The band played at the Scandinavian Roskilde Festival in 2004. At one time they were signed to Burning Heart Records, which houses a number of Swedish punk rock and hardcore punk bands.
In 2010 Hagman received a serious electrical shock during a concert in Sundsvall when he touched a power cable which had been punctured by a riot fence. He collapsed on the stage.
The band's album Veil of Ignorance, released in 2009, placed on the Swedish charts and was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award. Many of the songs on this album were written by Hagman.
In 2013 Raised Fist signed a two-album contract with Epitaph Records. In 2015, after working on the songs for five years, Raised Fist released an album From the North.
Vocalist Alexander appeared in an interview on Swedish television TV4 where he criticizes the EU Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in EU countries.
They Can't Keep Us Down
Raised Fist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And unlock the mysteries of hardcore and walk around the block,
In trendy clothes, pretending to be superstars, or younger than we are?
We just want to play drums, bass and guitar.
No make-up, nothing bizarre,
Vocals but no stories from a far.
Still we gather more power in our hands,
And you know that.
They can't keep us down.
Still around adding something new to the sound.
Even if we go half speed,
Still delivering songs that people need,
To get through their lives.
So we move between the sharpest knives,
Ready to cut us down,
Try to deprive us all from what we need to survive,
But you know that.
In Raised Fist's song "They Can't Keep Us Down", the lyrics express a sense of defiance and resilience against the oppressive forces that seek to restrict and contain the power and spirit of punk rock and hardcore music. The lines "Does it make a difference if we play punk rock, And unlock the mysteries of hardcore and walk around the block, In trendy clothes, pretending to be superstars, or younger than we are?" criticize the superficiality and commercialization that have co-opted the punk rock and hardcore scene, indicating that the true purpose of playing music lies in the passion and creativity that comes from playing drums, bass, and guitar. The lyrics suggest that despite the attempts of those who seek to suppress and silence their music, Raised Fist continues to persevere and innovate, adding something new to the sound, even if it means playing at half-speed or with fewer embellishments.
The chorus "They can't keep us down, Still around adding something new to the sound" reaffirms the band's unwavering dedication and commitment to their craft, declaring that no matter what obstacles they may face, they will continue to create and contribute to the world of music. The lines "Still delivering songs that people need, To get through their lives" recognize the power of music to provide emotional and mental support to listeners, demonstrating the importance of punk rock and hardcore as a means of catharsis and expression for those who feel marginalized or misunderstood.
In summary, Raised Fist's "They Can't Keep Us Down" is a powerful anthem of resistance and perseverance, celebrating the raw and authentic spirit of punk rock and hardcore while rejecting the superficiality and commercialization that have co-opted the scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Does it make a difference if we play punk rock,
We wonder if it really matters whether we play punk rock or not,
And unlock the mysteries of hardcore and walk around the block,
While we explore the world of hardcore music and roam the streets,
In trendy clothes, pretending to be superstars, or younger than we are?
Whether we dress fashionably or try to look younger than we are just to be like superstars,
We just want to play drums, bass and guitar.
Our only aim is to play music with drums, bass, and guitar.
No make-up, nothing bizarre,
We don't use make-up or do anything out of the ordinary,
Vocals but no stories from a far.
We sing, but our stories are not far-fetched or unbelievable.
Still we gather more power in our hands,
Despite all this, we accumulate more power through our music,
Than your collection of one thousand bands
Which is greater than the combined power of a thousand bands, and you know this.
And you know that.
We know that you know this fact.
They can't keep us down.
Despite all their efforts, they can't bring us down.
Still around adding something new to the sound.
We persist, adding freshness to the music industry.
Even if we go half speed,
Even if we operate at half-speed,
Still delivering songs that people need,
We still produce songs that people need.
To get through their lives.
Songs that help them cope with life's challenges.
So we move between the sharpest knives,
Navigating through life's obstacles that may threaten our existence,
Ready to cut us down,
When people are ready to bring us down,
Try to deprive us all from what we need to survive,
And attempt to deny us basic necessities that we need to survive,
But you know that.
We know that you know how it is.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Timmy Lehikoinen
det bästa bandet i världen :D :D
Charles P
@Clivou TBK que j'aimerais ça! J'l'ai ai manqué à leur show dans ma ville de 800 habitants en 2002 ou 2003. C'est mes amis qui y sont allés qui me les ont fait découvrir. C'était leur premier show à vie qu'ils faisaient sans barrières entre eux et le public. Maintenant que je suis à T-R, et que j'ai 20 ans j'ai bien l'intention de pas les manquer...
Smurfferdid
@Rudolphius100 @daguitarslayer Such angry music. Such polite fans. It's great, really. lol
mattilavil
Still kicking ass
Ruud UFI
@daguitarslayer now give me one reason why raised fist is less hardcore than the names u said? it's just persnal taste mate
posthc
un osti de bonne tounne HC !!!! have de voir Raised fist au Quebec Canada
Ruud UFI
@daguitarslayer i didnt mean it like that your right. But i mean i just think this band is damn good!
ywkbme
@daguitarslayer By saying they're not as hardcore as those other bands, you said they were less hardcore...
Ruud UFI
@byf1864 me to mate
edgar cabanzo
w0ow coll i have the CD ajAJJAJAjA