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.
In My Way
Judge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But when you do drugs, you get in my way
I'm not gonna waste my breath on you
I'll let your drugs run you through
The things I've been hearing are scaring me
A man made substance that sets your mind free
I can't believe you've gone back on your words
So what are you gonna do, be strong or fold?
Make the wrong choice, you'll do what you're told
I'm stepping back, and I'm gonna judge you
I hope that fucked up head can tell you what to do
I'm keeping it simple
And I'm keeping it clear
And I won't use words
'Cuz you're too fucked up to hear
The crew is strong
And we're setting it straight
And we'll be the judge
Of your fucking fate
You've lost my respect
And I've seen your worst
And I've seen your best
And I won't settle for anything less
I guess you can call me obsessed
You've lost my respect
You've lost my respect
You've lost my respect
Keep clear or take my best
The lyrics of Judge's song "In My Way" are a powerful commentary on the destructive impact of drug use on both the individual and those around them. The opening lines establish a sense of conflict, as the singer acknowledges that the drug user may feel entitled to their choices, but also recognizes that those choices have consequences for others. The singer refuses to waste their breath trying to persuade the drug user, instead resigning themselves to watching the drugs take their toll.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly frustrated with the drug user's behavior. The reference to drugs as a "man made substance that sets your mind free" is particularly poignant, as it highlights the false promise of escape that drugs can offer. The line "Those drugs are gonna kill you if I don't get to you first" underscores the urgency of the situation and the singer's concern for the well-being of the drug user.
The chorus of the song is both confrontational and resigned, as the singer declares their intention to judge the drug user's fate, whether or not they are capable of making rational decisions. The repetition of the phrase "You've lost my respect" underscores the sense of disappointment and disillusionment that the singer feels towards the drug user.
Overall, "In My Way" is a powerful condemnation of drug use and its impact on individuals and relationships. It highlights the difficulty of watching someone you care about make destructive choices and the frustration that comes with feeling powerless to help them.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you've got a right, and who am I to say
You may have the right to do what you want, even though I may disagree.
But when you do drugs, you get in my way
But when you use drugs, you interfere with my life and my relationships.
I'm not gonna waste my breath on you
I won't waste my time or energy trying to convince you to stop using drugs.
I'll let your drugs run you through
I will let the drugs you take control your life because there's nothing I can do to change your behavior.
The things I've been hearing are scaring me
The rumors and stories I've heard about your drug use are making me afraid for you.
A man made substance that sets your mind free
Drugs are artificial substances that can give you a false sense of freedom and control.
I can't believe you've gone back on your words
I'm surprised that you're not living up to your promises to stop using drugs.
Those drugs are gonna kill you if I don't get to you first
If I don't intervene soon, the drugs you're taking will end up killing you.
So what are you gonna do, be strong or fold?
You have a choice to either resist the temptation to use drugs or give in to them.
Make the wrong choice, you'll do what you're told
If you make the mistake of using drugs, you will be controlled by your addiction.
I'm stepping back, and I'm gonna judge you
I'm going to distance myself from you and let others, including yourself, be the judge of your actions.
I hope that fucked up head can tell you what to do
I hope that your impaired judgment and reasoning will still be able to steer you in the right direction.
I'm keeping it simple
I'm not overcomplicating things with you.
And I'm keeping it clear
I'm being honest and straightforward with you.
And I won't use words
I won't try to persuade you with flowery or manipulative language.
Cuz you're too fucked up to hear
Because I know that you're too high or addicted to listen and comprehend.
The crew is strong
My support system and I are resilient and committed to each other.
And we're setting it straight
We're being honest and upfront with you about the negative effects of your drug use.
And we'll be the judge
We will be the ones to evaluate and critique your actions and decisions.
Of your fucking fate
Your chances for success and survival are in our hands.
You've lost my respect
Your drug use has caused me to no longer admire or respect you.
And I've seen your worst
I've witnessed you at your lowest point.
And I've seen your best
I know you have the potential to make better choices.
And I won't settle for anything less
I won't accept anything less than your full recovery and sobriety.
I guess you can call me obsessed
You may think I'm fixated on your addiction, but I just care about your well-being.
Keep clear or take my best
Either you stay away from me and my support system or you accept our help and assistance to get better.
Lyrics © KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Michael Ferraro, John Porcelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind