These were the key ingredients that defined Insted and would earn them an important spot in the hardcore punk scene. In the spring of 1989 they flew to New York to do some dates with Vision and strengthen their relationship with the East Coast. That summer they released the "We’ll Make the Difference" 7" on Nemesis records and were back in the van for another full U.S assault.
That summer they shared the stage with bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Bold, Uniform Choice, Slapshot and Reason to Believe. Upon returning home, they were offered a record deal from Epitaph Records in which they accepted. Insted’s following had steadily grown and they were now headlining 1000 seat venues and drawing massive crowds. During the recording of "What We Believe" they made plans to expand their borders and tour Europe. But at the end of 1990, shortly after "What We Believe" was released, America went to war with the Middle East. Due to the circumstances they were unable to ship equipment over seas and decided to stay in their homeland. In the spring of 1991 they did another national tour. They were now sharing the stage with bands like Judge, Snapcase, and the Cro-mags. The hardcore sound of the early 80’s that they were so familiar with was changing. It was turning into a hard metal edge sound and the attitude of the scene reflected it. Bands that they looked up to like Uniform Choice and Youth of Today were broken up and their old time favorites Minor Threat and 7 Seconds were long gone.
When they returned from tour they began working on new material but felt out of place. The band had built its reputation on respect and integrity. In July of 1991 they decided to do a final show and bow out gracefully. Spanky’s Cafe in Riverside was one of their favorite spots and a perfect host for their humble grand finale. They made sure to include on the bill a few of the promising up and coming local bands.
Over the years Insted traveled throughout the country making friends and building a legacy that ingrained them into hardcore history. To this day the friendships they built are still in tact and their legacy lives on.
Proud Youth
Insted Lyrics
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The song "Proud Youth" by Insted highlights the importance of staying young and fighting against life's unfairness. The lyrics speak to the pressure that young people face as they navigate the challenges of growing up, but emphasizes the power that youth have to shape their own futures. The song calls for unity and strength among young people as they work towards creating a better future.
The opening line, "Growing up is so easy they say. But we're staying younger every day," speaks to the idea that despite the passage of time and the pressures of adulthood, it's possible to maintain a youthful mindset and spirit. The lyrics also acknowledge the struggles that many young people face, particularly those who may not have access to the same opportunities as others. However, the song encourages young people to band together and fight for what they believe in.
The line "Our values are right. Our morals are strong" suggests that the song's message is not simply about youthful rebellion, but also about upholding principles of justice and equality. The phrase "proud youth" suggests a sense of pride in standing up for what one believes in, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Growing up is so easy they say.
People talk about how easy it is to grow up.
But we're staying younger every day.
But we're choosing to stay young in our hearts and minds every day.
For all the kids whose life's unfair.
This song is for all the kids who are dealing with unfair situations.
Let's join together and show we care.
We need to come together and show our support for one another.
Life's in our hands. We must begin our fight.
We have control over our lives and we need to start fighting for what we believe in.
Youth be strong and let's unite.
We need to be strong as young people and work together as a team.
Pressure coming in but we won't fall.
We may face pressure and challenges, but we won't give up.
Cause we're so young and standing tall.
We're young and confident and won't be defeated.
The future is ours. Let's keep it that way.
We have the power to control our future and we need to keep it that way.
Youth is the strength and that's the way it's gonna stay.
As young people, our strength is in our unity and that will never change.
Our values are right. Our morals are strong.
We know what's right and wrong and we have strong beliefs.
So spread it out and join along.
We need to share our message with others and get them to join us.
For youth... Proud youth
This song is for youth and we should all be proud of who we are and what we stand for.
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.