Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991… Read Full Bio ↴Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, former members of the band Operation Ivy, Rancid is often credited as being among the wave of bands that revived mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid-1990s. Over their 32-year career, Rancid retained much of its original fan-base, most of which was connected to its underground musical roots.

Rancid has had two lineup changes since its inception, with Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman being continuous members. Their current lineup consists of Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and vocals, Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals, and Branden Steineckert on drums. The band was formed by Armstrong, Freeman, and former drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Steineckert. This lineup recorded their first album, with Frederiksen joining the band on their subsequent tour.

To date, Rancid has released ten studio albums, one split album, one compilation, two extended plays, and a series of live online-only albums, and has been featured on a number of compilation albums. The band has sold over four million records worldwide, making it one of the most successful punk rock groups of all time. The band rose to fame in 1994 with its second studio album, Let's Go, featuring the single "Salvation". In the following year, Rancid released its highly successful album ...And Out Come the Wolves, which produced its best-known songs "Roots Radicals", "Ruby Soho", and "Time Bomb", and was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies in the United States alone. Its next six albums – Life Won't Wait (1998), Rancid (2000), Indestructible (2003), Let the Dominoes Fall (2009), ...Honor Is All We Know (2014) and Trouble Maker (2017) – were also critically acclaimed, though not as commercially successful as ...And Out Come the Wolves. The band released their tenth album, Tomorrow Never Comes, in June 2023.

Studio albums
Rancid (1993)
Let's Go (1994)
...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
Life Won't Wait (1998)
Rancid (also known as "Rancid 2000" or "Rancid 5") (2000)
Indestructible (2003)
Let the Dominoes Fall (2009)
...Honor Is All We Know (2014)
Trouble Maker (2017)
Tomorrow Never Comes (2023)

David Courtney
Rancid Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney,
Well, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney!

If you're feelin' bold,
And you must be told,
You'll feel a whack up on your back,

And up the dust is made of gold,
If you do the job,
Loyal to the mob,
You'll be sorted and rewarded, south of France, in the sun
But if you pay your debt, you won't be dead,
Please take me up on my advice!
Cause vengeance will be delivered door to door,
And right on time...

Yeah, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney,
Well, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney!

Cuban cigars,
Silver Jaguars,
Brand-new suits are filled with loot, he's looking wicked and astute
Make no bones, he says,
Feelings then there is,
He's a legend in the underworld and an up to the poor,
Well, if you pay your debt, you won't be dead,
Please take me up on my advice!
Because vengeance will be delivered door to door,
And right on time...

Well, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney,
Well, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney!

Tim talking: Listen up all you skaghead, sewer rats, gangsters,
Villains and whores, the dark figures from the shadows,
Crept up from behind, where they brandished a gun,
Pointed directly at his face,
And they shuddered at the sight when the words were spoken,
"Go ahead, son, but you're making a big mistake,"
As the clueless of the night reflected off the cobblestone roads,
And silence took over, he said:
"Do you know who the fuck I am?"

Yeah, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney,

Well, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers,
If you don't step aside for David Courtney!

Overall Meaning

The song David Courtney by Rancid tells the tale of a notorious underworld figure who demands respect from other criminals. The lyrics are essentially a warning to those who would dare to cross David Courtney, implying that they will surely face retaliation if they do not show deference to him. The song paints a picture of a powerful and wealthy criminal boss who has made his fortune through illegal means, as evidenced by his Cuban cigars, silver Jaguars, and brand-new suits filled with loot.

The lyrics also suggest that David Courtney has a loyal following and rewards those who are faithful to him, but his wrath is fierce and exacting towards those who disobey him. The central message of the song seems to be that in the criminal underworld, it is important to know one's place and to respect the hierarchy, or face potentially fatal consequences.

Overall, David Courtney is a compelling character in the world of Rancid's music, and the ominous tone of the song adds to the mystique surrounding him.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, all you motherfuckers, criminals will be suckers, If you don't step aside for David Courtney,
David Courtney is a powerful and respected figure in the underworld, and those who resist him will ultimately fail.

If you're feelin' bold, And you must be told, You'll feel a whack up on your back, And up the dust is made of gold,
Those who cross David Courtney will face physical repercussions and may lose their wealth and status.

If you do the job, Loyal to the mob, You'll be sorted and rewarded, south of France, in the sun But if you pay your debt, you won't be dead, Please take me up on my advice!
Those who cooperate with David Courtney and the mob will be rewarded with riches and safety, but those who owe debts should pay them off to avoid consequences.

Cause vengeance will be delivered door to door, And right on time...
David Courtney will make sure that those who wrong him face consequences and receive punishment.

Cuban cigars, Silver Jaguars, Brand-new suits are filled with loot, he's looking wicked and astute Make no bones, he says, Feelings then there is,
David Courtney is wealthy and fashionable, and commands respect from those around him.

He's a legend in the underworld and an up to the poor, Well, if you pay your debt, you won't be dead, Please take me up on my advice!
David Courtney is known and respected by both the criminal underworld and the general population, and those who owe him debts should pay them to avoid consequences.

Because vengeance will be delivered door to door, And right on time...
David Courtney will ensure that those who cross him face consequences and receive punishment.

Tim talking: Listen up all you skaghead, sewer rats, gangsters, Villains and whores, the dark figures from the shadows, Crept up from behind, where they brandished a gun, Pointed directly at his face,
Tim is warning those who would try to harm David Courtney that they will face retaliation and violence.

"Go ahead, son, but you're making a big mistake," As the clueless of the night reflected off the cobblestone roads, And silence took over, he said: "Do you know who the fuck I am?"
David Courtney is confident in his power and will not be intimidated by those who try to harm him.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LARS FREDERIKSEN, TIM ARMSTRONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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