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)
I Am the One
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you hesitate they'll pursue it
Put the gun to the dome no question
Now the holy ghost in question
What about the banks
When they say go
Standing at the top and can't let go
When I try sometime I can't stay high
Are you gonna be ready to use it
If you hesitate they'll pursue it
Good and evil come from above
Death peace eternal love
Bleeding at the gates and I can't come in
Courage that abates a life of sin
Sure that it holds and it holds no others
With the lies of the brave and the kid don't matter
The lyrics of "I Am the One" by Rancid are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The first stanza suggests that there is a conflict that requires a readiness to use a gun, with the possibility of hesitation leading to pursuit by the opposing forces. However, the line "now the holy ghost in question" brings in a religious element, perhaps suggesting that the use of force is leading to a questioning of faith.
The second stanza brings in the idea of power dynamics, with a reference to banks. The singer is at the top, unable to let go but also unable to stay high. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for being trapped in a position of power but unable to escape its negative effects. The third stanza brings in concepts of good and evil, with death, peace, and eternal love appearing to be the ultimate answers.
The final stanza is particularly difficult to unpack, with references to bleeding at the gates and courage that abates a life of sin. It seems to suggest a struggle to gain entry or access to something, with the price being a life of moral compromise. The final two lines - "with the lies of the brave and the kid don't matter" - could be a commentary on the falsehoods and illusions of those in power, leading to a sense of hopelessness amongst those who are powerless.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring themes of power, violence, faith, and morality - all issues that are still relevant today. The lyrics are deliberately ambiguous, encouraging the listener to bring their own interpretation to the table.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you gonna be ready to use it
Asking if you have the courage to take action
If you hesitate they'll pursue it
Urging you to act before it's too late
Put the gun to the dome no question
Using violent imagery to emphasize the urgency of the situation
Now the holy ghost in question
Raising doubts about the morality of the situation
What about the banks
Questioning the power structures that control society
When they say go
Highlighting the pressure to conform to societal norms
Standing at the top and can't let go
Feeling trapped by success or power
Standin' can't take can't take that time
Feeling like there's no time to relax or slow down
When I try sometime I can't stay high
Struggling with substance abuse or addiction
Good and evil come from above
Believing that morality is divinely ordained
Death peace eternal love
Emphasizing the suffering of life and the possibility of transcendence
Bleeding at the gates and I can't come in
Feeling excluded from society or a group
Courage that abates a life of sin
Suggesting that courage can lead to redemption
Sure that it holds and it holds no others
Believing that something is certain and exclusive
With the lies of the brave and the kid don't matter
Seeing the dishonesty and selfishness of those in power
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ROGER M. FREEMAN, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@willcal3679
Great song