NUFAN's debut album, Incognito, was released in 1990 through New Red Archives. The band has released a single and one more full-length on this label, until signing up with Fat Mike's label, Fat Wreck Chords, on 1993. At that year, No Use For a Name released its first record on Fat, The Daily Grind, which turned to be a highly successful album.
In 1995, After the release of Leche Con Carne, their fourth full-length, Chris Shiflett (now in the Foo Fighters and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes) and Matt Riddle (also in Pulley) joined the band to play Guitar and Bass, respectively. In 1997, after the success of Making Friends, the band went on a worldwide tour through U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Chris left the band to play in the Foo Fighters, so now they have Dave Nassie playing guitar
The band released their 8th full-length album, titled Keep Them Confused, on June 14th, 2005. It takes a more political, philosophical and religious position than earlier releases.
A greatest hits collection titled All the Best Songs was released on July 10, 2007.
A new fourteen song full-length studio album entitled The Feel Good Record of the Year was released on April 1, 2008. In 2009, when promoting the album in Europe, Dave Nassie left the band to join the ranks of Bleeding Through. In August 2009 the band announced, that they replaced Nassie with Lagwagon's guitarist and founding member of RKL, Chris Rest.
In December of 2010, Rory Koff announced to the band he would need time off from touring to go full time with his snowplow business and eventually was replaced by new full-time drummer Boz Rivera (of King City, RKL, and The Mad Caddies.). Koff was the last remaining member of the original 1987 No Use for a Name line up.
Since 2010, No Use for a Name has been working on a new album.
Tony Sly tragically passed away on August 1, 2012.
PRIDE
No Use For A Name Lyrics
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"Oh it's nothing dear, it's probably just another one of those adolescent cycles. Hah! I believe a child psychiatrist would refer to it as: 'the Punk phase'..."
I see you clinging, stereotyping
Just to feel comfort, just to belong
Desperate for meaning, to make sense of your life
Let me try to make you understand...
You're not gonna catch me waving flags over my head
Looking straight and standing tall
I refuse to build the wall by adding my own bricks
That separate us all
I'd rather die than be a part of your pride
This ain't the homeland they've written books on
Never have been there, how would you know
Following footsteps that will get you nowhere
And living by some rules that were made up one hundred years ago
You're not gonna find me digging through my family tree
Just to find out who I am
I don't need to know that I'm linked to some murderer
To live on the same land
I'd rather die than be a part of your pride
So it looks like I'll be here for a long time now
Some things are better left mysteries
Can't change the future when living in the past
So do what you want and I'll decide my own history
The song "Pride" by No Use for a Name is an anthem against nationalism and blindly following traditions without questioning their validity. The singer questions the need for clinging to identity labels and stereotypes for the sake of a sense of belonging. The lyrics stress the importance of individuality and not letting oneself be consumed by the "pride" that often comes with a sense of community. The song's message lays emphasis on questioning what is being taught and what is being reproduced to preserve the authenticity of one's own identity.
The song's lyrics have an extremely powerful message that speaks to the core issue of identity, individuality, and the need for people to think for themselves. It encourages people to reconsider their beliefs, not as a means of destroying their heritage but as a means of owning it. The song is a call to all to question the status quo and to think about their beliefs critically to live a life true to their individual identity. It urges people to view themselves as individuals rather than being defined by a group or a nation.
In conclusion, "Pride" by No Use for a Name, is about rejecting the pride that often comes with community and nationalism, and instead, embracing individuality. It is a poignant reminder that it is okay not to fit in, to be different, and to defy the expectations of others. It encourages people to stand up for their own beliefs, to question what they are being taught, and to think for themselves in all circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
What ever's gotten into our sweet little Izzy?
Someone is questioning what is going on with a person named Izzy.
Oh it's nothing dear, it's probably just another one of those adolescent cycles. Hah! I believe a child psychiatrist would refer to it as: 'the Punk phase'...
A response to the question about Izzy, insinuating that the person is just going through a rebellious phase and nothing serious.
I see you clinging, stereotyping
The singer observes someone who is sticking to traditional beliefs and values without question.
Just to feel comfort, just to belong
The person is holding on to these beliefs and values to find comfort and feel like they fit in with a group that supports these ideologies.
Desperate for meaning, to make sense of your life
The person is searching for purpose and seeking answers to find meaning in their life.
Let me try to make you understand...
The singer attempts to convey a different viewpoint for the person to consider.
You got it wrong
The singer believes that the person with traditional beliefs is incorrect in their thinking.
You're not gonna catch me waving flags over my head
The singer will not display nationalistic pride outwardly.
Looking straight and standing tall
Not showing pride in nationality does not mean being ashamed of oneself or one's beliefs.
I refuse to build the wall by adding my own bricks
The singer does not want to contribute to divisiveness by supporting concepts that would segregate individuals because of arbitrary factors such as race, ethnicity or religion
That separate us all
The pride in meaningful ideas need not lead to splitting of groups along societal norms.
I'd rather die than be a part of your pride
The singer would rather die than be involved in or contribute to societal beliefs that lead to a separation and divisiveness among individuals on the basis of unjustified reasons.
This ain't the homeland they've written books on
Society has never been what was portrayed in books, and what is considered as nationalistic pride is most often different from what is represented in reality.
Never have been there, how would you know
Most individuals who claim such pride in their nation may have never travelled outside their own country
Following footsteps that will get you nowhere
Following beliefs that lead to an unjustified sense of superiority will do no good.
And living by some rules that were made up one hundred years ago
Blindly following rules made in the past may not be useful in the current era.
You're not gonna find me digging through my family tree
The singer does not seek personal pride from the history of their lineage.
Just to find out who I am
The singer does not need an external source of information to know their identity
I don't need to know that I'm linked to some murderer
The singer does not seek personal pride through the history of their lineage as it may contain bad elements, actions or reputations.
To live on the same land
Living on the same land does not mean one needs to fill any sort of historic qualifications.
So it looks like I'll be here for a long time now
The singer has no plans to move away or abandon their position of avoiding harmful divisionist beliefs.
Some things are better left mysteries
Some things may never be explained, and it is better to accept it than try to force an explanation.
Can't change the future when living in the past
Focusing too much on past events can hamper present efforts to create a positive future
So do what you want and I'll decide my own history
The singer will shape their own future and neither be dictated by others beliefs nor tethered to past events.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind