Dropkick Murphys is a punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, Unite… Read Full Bio ↴Dropkick Murphys is a punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States in 1996. First playing together in the basement of a friend's barbershop, the band made a name for itself because of its relentless touring and for its annual St. Patrick's Day weekend shows in Boston. The band's songs often deal with Celtic influences, and the working-class environment in which the band members grew up.
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)
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)
Fightstarter Karaoke
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Riot tonight everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
Riot tonight everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
This world is not what it seems
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Riot tonight, everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
Riot tonight, everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
This world is not what it seems
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Go!
Stabbed in the back one too many times to count
Master of the sucker punch
Burned his bridges from the past.
Beaten and attacked
But no one seems to give a shit
Cause he had it coming you made your bed
Now sleep in it!
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
This world is not what it seems
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
Riot tonight everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Riot tonight, everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
Riot tonight, everybody let's go!
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
This world is not what it seems
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Go!
Stabbed in the back one too many times to count
Master of the sucker punch
Burned his bridges from the past.
Beaten and attacked
But no one seems to give a shit
Cause he had it coming you made your bed
Now sleep in it!
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
This world is not what it seems
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
The lyrics to "Fightstarter Karaoke" by Dropkick Murphys describe the desire to start a fight for no particular reason, fueled by alcohol and the need for a temporary escape from the hardships of everyday life. The chorus, "Riot tonight everybody let's go! Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know," underscores the recklessness of the situation and suggests that the violence is more about the act of rebellion than any specific target. The verses paint a picture of a world full of betrayal and violence, where even the singer has been "stabbed in the back one too many times to count." The song confronts the idea that the only escape from a bleak reality is through violence, but ultimately leaves the listener with a sense of hopelessness and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
Riot tonight everybody let's go!
Encouraging others to participate in a violent uprising
Gonna start a fight but with who? I don't fucking know
Expressing the reckless, aimless nature of the violence
It doesn't take a big man to knock somebody down
Making a commentary on the ease with which violence can be committed
Just a little courage to lift him off the ground
Implying that those who commit violence are looking for a sense of power over others
This world is not what it seems
Expressing a general disillusionment with society
These beer brawls are ruining my dreams
Suggesting that violence is not a solution to the problems the singer is facing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEN CASEY, MATTHEW EDWARD KELLY, RICK BARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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wade wilson
my local shithole bar has this tune on its jukebox, I always play this song while drinkin with the boys! Rowdy shit! Love it!
Smeagle
you should check to see if the have the decline too. best dollar you are gonna spend in a while
southwest thrash
wade wilson haha nice!
shizwak1
this wasprobably one of my favorites. but fuck me im drunk anywaysright now these were the days assholes. they were
Corpse Light
Weird. Whenever I put this song from the cd, it keeps registering as "Riot Tonight" instead of Fightstarter Karaoke.
Leo Champion
As it should.