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)
Tenant Enemy #1
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money for them, they're greedy and they
Reek soaring profits, big gains,
The cash accumulation gains is all these
Cowards seek
And they always find a way to kick out the needy
Tenant enemy number one tenant enemy number one
Through excuses and blatant lies
Is how they operate and by continuing
A parade of deception the game just continues,
How in the name of decency do they sleep?
Tenant enemy number one tenant enemy number one
Just you better look out and watch your backs
These lyrics speak to the idea that landlords and property owners are often driven solely by money, and will stop at nothing to evict and exploit their tenants in order to increase their profits. The song refers to the landlords as "cowards" who "reek soaring profits" and "always find a way to kick out the needy." The chorus repeatedly identifies landlords as the "tenant enemy number one."
The lyrics suggest that these landlords use excuses and lies to operate, and continue their parasitic game at the expense of vulnerable tenants. The song condemns their actions and questions how they can live with themselves knowing that they are actively harming others in order to line their own pockets.
In today's society with rising rental costs and homelessness, this song speaks to the potential dark side of landlord culture and the need for greater protections for tenants. It reminds us to question the motives behind our housing system and to fight for greater equality and fairness for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Well its always been about big
The landlords only care about making large profits
Money for them, they're greedy and they
Their only interest is in getting more money, and they are selfish and avaricious
Reek soaring profits, big gains,
Their profits are skyrocketing and they are getting huge returns
The cash accumulation gains is all these
These landlords are solely focused on accumulating wealth through financial gains
Cowards seek
Their greed makes them devoid of courage
And they always find a way to kick out the needy
They are always looking for ways to evict poor and underprivileged renters
Tenant enemy number one tenant enemy number one
The landlords are the ultimate enemies of the tenants
Through excuses and blatant lies
They resort to making excuses and telling lies to cover up their actions
Is how they operate and by continuing
This is their operating style and they continue to do so
A parade of deception the game just continues,
They keep playing deceptive games and keep it going
How in the name of decency do they sleep?
How can they sleep peacefully when they are taking advantage of people in need?
Just you better look out and watch your backs
The renters should beware and be watchful of their actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ken Casey, Matthew Edward Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shadow Banned
One of my workout songs I really push myself with these guys.
Oneoftherobs
Great song! I don’t think these guys understood exactly how accurate they were when they wrote it.
Staghorn The Druid
my life
Mike Rasnick
It's not the "full album", as advertised.