L.A. Guns are a glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineu… Read Full Bio ↴L.A. Guns are a glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Johnny Martin (bass, backing vocals), Adam Hamilton (studio drums) and Shawn Duncan (live drums). The first incarnation of the group was formed by Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner in 1983 and merged with fellow Los Angeles group, Hollywood Rose, to form Guns N' Roses in March 1985. After only a brief tenure in that band, Guns reformed L.A. Guns with a new lineup, consisting of Paul Black, Mick Cripps, Robert Stoddard, and Nickey Alexander. Black would soon be replaced by former Girl singer Phil Lewis while former Faster Pussycat bassist Kelly Nickels was added to the group. Later, Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley with this being known as the "classic lineup" of L.A. Guns. They achieved moderate chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the group went through numerous lineup changes (with Riley being the most consistent member) and failed to regain mainstream attention.

The "classic lineup" of the group would reunite in 1999 and began recording new material. However, the group continued to change lineups and Guns eventually left to form the hard rock supergroup Brides of Destruction with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe in 2002. L.A. Guns continued without Guns, bringing in guitarist Stacey Blades, however, following his decision to put Brides of Destruction on hiatus in 2006, Guns formed The Tracii Guns Band. The group's lineup consisted of former L.A. Guns members Black, Alexander as well as Jeremy Guns (though the lineup would eventually change), with the group eventually changing their name to L.A. Guns. Both groups continued to record and tour under the L.A. Guns moniker until 2012, when the Tracii Guns-led version of the group disbanded. Riley died in 2023.

L.A. Guns (feat. Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis) released a new single "Let You Down" on May 6, 2020. It was released as the first single from their then-upcoming fourteenth studio album Checkered Past, which was released on November 12, 2021, and featured producer Adam Hamilton on drums.

In May 2022, it was announced that Shawn Duncan had replaced Shane Fitzgibbon as their drummer. In the following month, guitarist Ace Von Johnson revealed that L.A. Guns had been working on new material for their next studio album. The resulting album, Black Diamonds, was released on April 14, 2023.

Scream
L.A. Guns Lyrics

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How come every time I think I've got it all worked out
Some one comes and turns it over, turns it upside down
I ride these city streets at night
Sometimes I do things that ain't right
A lonely heart, tears me apart
Some times I just want to scream
Should we all go down together, I don't really care
Rather lose in Babylon than make it anywhere

I rode this town for thirteen years
I've seen sinners, saints and queers
You best believe, you can never leave
Some times I just want to scream
You make me scream [Repeat x10]
How come every time I think I've got it all worked out
Some one comes and turns it over, turns it upside down
I rode this town for thirteen years
I've seen sinners, saints and queers

You best believe, you can never leave
Some times I just want to scream

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of L.A. Guns's song Scream delve into the feeling of frustration when things don't go as planned. The singer expresses his disillusionment with life, as whenever he thinks he has his life all figured out, something or someone comes along and destroys his plans, leaving him feeling defeated. He talks about how he rides alone on the streets of the city, doing things that aren't right while his lonely heart tears him apart. The singer is trapped and can't escape, and the only way he can express his pent-up emotions is through a scream.

The chorus of the song seems to be a metaphor for the idea that sometimes you have to take risks and not care about the consequences. He deeply feels that he would rather fail and lose everything in Babylon, than to be stuck living a mundane life anywhere else. Even though he has been living in the same town for 13 years, he feels like he is unable to leave, and the city's dark temptations are hard to resist.

Overall, the song is an ode to the struggles one faces while trying to navigate through life, the feeling of disenchantment, and the momentary relief that comes with screaming out loud.

Line by Line Meaning

How come every time I think I've got it all worked out
Despite having a plan and thinking everything is settled, something always comes and upsets the balance, leaving me unsure and confused.

Some one comes and turns it over, turns it upside down
An external factor intervenes and overturns my plans, leaving me to deal with the consequences and uncertainty that follow.

I ride these city streets at night
I wander through the dark and unsavory areas of the city, alone with my thoughts and fears.

Sometimes I do things that ain't right
I am human and make mistakes, often doing things that I know are wrong but do anyways to satisfy my desires and impulses.

A lonely heart, tears me apart
My loneliness and emptiness inside tear at me and cause me pain and sorrow, making it difficult to carry on.

Sometimes I just want to scream
The overwhelming emotions and intensity of my situation can push me to the brink, making me want to release the pressure through a vocal outburst.

Should we all go down together, I don't really care
If we all end up in the same place, whether it be a positive or negative destination, it does not matter to me because I am indifferent to the outcome.

Rather lose in Babylon than make it anywhere
I would rather fail spectacularly in a place of debauchery and sin than succeed in a place where I do not truly belong or feel at home.

I rode this town for thirteen years
I have spent a significant amount of my life in this town, learning its ins and outs and experiencing all that it has to offer.

I've seen sinners, saints and queers
I have witnessed and interacted with people from all walks of life, ranging from sinners to saints to those who identify as queer.

You best believe, you can never leave
Once you become entrenched in the culture and lifestyle of this town, it becomes almost impossible to truly leave it behind and move on.

You make me scream [Repeat x10]
The person addressed in this line has the power to elicit a strong emotional response from me, often one of anger or frustration.

Sometimes I just want to scream
The overwhelming emotions and intensity of my situation can push me to the brink, making me want to release the pressure through a vocal outburst.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TAURA STINSON, ZURI CRAIG, ALONZO JACKSON, JEFFREY LEWIS, MARQUIS MOSS, FORREST ROGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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