Breakin' The Law
Junkyard Dogs Lyrics

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There I was completely wasted, out of work and down.
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town.
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die,
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future: I can't even start!
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart!
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
You don't know what it's like!
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Overall Meaning

The song "Breaking the Law" by Junkyard Dogs is about a person who is frustrated with his life and is looking for some action. He feels out of work, wasted, and down, and no one seems to care about him. He also talks about broken promises, which has made him angry. The only thing that gives him a sense of purpose is breaking the law. He repeats the phrase "breaking the law" multiple times to emphasize how strongly he feels about it.

The lyrics reflect the feelings of many people who feel oppressed and marginalized. The singer is a victim of circumstance and feels that he has no other option but to break the law. This could be seen as a commentary on social inequality and the way in which the system can fail people.

The song has a very energetic and upbeat feel to it, which contrasts with the darker theme of the lyrics. The use of repetition and the catchy chorus make it a popular anthem for many people who feel like outsiders.

Line by Line Meaning

There I was completely wasted, out of work and down.
As I found myself jobless and depressed, I was inebriated, aimlessly wandering from place to place.

All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town.
Internally, I felt frustrated and lost as I aimlessly traveled from one city to another.

Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die,
I had a sense that no one cared about my life or wellbeing.

So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
With a lack of direction and purpose, I decided to take action and do something, even if it meant breaking the law.

Breaking the law, breaking the law
I am breaking the law and I know it.

So much for the golden future: I can't even start!
Despite the promises of a bright future, I couldn't even get started in life.

I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart!
Every promise made to me was broken, leaving me feeling angry and resentful.

You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
Others cannot possibly understand my struggles and the reasons behind my actions.

If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too
I am convinced that if others had gone through what I have, they would also resort to breaking the law as a means of survival.

Breaking the law, breaking the law
I am breaking the law and I know it.

You don't know what it's like!
No one can comprehend what I am going through.

Breaking the law, breaking the law
I am breaking the law and I know it.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Robert Halford

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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