Selected discography:
Millions of Dead Cops (1982)
Smoke Signals (1986)
This Blood's for You (1987)
Metal Devil Cokes (1989)
Hey Cop! If I Had A Face Like Yours... (1991)
Shades of Brown (1993)
Magnus Dominus Corpus (2004)
Mein Trumpf (2017)
Current lineup
Dave Dictor - vocals (1979-present)
Russ Kalita - guitar (2008–present)
Barry Ward - guitar (2017-present)
Mike Smith - bass (2007–present)
I Remember
MDC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They said, Don't be a joker, don't be a fool
Pledge your allegiance to the red, white and blue
Don't expect your country to do nothin' for you
but I only had one
And I watched him die in the heat of the sun
Suckin' up the bullets of a policeman's gun
There was nothin' I could do but stay away
In the U.S.A. you gotta take your chances
If you plan on stayin' free
They call this the land of the living
But they're trying to make a dead man out of me
I remember when I first hit the road
I was runnin' from the lenders of the money I owed
Came to Austin, heard a knock at my door
Crossed another border and I'm runnin' some more
They say they're gonna get me but it ain't happened yet
Burnin' my fingers on my last cigarette
It's time to remember time to forget
Nothin' I could do but get away
I remember all the stories I heard
How a man's supposed to be 'bout as free as a bird
My brother's in prison, my father's dead
Me, I'm tired of living with a price on my head
I wonder if there's a place to be
In the whole wide country for a fella like me
Name's in the paper, face on T.V.
Nothin'I can do but get away
MDC's song, "I Remember," is a socio-political commentary on what the band perceives as wrongs of the United States. The song highlights the lack of freedom and justice in the country. The first verse talks about schooling and pledging allegiance to the red, white, and blue but not expecting anything from the country. The singer talks about watching his forefather die, who fought for the country, only to be shot at by the police. In the chorus, the singer highlights the idea of freedom in America and how one has to take chances to stay free. He sings, "They call this the land of the living, but they're trying to make a dead man out of me," implying that even though America is perceived as the land of opportunity, it is a difficult place to live freely.
The second verse reveals the singer's personal experience of running away from the lenders who had lent him money. He traveled to Austin, heard a knock at his door, and had to escape, crossing another border. He feels like he is being chased, but nothing has happened, at least for the moment. He wishes to forget and move on, but he can't seem to do it. The final verse talks about how the singer is aware of how free one is supposed to be in America, but his brother is in prison, and his father has passed away. He is tired of living with a price on his head, and he wonders if there's a place where he can live freely.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when I first went to school
MDC remembers their first day of school.
They said, Don't be a joker, don't be a fool
MDC was warned to take school seriously.
Pledge your allegiance to the red, white and blue
MDC was asked to pledge loyalty to America's flag.
Don't expect your country to do nothin' for you
MDC was told not to assume that the country would help them.
They said your forefathers loved you
MDC was told that their ancestors loved them.
but I only had one
MDC only had one parent.
And I watched him die in the heat of the sun
MDC witnessed their father's death.
Suckin' up the bullets of a policeman's gun
MDC's father was killed by a police officer.
There was nothin' I could do but stay away
MDC couldn't do anything except to distance themselves from the situation.
In the U.S.A. you gotta take your chances
MDC says that in America, everyone has to be brave and take chances to survive.
If you plan on stayin' free
MDC implies that freedom isn't free, and one has to work for it.
They call this the land of the living
America is often referred to as the Land of the Living.
But they're trying to make a dead man out of me
MDC feels that America is trying to destroy them.
I remember when I first hit the road
MDC recalls the first time they left home.
I was runnin' from the lenders of the money I owed
MDC was avoiding people they owed money to.
Came to Austin, heard a knock at my door
MDC received an unexpected visitor when they arrived in Austin.
Crossed another border and I'm runnin' some more
MDC crossed another line and continued to flee.
They say they're gonna get me but it ain't happened yet
MDC has been warned of danger but hasn't been caught yet.
Burnin' my fingers on my last cigarette
MDC is smoking their last cigarette before leaving town.
It's time to remember time to forget
MDC says it's time to recall their past and forget the present.
Nothin' I could do but get away
MDC is unable to do anything other than leaving.
I remember all the stories I heard
MDC recollects stories they were told.
How a man's supposed to be 'bout as free as a bird
MDC was taught that a man should be as free as a bird.
My brother's in prison, my father's dead
MDC's father is dead, and their brother is in jail.
Me, I'm tired of living with a price on my head
MDC is tired of feeling like they're a target for harm.
I wonder if there's a place to be
MDC wonders if they'll ever belong somewhere.
In the whole wide country for a fella like me
MDC is questioning if there's anywhere in America for them.
Name's in the paper, face on T.V.
MDC's name and image are in the media.
Nothin'I can do but get away
MDC feels helpless and can only leave.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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