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)
Keep The Faith
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But for you where would they be
In a society claiming democracy
Nothing in the press or the radio
Only the fanzines that give em the go
So keep the faith
Keep the faith
Our music's here to stay
TV pundits total lies
All the people that we despise
Come on tour and you will see
Street music as it should be
So keep the faith
We'll break though one day
Keep the faith
Our music's here to stay
Radio stations chosen playlists
Say that it's just the way it is
They only have their financial say
From the profits punk will pay
The lyrics to "Keep the Faith" by Dropkick Murphys are a tribute to the punk subculture and its effort to break through societal norms and systems in place that marginalize their movement. The song, originally by The Business, lauds the punk community for its unwavering commitment to expression and protest in the face of an oppressive government and media regime. The opening lines, "But for you where would they be / In a society claiming democracy" imply that the punk community is a necessary force in maintaining democracy by keeping accountability and truth alive through their music.
The second stanza takes aim at the media and its suffocating control over the dissemination of information. The "TV pundits" and the "chosen playlists" of radio stations are seen as agents of distortion who propagate lies and control what music gets heard. The punk community is a bulwark against this distortion, providing an authentic voice and perspective that is free from corporate influence.
Line by Line Meaning
But for you where would they be
The artists owe their success to their fans who support them.
In a society claiming democracy
Even though we live in a democratic society, not all voices are heard.
Nothing in the press or the radio
The mainstream media ignores their music and message.
Only the fanzines that give em the go
Only the underground fanzines acknowledge their music and spread the word.
So keep the faith
Stay committed to their music and the message it carries.
We'll break though one day
Their music will get the recognition it deserves someday.
Our music's here to stay
Their music will endure and continue to be relevant.
TV pundits total lies
The TV pundits spread misinformation and falsehoods.
All the people that we despise
The song's message is not for everyone; some will hate it.
Come on tour and you will see
The best way to understand their message is to experience it live.
Street music as it should be
Their music is raw and authentic, reflecting the streets and the struggles of everyday life.
Radio stations chosen playlists
Radio plays only what the corporations dictate, stifling creativity and diversity.
Say that it's just the way it is
They justify their narrow playlists as the norm and the only option.
They only have their financial say
The only thing that matters to corporate radio is their profits, not music.
From the profits punk will pay
Punk music will always be commercially undervalued, but the artists continue to make music despite the financial setbacks.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL HUGH FITZSIMONS, STEVE KENT, STEVE WHALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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