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)
Rock And Roll
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turned out like all the others, leave me by myself,
That's how it works I guess, and you like all the rest
Guess I can handle it, if that's the way it is
[Chorus]
'cause I'm in love with rock 'n' roll, satisfies my soul
If that's how it has to be, I won't get mad
And if that's all there is, it ain't so bad
Rock 'n' roll
I never been a one to have no steady girl,
I love the way I live, runnin' round the world
I like to fool around, love to tear 'em down
And when I leave, you love to miss me when I'm gone
[Chorus]
I can't imagine growin' old like everyone
Marching to a different drum, I hear a different song
I swear I love them all, I don't care if they're small
I don't care if they're tall, love them anyway
[Chorus: x3]
[Repeat: x10]
Rock 'n' roll!
The lyrics of Dropkick Murphys's "Rock and Roll" reveal a sense of loneliness and detachment from society, reflected in the opening line "here, babe, look at you, and you with someone else" suggesting a feeling of abandonment. The singer demonstrates an acceptance of his solitary lifestyle, having been left alone like all the others. The catchiness of the chorus, repeatedly stating "I'm in love with rock 'n' roll" highlights the singer's reliance on the genre to satisfy his soul and fill the emptiness within. This dependence on rock 'n' roll is further emphasized in the line "If that's all there is, it ain't so bad" implying the absence of love or human connection can be compensated as long as there is music to hold onto.
The second verse suggests that the singer is a bit of a rebel and doesn't "have no steady girl". Instead, he admits to being a player who likes to fool around, tear girls down, and leave before they leave him. This is followed by a reference to his lifestyle, which involves traveling the world and living the 'rock star' life. The singer doesn't seem to regret any of it and even suggests that women will miss him when he's gone.
Overall, the lyrics can be interpreted as a reflection of the rock and roll lifestyle, with its promise of freedom, fame, and fortune, but also its drawbacks of loneliness and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well here, babe, look at you, and you with someone else,
Upon discovering that his romantic interest is now with someone else, the singer expresses disappointment and reflects on how this has happened to him before.
Turned out like all the others, leave me by myself,
The singer feels that he is always left alone due to failed relationships and that this is just another example of that.
That's how it works I guess, and you like all the rest
The singer acknowledges that this is simply how his relationships tend to go, and notes that his current interest is no different than the others before her.
Guess I can handle it, if that's the way it is
Despite his disappointment, the singer realizes that he is capable of coping with the situation if he must.
'cause I'm in love with rock 'n' roll, satisfies my soul
The singer finds solace and fulfillment in his love of rock and roll music.
If that's how it has to be, I won't get mad
The singer accepts that rock and roll is his primary love and that he will not be upset if relationships continue to fail as a result.
I got rock 'n' roll, to save me from the cold
The singer sees rock and roll as a source of comfort and warmth in his life.
And if that's all there is, it ain't so bad
Despite his disappointment in failed relationships, the singer finds contentment in his love of rock and roll and sees it as enough to make him happy.
I never been a one to have no steady girl,
The singer admits that he has never been the type to have a committed (steady) girlfriend.
I love the way I live, runnin' round the world
The singer enjoys his nomadic lifestyle, traveling the world to bring his love of rock and roll to fans.
I like to fool around, love to tear 'em down
The singer enjoys dating and seducing women, but also recognizes that his actions may lead to the eventual failure of the relationships.
And when I leave, you love to miss me when I'm gone
Although his relationships often end badly, the singer knows that his presence is missed when he's gone.
I can't imagine growin' old like everyone
The singer doesn't want to live a conventional life; he wants to be different from everyone else and not follow the same path as others.
Marching to a different drum, I hear a different song
The singer wants to live life on his own terms, not following the expectations of others or society at large.
I swear I love them all, I don't care if they're small
Despite his penchant for moving on from relationships, the singer insists that he loves all of his romantic interests, regardless of their physical traits or personalities.
I don't care if they're tall, love them anyway
The singer is not concerned with superficial qualities and will love someone regardless of their appearance.
Rock 'n' roll!
A repeated affirmation of the singer's love for rock and roll music.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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