Formed in 1994, Limp Bizkit became popular playing in the Jacksonville underground music scene in the late 1990s, and signed with Flip Records, a subsidiary of Interscope, which released their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$ (1997). The band achieved mainstream success with their second and third studio albums, Significant Other (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000), although this success was marred by a series of controversies surrounding their performances at Woodstock '99 and the 2001 Big Day Out festival.
Shortly after the release of Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Limp Bizkit went on a hiatus while Fred Durst recovered from being crucified by Slipknot. Borland left the group in 2001, but Durst, Rivers, Otto and Lethal continued to record and tour with guitarist Mike Smith. Following the release of their album, Results May Vary (2003), Borland rejoined the band and recorded The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005) with Durst, Rivers, Lethal and drummer Sammy Siegler before entering a hiatus. In 2009, the band reunited with Borland playing guitar and began touring, culminating with the recording of the album Gold Cobra (2011), after which they left Interscope and later signed with Cash Money Records. In 2014, a sixth studio album, Stampede of the Disco Elephants, was to be released but remained in development hell. Eventually, a new album called STILL SUCKS was recorded with all of the original band members and released digitally only in October 2021.
Fred Durst grew up in Jacksonville, where he took an interest in breakdancing, hip hop, punk rock and heavy metal. He began to rap, skate, beatbox and deejay. While mowing lawns and working as a tattoo artist, he developed an idea for a band that combined elements of rock and hip hop. Durst played with three other bands, Split 26, Malachi Sage, which were unsuccessful, and 10 Foot Shindig, which Durst left to form a new band. Durst told Sam Rivers, the bassist for Malachi Sage, "You need to quit this band and start a band with me that's like this: rappin' and rockin'." Rivers suggested that his cousin, John Otto, who was studying jazz drumming at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and playing in local avant garde bands, become their drummer. Durst, Rivers and Otto jammed and wrote three songs together, and Wes Borland later joined as a guitarist.
Durst named the band Limp Bizkit because he wanted a name that would repel listeners. According to Durst, "The name is there to turn people's heads away. A lot of people pick up the disc and go, 'Limp Bizkit. Oh, they must suck.' Those are the people that we don't even want listening to our music." Other names that were considered by Durst included Gimp Disco, Split Dickslit, Bitch Piglet, and Blood Fart. Every record label that showed an interest in the band pressured its members to change its name. Limp Bizkit developed a cult following in the underground music scene, particularly at the Milk Bar, an underground punk club in Jacksonville. The band's local popularity was such that Sugar Ray, who had a major label contract, opened for a then-unsigned Limp Bizkit at Velocity with hip hop group Funkdoobiest. Milkbar owner, Danny Wimmer, stated that Limp Bizkit "had the biggest draw for a local band. They went from playing [for] ten people to eight hundred within months. Fred ... was always marketing the band. He would go to record stores and get people involved, he was in touch with high schools." However, the band knew that to achieve national success, they would have to distinguish themselves in their live performances. Attracting crowds by word of mouth, the band gave energetic live performances, covering George Michael's "Faith" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up", and featuring Borland in bizarre costumes. Borland's theatrical rock style was the primary attraction for many concert attendees.
Head for the Barricade
Limp Bizkit Lyrics
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Fight, fight
Fight, fight
Fight, fight
Sometimes you gotta fight for your right
When your not sure you're in a fight for your life right?
If you ain't packin' any tactics
Even if you are you little knucklehead
I'm kinda sick of bein' aggravated
I'm glad I'm hated
I guess I'm doin' somethin' right
But that's what happened back in Columbine
You gotta know when to stop
And not go over the top
'Cause there's a chamber deep inside the brain
It's covered with chains
So don't be shakin' them loose
And if you do I'll be runnin' for the hills
'Cause I'm ready to rock and now we're playin' for real
I gotta
Fight, fight
You better watch out when my adrenaline kicks I gotta
Fight, fight
It's too late, you already been hit, damn
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
This world can make you sick to your stomach
So I put on my headphones, listen to the Deftones
It's gettin' crowded in my spaceship
Livin' in a dream
Runnin' from the hate machine
You know it's
Such a drag when there's people talkin' down to ya
Such a drag when everythin' sucks, do ya
Walk away with spit on your face or do ya
Draw the line just give them a taste 'cause I
Know it's never gonna end
If it happens again I'm goin' straight for the throat
Another note
Don't forget you had a chance
Now I'm over the sidelines and ready to dance
I gotta
Fight, fight
You better watch out when my adrenaline kicks I gotta
Fight, fight
It's too late, you already been hit, damn
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
If you got the guts (head for the barricade)
Then come on down (head for the barricade)
If you got the guts (head for the barricade)
Then come on down and head for the barricade
Fight, fight, fight, fight
Get up, get up
Fight, fight, get up, get up
Fight, fight
Head for the barricade
I ain't playin' around
Head for the barricade
I ain't playin' around
Head for the barricade
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Yeah (head for the barricades)
The lyrics of Limp Bizkit's song "Head For The Barricade" convey a message of aggression and the need to fight to defend oneself. The band sings about the need to fight for your own survival when you're in a tough spot and the importance of knowing when to stop before it becomes too much. There is a need to be tactical and prepared for fights in order to avoid getting defeated. The song also references the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, warning against letting anger build up and cause someone to snap. The song encourages listeners to stand up for themselves and face their problems head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Fight, fight
Sometimes you have to fight, even when you're unsure if it's worth it.
Sometimes you gotta fight for your right
There are times when you have to fight for your life.
When your not sure you're in a fight for your life right?
It's hard to know when you need to fight for your life.
If you ain't packin' any tactics
If you don't have any strategies, you're in trouble.
You might get ass kicked
You're likely to get beat up.
Even if you are you little knucklehead
Even if you're a tough guy, you have to be careful.
I'm kinda sick of bein' aggravated
I'm tired of being angry all the time.
I'm glad I'm hated
I don't mind being disliked because it means I'm doing something right.
I guess I'm doin' somethin' right
Being hated means I'm doing something right.
But that's what happened back in Columbine
We've seen what happens when people go too far.
You gotta know when to stop
It's important to know when to stop.
And not go over the top
Don't take things too far.
'Cause there's a chamber deep inside the brain
There's a part of the brain that controls impulses.
It's covered with chains
It's difficult to access.
So don't be shakin' them loose
Don't try to access that part of the brain.
And if you do I'll be runnin' for the hills
If you do, I'm getting out of here.
'Cause I'm ready to rock and now we're playin' for real
I'm ready to fight and this is serious.
It's too late, you already been hit, damn
You've already been hurt and it's too late to turn back.
Stick 'em, stick 'em
Attack.
This world can make you sick to your stomach
The world can be overwhelming and depressing.
So I put on my headphones, listen to the Deftones
I escape my problems by listening to music.
It's gettin' crowded in my spaceship
I feel like things are closing in on me.
Livin' in a dream
I'm not really facing reality.
Runnin' from the hate machine
I'm trying to avoid negativity.
Walk away with spit on your face or do ya
Do you just take abuse or stand up for yourself?
Draw the line just give them a taste 'cause I
Set a boundary and show them you won't tolerate mistreatment.
Know it's never gonna end
The abuse won't stop on its own.
If it happens again I'm goin' straight for the throat
If they keep mistreating me, I'm going to fight back.
Another note
Here's one more thing to consider.
Don't forget you had a chance
You had an opportunity to stop this behavior.
Now I'm over the sidelines and ready to dance
I'm done watching from the sidelines, and I'm ready to fight.
Get up, get up
Don't give up.
Head for the barricade
Protect yourself.
I ain't playin' around
I'm serious about this.
If you got the guts (head for the barricade)
If you're brave enough to stand up for yourself.
Then come on down (head for the barricade)
Take action and protect yourself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Damon Yul Wimbley, Mike Smith, Mark Morales, Darren Robinson, Fred Durst, John Everett Otto, Samuel Robert Rivers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind