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.
Public Witness Program
Fugazi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The eyes have it and they're watching you still
Public witness charter look out don't touch
Public witness says he's seeing too much
I like to walk around it
And I'm paid to stand around
Public witness seen it all
In "Public Witness Program," Fugazi highlights the importance of surveillance and its ubiquitous nature in our lives. The repeated chorus "The eyes have it and the eyes always will" reminds us that someone is always watching, whether it be through government surveillance or our own social media profiles. The "Public Witness Charter" serves as a warning to those who may try to evade or resist the watchful eye of the state. The line "Public witness says he's seeing too much" suggests that even those who are paid to uphold the law and order of society are not immune to the overwhelming amount of information they witness. Fugazi encourages us to be aware of our surroundings and our responsibility as witnesses to public events.
Line by Line Meaning
The eyes have it and the eyes always will
The power lies in the ability to observe, and it will forever remain so.
The eyes have it and they're watching you still
Observation is ongoing, and the act of watching is continuous.
Public witness charter look out don't touch
The official whose duty is to observe must not interfere physically or take part in the situation being observed.
Public witness says he's seeing too much
The observer has seen enough, and things are getting out of hand.
I like to walk around it
I prefer to observe and find out more information before getting involved or taking action.
And I'm paid to stand around
The observer is employed to watch and report, but not to take direct action.
Public witness seen it all
The observer has witnessed and reported on everything relevant to the situation.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind