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)
Do Or Die
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was sold and Bartered away
Fed to money wolves in the Reagen years,
Caught in a drift in greedy nintetie's days
So inside this song is our rally cry.
Your dreams are in danger, and "We Must Rise"
Our time has come we are under the gun "It's Do or Die".
It's not a rebel cry of some socialist
Scheme to push for human rights
Just the facts an obvious mentioned on the
Behalf of the working man,
for his family and his livelihood.
Your dreams are in danger, and "We Must Rise"
Our time has come we are under the gun "It's Do or Die".
The once steel tough fabric of the union man was sold and bartered away
Fed to money wolves in the Reagen years,
Caught adrift in greedy nineties days.
Your dreams are in danger, and "We Must Rise"
Our time has come we are under the gun "It's Do or Die".
The song Do or Die by Dropkick Murphys is a rallying cry for the working class to rise up against the wealthy elite who have sold out the values of the union man. The lyrics poetically describe the once-proud fabric of the union man, which has been sold and bartered away in the Reagan years and caught in a drift during the greedy nineties. The song urges the listener to recognize that their dreams and livelihoods are in danger and that it is time to take action before it is too late. The lyrics emphasize that this is not a rebel cry for some socialist scheme but merely a clarion call to protect the rights of the working class, their families, and their livelihoods.
Line by Line Meaning
The once steel tough fabric of a Union man
Referring to the strength and resilience of the working class, especially Union men.
Was sold and Bartered away
Betrayed and sold-out to the corporate interests and greedy politicians.
Fed to money wolves in the Reagen years,
The policies of Reaganomics and deregulation allowed the rich to get richer while the working class suffered.
Caught in a drift in greedy nintetie's days
The 90s were marked by corporate greed, downsizing, and the erosion of workers' rights.
So inside this song is our rally cry.
This song is a call to action for the working class to fight back against economic injustice and fight for their rights.
Your dreams are in danger, and "We Must Rise"
The American Dream of upward mobility is being threatened, and we must stand up and take action to protect it.
Our time has come we are under the gun "It's Do or Die".
This is the critical moment when we must act, or else we risk losing everything we hold dear.
It's not a rebel cry of some socialist
This is not a call for socialist revolution but a demand for basic human dignity and respect for the working class.
Scheme to push for human rights
We are simply fighting for basic human rights, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and a decent standard of living.
Just the facts an obvious mentioned on the
These are the facts of the matter, plain and simple, and cannot be ignored.
Behalf of the working man,
This is in defense of the hard-working men and women who have been exploited and oppressed for too long.
for his family and his livelihood.
Ultimately, this struggle is about protecting the welfare and livelihood of working families across America.
The once steel tough fabric of the union man was sold and bartered away
The resilience and strength of the working class has been undermined and weakened by the forces of corporate greed and political corruption.
caught adrift in greedy nineties days.
During the 90s, the forces of greed were in full swing, and workers were left without a compass or anchor to hold onto.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEN CASEY, MATTHEW EDWARD KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StefanGrujicicBuda
1) "Cadence to Arms" (Instrumental) (Traditional, reworked from Scotland the Brave) –0:00
2) "Do or Die" (Barton, McColgan) – 1:50
3) "Get Up" (Barton, Casey, McColgan) – 3:40
4) "Never Alone" (Barton, Casey) - 5:46
5) "Caught in a Jar" (Barton, McColgan) - 8:43
6) "Memories Remain" (Casey, Kelly) – 11:00
7) "Road of the Righteous" (Barton, McColgan) – 13:26
8) "Far Away Coast" (Barton, Casey, McColgan) – 16:20
9) "Fightstarter Karaoke" (Barton, Casey) – 19:01
10) "Barroom Hero" (Casey) –21:23
11) "3rd Man In" (Barton, Casey) – 24:19
12) "Tenant Enemy #1" (Barton, Casey, Kelly, McColgan) –26:38
13) "Finnegan's Wake" (Traditional) – 28:50
14) "Noble" (Barton, Casey, Kelly, McColgan) – 31:10
15) "Boys on the Docks (Murphys' Pub Version) (Barton, Casey) – 33:45
16) "Skinhead on the MBTA (Traditional) (Barton, Casey) – 36:19
@farrellb94
In my opinion, this is the best Murphy's album ever made.
@travismarshall633
Hands down for sure
@mylifewithhirschsprungdise3250
Totally agree with you
@farrellb94
@ruiner54 Totally agree.
@bobbythompson4268
Duh
@briangreen9036
Absolutely
@matthewclark4155
My grandpa just passed away today, he was 93. He gave me this album looong ago when I was just barely a teenager. One of my favorite albums. RIP Grandpa Jack, you're in good hands. You get grandmas cooking again...
@hf-vp5yp
Your grandfather had cracking good taste in music, & he's passed it down to you. I'm sure you have some wonderful memories to keep in your heart. I have songs I associate with loved ones no longer with me. I still miss 'em like hell but I have the music & my memories. All the best from Australia.
@alexsp7086
Your grandad is a legend. Great present.
@chrisarchard2009
Your granddad was awesome