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)
Prisoner's Song
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone just a pick an' stone
We're dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey, ho, dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey ho a game we could not win
Hey ho dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
A prisoner, my thoughts are
A number in a cell, locked up like a dog in this man made hell
Marching along, another man on the gang
I'm shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Hey ho a prisoner's song
Hey, ho, marching along, another man on the gang
Hey, ho, shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
We count days and nights
We're paying with our lives
We're paying for our wrongs
Singing a prisoner's song
Singing a prisoner's song
Looking on a past where we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone just a pick an' stone
We're dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey, ho, dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
The lyrics of "Prisoner's Song" by Dropkick Murphys describe the feelings of a prisoner locked up in a cell, unable to escape their sentence. The prisoner reflects on their past, realizing that they were just pawns in a game they couldn't win, and cling to the hope of a future where their ship comes in. They are shackled to the ball and chain, and forced to march along with other prisoners, counting the days and nights as they pay for their wrongs. They sing a prisoner's song, longing for the day when they can be free and dreaming of a brighter future.
The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, but also an underlying thread of resilience and determination. Despite their circumstances, the prisoners are holding onto a glimmer of hope for a better future, and refuse to give up entirely. The repetition of the phrase "dreaming of a future where our ship comes in" serves as a powerful metaphor for their longing for a better life, and the desire for freedom from their current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking on a past where we still had a chance
Reflecting on a time when we had opportunities
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
We were controlled and manipulated in a situation where we didn't have a chance of success
Now we're alone just a pick an' stone
We are isolated with no support or resources
We're dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
We are hopeful for a successful future
Dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Still hoping for a better future
Hey, ho, dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Continuing to hope for a better future
Hey ho a prisoner's song
A song of people feeling trapped and powerless
Hey ho a game we could not win
We were put in a situation where we had no chance to succeed
Hey ho dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Still dreaming and hoping for a better future
A prisoner, my thoughts are
Feeling trapped and confined in my own mind
A number in a cell, locked up like a dog in this man made hell
Being physically and mentally trapped in a terrible environment
Marching along, another man on the gang
Going along with the system and doing what is expected
I'm shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Being held back and restricted by circumstances
We count days and nights
Measuring time as it passes by
We're paying with our lives
Our time and freedom are being taken away from us
We're paying for our wrongs
Being punished for mistakes made in the past
Singing a prisoner's song
Expressing feelings of being trapped and powerless
Lyrics © SPIRIT TWO SMA
Written by: ALEXANDER BARR, JAMES P. LYNCH, JEFF DAROSA, KENNETH W. CASEY, MATHEW E. KELLY, TIMOTHY JOHN BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Biljana Sibinović
Lyrics:
Looking back on a past when we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone, just a pick and stone
We're dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Pawns in a game that we could not win
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
A prisoner to my thoughts, a number and a cell
Locked up like a dog in this worldly hell
Marching along, another man on the gang
I'm shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Marching along, another man on the gang
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
We count the days and nights
We're paying with our lives
We're paying for our wrongs
Singing a prisoner's song
Singing a prisoner's song
Looking back on a past when we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone, just a pick and stone
We're dreaming of a future
When our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
The Ghost of Johnny Cash
Looking on a past where we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone just a pick an' stone
We're dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey, ho, dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey ho a prisoner's song
Hey ho a game we could not win
Hey ho dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
A prisoner, my thoughts are
A number in a cell, locked up like a dog in this man made hell
Marching along, another man on the gang
I'm shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Hey ho a prisoner's song
Hey, ho, marching along, another man on the gang
Hey, ho, shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
We count days and nights
We're paying with our lives
We're paying for our wrongs
Singing a prisoner's song
Singing a prisoner's song
Looking on a past where we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone just a pick an' stone
We're dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
Hey, ho, dreaming of a future where our ship comes in
85gslse
You don't have to be Irish to love Dropkick.
Lionel Starkweather
Sure. I'm Belarusian and i love their music
Dániel Pintér
But if you'd do I would proudly become Daniel O'pinte 😅😁
Carson Key
They’re from Boston so I don’t feel bad lol
Leonardo Cefalo
Neither do they
Biljana Sibinović
Lyrics:
Looking back on a past when we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone, just a pick and stone
We're dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Pawns in a game that we could not win
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
A prisoner to my thoughts, a number and a cell
Locked up like a dog in this worldly hell
Marching along, another man on the gang
I'm shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Marching along, another man on the gang
Hey, Ho
A prisoner's song
Shackled and sentenced to the ball and chain
We count the days and nights
We're paying with our lives
We're paying for our wrongs
Singing a prisoner's song
Singing a prisoner's song
Looking back on a past when we still had a chance
We were pawns in a game that we could not win
Now we're alone, just a pick and stone
We're dreaming of a future
When our ship comes in
Dreaming of a future when our ship comes in
Nezmeroz0093
I love the Murphys! Their style is so original! I've been in love with their music since "shipping up to boston"!
Briar Buckler
no one else could make banjos and accordians sound so badass
nitzan z
this song proves that if you recicle a great song, it's still great.
John Jarboe
2:23-2:37 is easily one of the most kick ass things ever.