations with The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. It also marked a significant lineup change for the band. Original guitarist Rick Barton was replaced by former The Ducky Boys' guitarists James Lynch and Marc Orrell; instruments were added and played by new members Ryan Foltz and Spicy McHaggis.
The Dropkick Murphys' next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the songs "Fields of Athenry" and "The Dirty Glass." The latter features female vocals by Stephanie Dougherty (Deadly Sins). Around the same time, the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie," which then became the official song of the team's 2004 World Series run. "Tessie" was also used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch and was included on the EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack. In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released Singles Collection Volume 2, featuring covers, B-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums, and the band contributed a recording of "We Got the Power" to Rock Against Bush, Volume 2.
The Dropkick Murphys' fifth studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway," "The Walking Dead," "The Warrior's Code," as well as the bonus track "Tessie." It also includes a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem, which the group named "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed. Scorsese mentioned the band in an interview after winning his first Oscar.
The Dropkick Murphys released their sixth studio album, The Meanest of Times, on September 18, 2007. It was their first release not on the Hellcat Records label but instead on the label Born & Bred.
In early 2008, Marc Orrell left the band. Thereupon Tim Brennan, who had been playing mandolin, accordion, banjo, tin whistle, and guitar for the band since 2004, replaced Orrell on lead guitar. Tim's previous musical duties were taken over by Jeff DaRosa, former member of The Vigilante and Pinkerton Thugs.
In September of 2022, This Machine Still Kills Fascists was released. It's an acoustic album with unused words and lyrics written by Woody Guthrie, selected and given to the band to use by Guthrie's daughter Nora. It did not feature Al Barr, who was on hiatus for family matters.
The band will release their twelfth album, Okemah Rising, on May 12, 2023. The album was recorded during the same sessions for This Machine Still Kills Facists and like that album will feature songs using the unused lyrics by Woody Guthrie. The album was preceded by the singles "I Know How it Feels" on March 1, 2023, and "Gotta Get to Peekskill" (featuring Violent Femmes) on March 30, 2023.
Studio albums
Do or Die (1998)
The Gang's All Here (1999)
Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001)
Blackout (2003)
The Warrior's Code (2005)
The Meanest of Times (2007)
Going Out in Style (2011)
Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)
11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (2017)
Turn Up That Dial (2021)
This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022)
Okemah Rising (2023)
10 Years of Service
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is relegated to a member of a higher class than mine.
To Determine and direct the lives of family men who bear the burden
Of living up to standard that doesn't exist in 1999
[Chorus]
Who's gonna save us from this lonely picket line,
10 years of service but I'm still not worth your time.
And heard the stories that they tell of how they labored
For this company which sold it's soul to hell
Times may be changing but I'll never leave behind the hopes
And thoughts I have of better days for families such as mine.
Because if history repeats itself and time will surely tell.
What goes around will come around and you'll know our pain too well.
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Dropkick Murphys’s song 10 Years of Service speak to the struggles and frustrations of working-class individuals who feel neglected and undervalued by the higher-ups in their workplaces. The song reflects on the unfair treatment and disregard that workers face from corporations and those in positions of power. The first verse touches on how those in higher classes hold the power to control the lives of those below them, even when it comes to familial responsibilities. The burden of living up to an impossible standard set by these higher-ups is a recurring theme throughout the song.
The chorus highlights the frustration and helplessness of the singer, who feels as though their ten years of service to their job have gone unnoticed and unappreciated. The singer has watched as fellow coworkers have given their lives to their work, yet the company they work for, which has “sold its soul to hell,” does not seem to care. The singer feels as though they are nothing more than a lonely picket line, fighting for recognition and fair treatment.
The final verse expresses a sentiment of hopefulness and determination despite the struggles faced. The singer is resolved to hold on to the hope of better days for their family and their community. They recognize that history has a way of repeating itself, and that the struggles faced by the working class will come full circle, with those in positions of power eventually knowing their pain firsthand.
Overall, 10 Years of Service is a powerful and poignant protest song that speaks to the struggles and injustices faced by the working class.
Line by Line Meaning
The status of our future in both past and present time,
Our future is always in the hands of people who are more privileged than us, be it in the past or present.
Is relegated to a member of a higher class than mine.
Our fate is decided by people who are above us in terms of social and economic status.
To Determine and direct the lives of family men who bear the burden
These people have the power to control the lives of working-class family men who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Of living up to standard that doesn't exist in 1999
These working-class men are expected to meet unrealistic standards that are not relevant in the current times.
Who's gonna save us from this lonely picket line,
We are standing alone on this picket line, wondering who will come to our rescue.
10 years of service but I'm still not worth your time.
Even after 10 years of loyal service, the company still does not value our time and effort.
And I've seen men give their lives,
I have witnessed people sacrificing their lives for this company.
And heard the stories that they tell of how they labored
I have heard the stories of these people and the hard work they put in for this company.
For this company which sold it's soul to hell
But in spite of everything, the company has betrayed its employees and sold its soul to the devil.
Times may be changing but I'll never leave behind the hopes
Even though times may be changing, I will not give up on my hopes and dreams for a better future for myself and my family.
And thoughts I have of better days for families such as mine.
I believe that there will be better days ahead for families like mine.
Because if history repeats itself and time will surely tell.
If history repeats itself, time will tell that things will eventually change for the better.
What goes around will come around and you'll know our pain too well.
The company will eventually face the consequences of its actions and experience the same pain and suffering that we have endured.
Chorus
The chorus reiterates the frustration and helplessness of the working-class employees who feel undervalued and neglected by their company.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEN CASEY, MATTHEW EDWARD KELLY, RICK BARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh Russell
The status of our future in both
past and present time
Is relegated to a member of a
higher class than mine
To determine and direct the lives
of family men who bare the
burden
Of livin' up to a standard that
doesn't exist in 1999
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
10 years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
Times may be changing but I'll
never leave behind the hopes
And thoughts I have of better
days for families such as mine
Because if history repeats itself
and time will surely tell
What goes around will come
around
And you'll know our pain too well
now
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
And I've seen men give their
lives
And heard the stories that they
tell of how they labored
For this company which sold it's
soul to hell
The status of our future in both
past and present time
Is relegated to a member of a
higher class than mine
To determine and direct the lives
of family men who bare the
burden
Of livin' up to a standard that
doesn't exist in 1999
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
And I've seen men give their
lives
And heard the stories that they
tell of how they labored
For this company which sold it's
soul to hell
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
sonerson83
This band always makes me wanna get drunk =)
Josh Russell
The status of our future in both
past and present time
Is relegated to a member of a
higher class than mine
To determine and direct the lives
of family men who bare the
burden
Of livin' up to a standard that
doesn't exist in 1999
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
10 years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
Times may be changing but I'll
never leave behind the hopes
And thoughts I have of better
days for families such as mine
Because if history repeats itself
and time will surely tell
What goes around will come
around
And you'll know our pain too well
now
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
And I've seen men give their
lives
And heard the stories that they
tell of how they labored
For this company which sold it's
soul to hell
The status of our future in both
past and present time
Is relegated to a member of a
higher class than mine
To determine and direct the lives
of family men who bare the
burden
Of livin' up to a standard that
doesn't exist in 1999
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
And I've seen men give their
lives
And heard the stories that they
tell of how they labored
For this company which sold it's
soul to hell
Who's gonna save us from this
lonely picket line
Ten years of service but I'm still
not worth your time
GayDicks420
boo whoo they PLAYED for a career, they're no comrades
pulppeeler
Labor day 2020. Remember those who fought for what you have . Fight those trying to take it away
insidesteplab
shit i remember this great song on an epitaph/hellcat/burning heart vhs i bought back in ...mmm... 98? 99? pennywise, samiam, millencolin, midtown, raised fist, bouncing souls, beatsteaks, the hives, no fun at all...every one of these bands was at its best! fuckin memories...golden age of punkrock!
Peter Olsson
I still have that somewhere. Awesome.
Andrew Graham
First 2 albums are my favourites, then probably the 5th
Gus Ziliotto
awesome!!
Corey Casper
Still here in 2021! Oi keep it loud men!
yvonne
Is there a video with the lyrics of this song?