Since its inception, Fugazi has been self-managed and have released almost all their material through Dischord Records, an independent label founded by MacKaye and partner Jeff Nelson in 1980. The band maintained a policy of affordable access to their work through low record and ticket prices and all-ages concerts.
Says AMG All Music Guide, "Along with their stridently underground ethics — which were more out of pragmatism and modesty than anything else — they gained an extremely loyal and numerous global following. To many, Fugazi meant as much to them as Bob Dylan did to their parents."
They played their first show in the fall of 1987 and since then released 7 albums and toured the world extensively covering all 50 United States, Europe, Australia, South America, Japan and many points in between.
In addition to their recorded output Fugazi released a documentary film/video called "Instrument" in collaboration with independent filmmaker, Jem Cohen. The feature length video offers a documentary overview of the the band's career with footage shot in a variety of formats over the last 10 years combining concert, tour and studio material backed with a musical soundtrack by the band unique to the movie.
Fugazi's last musical releases were The Argument, a 10 song LP, and Furniture, a 3 song single, released in the Fall of 2001. These sessions marked the first studio appearance of long time roadie and second drummer Jerry Busher who played additional drums and percussion on a number of the tracks on both releases. The recordings were once again made in collaboration with long time Fugazi engineer Don Zientara at Inner Ear studios.
Prior to forming Fugazi, the members of the band played in various other bands with releases available on Dischord.
Fugazi are currently on hiatus as of 2002, with Mackaye in The Evens, Picciotto having produced various bands including Blonde Redhead and The Blood Brothers, and Lally playing with John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer on both Ataxia releases and working on a solo album.
Bad Mouth
Fugazi Lyrics
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So, you better start being just what you are
You can't be what you were
Time is now and it's running out
You can't be what you were
So, you better start living the life that you're talking about
No movement, no movement, no movement
In a bad mouth, it betrays a bad mind
The lyrics of Fugazi's song Bad Mouth can be interpreted as a commentary on the idea of personal growth and change. The first line, "You can't be what you were," suggests that the singer is acknowledging that people are constantly evolving and changing, and that it's not productive to try to hold onto outdated versions of ourselves. The repetition of this line throughout the song reinforces this idea, emphasizing the importance of accepting and embracing one's current identity.
The following lines encourage the listener to take action in order to fully inhabit their current identity. The phrase "Time is now and it's running out" suggests a sense of urgency, reinforcing the idea that it's important to take action in the present moment. The line "So, you better start living the life that you're talking about" further emphasizes the importance of action, suggesting that it's not enough to simply talk about change without actually taking steps to make it happen.
The final line of the song, "In a bad mouth, it betrays a bad mind," can be interpreted as a warning against negative thinking and gossip. It suggests that those who engage in gossip and negative talk are revealing something about their own mindset and character.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't be what you were
You cannot turn back time to be your past self
So, you better start being just what you are
Accept who you are now and stop living in the past
You can't be what you were
Continuing to dwell on the past is futile
Time is now and it's running out
The present moment is all we have and it's passing by quickly
You can't be what you were
The past may be comforting, but it's unchangeable and irrelevant to the present
So, you better start living the life that you're talking about
Actions speak louder than words, so start living up to your ideals
You can't be what you were
Continuing to live in the past prevents personal growth
No movement, no movement, no movement
Stagnation leads to a lack of progress and development
In a bad mouth, it betrays a bad mind
Criticism and negativity towards others often stem from personal issues and insecurity
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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