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)
Heroes From Our Past
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a tale of their triumphs and their woes
Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker's struggle
That inspires men to stand up for their rights
And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world
We can look back to these heroes of our past
With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will
No tyranny would quell them in their task
It's an age-old situation with an ever-present message
That time and tide waiteth for no man
So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome
It's for freedom and for happiness they toiled
An in looking to the future
We can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all
It's been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest
It's just remembrance of their dignity we ask
So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause
With tradition, pride, and honor at its core
With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men Faugh-an-ballagh
Clear the way, me boys
Under perilous conditions with small hope of success
They left behind the lives that they once led
And by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength
They cleared the way for the people of today
So when we think back to our ancestors respectfully we hark
And thank the men whose struggle broke the chain it's a long road up ahead of us
Let's forge on while we're strong and leave our mark of honor once again
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end
It's setting any era, any land
When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small
It inpires men to stand up for their rights
The lyrics to Dropkick Murphys's song Heroes From Our Past revolves around the concept of heroism and the sacrifices made by those who fought and struggled in the past to ensure a better future for those who came after them. The song describes these heroes as being of different times and cultures, but united in their belief in standing up for their rights against tyrannical oppressors. With their unwavering determination and strength of will, they cleared the way for the people of today to enjoy the freedoms they fought so hard for.
The lyrics also acknowledge that the fight against tyranny and oppression is a continuous struggle that requires bravery, perseverance, and sacrifice. The message is clear - the past heroes inspire us to continue fighting for our rights and to never give up, no matter how difficult the struggle may be. The lyrics are a call to action, urging listeners to rally around the cause of freedom and honor the legacy of those who came before them.
Overall, Heroes From Our Past is a powerful tribute to the resilience and bravery of those who have fought for freedom and a better future. It serves as a reminder that there is always a struggle to be won, but with the strength and determination of past heroes to guide us, we can overcome any obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
And so the story's told of a hearty group of men
This is a story of bravery and struggle, about the people who fought for their rights and triumphed despite their hardships.
It's a tale of their triumphs and their woes
The story is a mix of victories and struggles, showcasing the hard-fought battles and how they overcame them.
Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker's struggle
Whether it was battlefields or the workplace, people have always fought to overcome oppression and tyranny.
That inspires men to stand up for their rights
These tales of bravery and resistance continue to motivate people to stand up for their own rights and fight against oppression.
And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world
If we stumble and lose our way in the midst of constant changes and challenges, we can look back to these stories for guidance.
We can look back to these heroes of our past
The heroes who fought for their rights and freedom continue to be a source of inspiration and strength for us.
With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will
These heroes possessed unwavering resolve and a fierce determination to overcome any obstacle in their path.
No tyranny would quell them in their task
They were unstoppable in their fight against tyranny, and would not be silenced or intimidated by their oppressors.
It's an age-old situation with an ever-present message
This kind of struggle against tyranny and oppression has been repeated throughout history and continues to be relevant today.
That time and tide waiteth for no man
Time moves forward, and we must seize the moment to fight for our rights and freedoms before it's too late.
So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome
We must not be afraid to face the challenges and consequences of our actions when fighting for our rights and freedoms.
It's for freedom and for happiness they toiled
The heroes of the past fought for freedom and happiness for themselves and their fellow citizens, and we must carry on that fight today.
An in looking to the future
As we anticipate the future, we can learn from the past and use those lessons to forge a better world.
We can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all
A future free from oppression and tyranny is possible if we continue to fight for our rights and freedoms together.
It's been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest
The path to freedom and equality that we continue to walk on today was first paved by the generations before us.
It's just remembrance of their dignity we ask
All we ask is for people to remember the dignity and sacrifices of those who came before us in the fight for freedom and equality.
So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause
Let us come together and fight for our rights, just as those who came before us did with bravery and valor.
With tradition, pride, and honor at its core
As we fight for our rights, we must remember the traditions and values that make us proud and honorable.
With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men Faugh-an-ballagh
These brave men stood ready to fight against the forces of oppression, with swords drawn and hearts full of courage.
Clear the way, me boys
Let us clear the way toward freedom and equality, and do so with determination and purpose.
Under perilous conditions with small hope of success
These heroes fought for their rights under difficult and dangerous conditions, with little hope for success.
They left behind the lives that they once led
In order to fight for their rights, these heroes often had to leave behind their old lives and risk everything for the cause.
And by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength
It was their unwavering strength and determination that allowed these heroes to overcome even the most difficult of obstacles in their path.
They cleared the way for the people of today
Their sacrifices and struggles laid the groundwork for the freedoms and rights we enjoy today.
So when we think back to our ancestors respectfully we hark
We must always remember and respect the sacrifices of our ancestors who fought for our rights and freedoms.
And thank the men whose struggle broke the chain it's a long road up ahead of us
We should be thankful for the sacrifices of those who came before us and realize that our fight for freedom and equality is far from over.
Let's forge on while we're strong and leave our mark of honor once again
We must continue the fight for our rights and freedoms while we still have the strength, and ensure that we leave behind our own mark of honor and bravery.
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end
This is the end of the story of these heroes, but their legacy lives on in the fight for freedom and equality.
It's setting any era, any land
The story of these heroes is not limited to any particular era or place, but is a universal message of hope and bravery.
When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small
When tyrants try to strip us of our rights and freedoms, it is the duty of the people to rise up and fight for what is right.
It inpires men to stand up for their rights
The stories of bravery and resistance inspire people to fight for their own rights and freedoms, and to resist the forces of oppression and tyranny.
Lyrics © SPIRIT TWO SMA
Written by: Alexander Martin Barr, Kenneth William Casey, Matthew Edward Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Boris the Spider
And so the story's told of a hearty group of men
It's a tale of their triumphs and their woes
Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker's struggle
That inspires men to stand up for their rights
And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world
We can look back to these heroes of our past
With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will
No tyranny would quell them in their task
It's an age-old situation with an ever-present message
That time and tide waiteth for no man
So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome
It's for freedom and for happiness they toiled
An in looking to the future
We can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all
It's been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest
It's just remembrance of their dignity we ask
So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause
With tradition, pride, and honor at its core
With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men Faugh-an-ballagh
Clear the way, me boys
Under perilous conditions with small hope of success
They left behind the lives that they once led
And by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength
They cleared the way for the people of today
So when we think back to our ancestors respectfully we hark
And thank the men whose struggle broke the chain it's a long road up ahead of us
Let's forge on while we're strong and leave our mark of honor once again
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end
It's setting any era, any land
When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small
It inpires men to stand up for their rights
Gabriela Cox
Best song ever, never gets old.
Jeffrey Rau
Gabriela Cox because the majority of people don't know good music.
Orsus Zoktavir
Why doesn't this have more views? It's such a good song.
Aris Giannakos
"With swords drawn to defend, stood these noble hearted men, clear the way me-boyz!" Thank you, this is for me :'(
Boris the Spider
"When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small
It inpires men to stand up for their rights"
True now more than ever in my lifetime
Boris the Spider
And so the story's told of a hearty group of men
It's a tale of their triumphs and their woes
Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker's struggle
That inspires men to stand up for their rights
And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world
We can look back to these heroes of our past
With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will
No tyranny would quell them in their task
It's an age-old situation with an ever-present message
That time and tide waiteth for no man
So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome
It's for freedom and for happiness they toiled
An in looking to the future
We can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all
It's been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest
It's just remembrance of their dignity we ask
So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause
With tradition, pride, and honor at its core
With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men Faugh-an-ballagh
Clear the way, me boys
Under perilous conditions with small hope of success
They left behind the lives that they once led
And by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength
They cleared the way for the people of today
So when we think back to our ancestors respectfully we hark
And thank the men whose struggle broke the chain it's a long road up ahead of us
Let's forge on while we're strong and leave our mark of honor once again
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end
It's setting any era, any land
When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small
It inpires men to stand up for their rights
corey holt
great patriotic song, more kids need to hear this! and always, GO REDS!!
Jayson Eubanks
It's a long road up ahead of us, let's forge on while we're strong.
Guyona Buffalo
Listen to this everyday before my martial arts practice.
Ron Kwiatkowski
Faugh a ballagh (clear the way) was on the Irish Brigade’s flag when they charged Marye’s Heights at Fredricksburg (civil war). Awesome lyric and kick ass song!!