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)
Front Seat
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this song, Dropkick Murphys express their frustration towards people with liberal beliefs and a passive attitude. The singer feels fired up and pumped up with anger, yet he is held back by the negative attitude of those around him. The constant whining and moaning of people with liberal attitudes is tearing them apart, and the singer has had enough. The solution is to take the front seat and never go back, leaving those with liberal opinions to take the back.
However, the singer acknowledges that liberal attitudes are just a temporary facade. They come forward with a forthright attitude, but it is only feigned and tried. The singer suggests that there is an ongoing war between them, but he has a solution, and the solution is to take control.
The lyrics feature a lot of anger and frustration in the verses but are counterbalanced with a catchy, upbeat and straightforward chorus that encourages everyone to take control of their destiny, rise to the occasion, and take the front seat.
Line by Line Meaning
Some times I get so fired up I never feel like commin down.
Sometimes I get so passionate and energized that I never want to calm down.
But your attitude you have is tearin us apart.
However, your negative attitude is causing conflict and damage in our relationship.
You constantly whine and moan, waxing passively.
You consistently complain and express your dissatisfaction in an unassertive way.
I've got a solution for you today.
I have a solution that I want to offer you today.
We'll take the front seat mister, and we're never gonna take the back, we'll take the front seat, mister liberal scum to the back.
We should take control and lead the way, placing ourselves in the most important position, while pushing those we disagree with to the backseat.
You come forward with an attitude forthright.
You present yourself with a direct and honest attitude.
But it's only temporary, feigned and fucking tried.
However, this attitude is merely a pretense, and it has been attempted many times before without success.
We havea n ongoing war me and you, but I've got the answer adnd I know what to do.
We are constantly at odds with each other, but I believe I have a solution to our conflict.
Anger, Dischord, Pissed Off, Lets Tear This Place Apart!
Our intense emotions of anger and discord should drive us to make radical changes and disrupt the status quo.
We'll take the front seat mister, and we're never gonna take the back, we'll take the front seat, mister liberal scum to the back
We must continue to take control and assert our power, keeping those who we view as politically opposing us in a subservient position.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JTSX1
Nice! Definitely their best days. Mr. McColgan seems to have changed his views a bit since they came out with this one.