Their first release was a 7" EP on Porcell's label Schism (which he ran along with Side By Side/Gorilla Biscuits guitar player Alex Brown) entitled New York Crew. The record featured five songs, one of which was a cover of "Warriors" by the British oi!/punk band Blitz. On this recording, the band was merely a two-piece, featuring Porcelly on bass and guitar, and Ferraro on vocals and drums. But with the addition of bass-player Jimmy Yu (of Mike's former band Death Before Dishonor, which eventually evolved into Supertouch) and drummer "Lukey" Luke Abbey (Warzone/Gorilla Biscuits), they got together a fully functional live line-up.
The band received much criticism due to their militant Straight Edge lyrics, especially from fanzines like San Francisco's Maximum Rock'N'Roll. The militant lyrics were a conscious move on the band's part, as they were sick of seeing bands like Youth Of Today, who in reality had a very positive message, get slagged for being too militant. So they decided to give the nay-sayers exactly what they wanted – the most militant Straight Edge band imaginable. Mike Ferraro has later on admitted that provocation was an important aim for the band.
Judge was not just heavy in message, the music had very metal-influenced riffing, but remained close to its hardcore roots, without going all out metal, such as bands like Agnostic Front and DRI.
With a new line-up of Sammy Siegler (Side By Side/Youth Of Today/Project X etc.) on drums and Matt Pincus on bass, the band proceeded to record their full-length LP Bringin' It Down for Revelation Records at Chung King Studios in New York City. The recording was finished, but the band were so unhappy with the result that they decided to scrap it and re-record it at Normandy Sound in Rhode Island, where The Cro-Mags had recorded their Best Wishes album. Revelation did however put out a limited pressing of the original recording, fittingly titled Chung King Can Suck It (LP). It was given to people who had pre-ordered the record, and with only 110 copies pressed (all on white vinyl), it is one of the most sought-after hardcore records in existence, going for as much as $6,600 USD on online auction sites such as eBay. Eventually, Bringin' It Down was released in 1989. Judge continued touring up until 1991, and even released another 7" EP, There Will Be Quiet, featuring "The Storm" and "Forget This Time" (the CD-version also contains a cover-version of "When the Levee Breaks", originally by Led Zeppelin).
In May 2013 Judge have reunited and played two sold out shows in NYC. In 2014 and 2015 the band have continued to play shows in United States as well as in South America and Europe.
Hold Me Back
Judge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
HOW I THOUGHT IT COULD NEVER END
HANDSHAKES AND SMILES WHENEVER WE MET
WHAT WE SHARED I KNOW I'LL NEVER FORGET
I KNEW OUR PATHS WERE SPLITTING
WE NEEDED DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET BY
WHEN YOU WERE THROWING OUR NAMES AROUND
WERE WE SUPPOSED TO LET IT KEEP US DOWN?
AND MORE THAN ONCE IT TOOK ME TO MY KNEES
AND WHEN THAT FEELING BEGAN TO GROW
IT TURNED TO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK
WHY YOU DECIDED TO COME DOWN ON US
WE'LL JUST KEEP THE MEMORIES WE HAVE
SO DON'T GET MAD IF I DON'T LET IT HOLD ME BACK
CAN'T HOLD ME BACK
YOU'LL TRY TO TEMPT ME
DRAW ME OFF MY PATH
GOD KNOWS I WANT TO USE MY HANDS
BUT I CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE
FISTS THROWN OVER WORDS
AND I FOUGHT BEFORE
AND IT NEVER CHANGED A THING
The lyrics to Judge's song Hold Me Back speak to the pain and confusion that can come with the end of a friendship. The songwriter reflects on how they once thought their relationship would never end, and how they shared a connection that they will never forget. However, as time passed, the two friends began to need different things from each other, and their paths started to diverge. Despite this, when the songwriter heard that their former friend was speaking badly about them, they felt hurt and unsure how to react.
The chorus of the song is a defiant statement that the songwriter will not allow their former friend to hold them back. They will not be drawn off their path by the temptation to engage in a physical fight or to let the negative words of others define them. Instead, they will hold onto the memories of their friendship and keep moving forward.
Overall, the lyrics of Hold Me Back are a poignant reminder of how painful the end of a friendship can be, and how important it is to stay true to oneself in the face of adversity. The songwriter's refusal to be held back by negativity is a powerful message that speaks to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
THINKING BACK WHEN WE WERE FRIENDS
Recalling memories when we were friends
HOW I THOUGHT IT COULD NEVER END
Believing the friendship would never come to an end
HANDSHAKES AND SMILES WHENEVER WE MET
Exchanging pleasantries whenever we met
WHAT WE SHARED I KNOW I'LL NEVER FORGET
Having memories that will always be remembered
I KNEW OUR PATHS WERE SPLITTING, WE NEEDED DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET BY
Awareness that differences could lead to separation
WHEN YOU WERE THROWING OUR NAMES AROUND, WERE WE SUPPOSED TO LET IT KEEP US DOWN?
Not allowing negative words to have an impact on progress
NOW I'VE HAD FRIENDS THEY PASSED LIKE THE BREEZE, AND MORE THAN ONCE IT TOOK ME TO MY KNEES
Realizing how losing friends can be painful and humbling
AND WHEN THAT FEELING BEGAN TO GROW, IT TURNED TO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW
Understanding how emotional pain can lead to unwanted behaviors
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, WHY YOU DECIDED TO COME DOWN ON US
No interest in understanding why someone is causing harm
WE'LL JUST KEEP THE MEMORIES WE HAVE, SO DON'T GET MAD IF I DON'T LET IT HOLD ME BACK
Focusing on positive memories rather than negative experiences
CAN'T HOLD ME BACK, YOU'LL TRY TO TEMPT ME, DRAW ME OFF MY PATH
Refusing to be influenced by negative people who want to sabotage progress
GOD KNOWS I WANT TO USE MY HANDS, BUT I CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT
Feeling the urge to react physically but choosing not to engage in violent behavior
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE, FISTS THROWN OVER WORDS, AND I FOUGHT BEFORE, AND IT NEVER CHANGED A THING
Having experienced violent behavior in the past and decided it doesn't lead to positive outcomes
Lyrics © KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MICHAEL FERRARO, JOHN PORCELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind