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)
Junkie Man
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The common man doesn't suffer pain like this
Only the soul that has never been kissed
Let us adore our beautiful son
He's ridin' on the river of Babylon
Oh, burn it up, ah shoot it up, bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and I see a likeness
Internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
When you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
What do, what do, what do, what do I desire
Some parent's house is on fire
Oh slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
The neighborhood will watch without a sound
Will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
But he's not and they know that, they can't get him, he's not crazy
Beat lock him knock him take him away his authority
Hit 'em, ship 'em, club 'em submitted conformity
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
My hand went blind
You were in the vein clairvoyant
You were in the vein clairvoyant
My hand went blind
I make love to my transistor, my transistor
And my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field, on the big field
It opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves, out come the wolves
Their paws trampling in the snow the alphabet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
Burnin' up, shootin' up bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and there is a likeness
Internalize the lunacy the misery is showin' when
You're brought up and caught up in a system that is goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
In "Junkie Man," Rancid describes the struggles of addiction and the systemic issues that contribute to it. The song begins with the line "Ah, it's burning up!", which reflects the intense pain and desperation felt by someone who is addicted to drugs. The lyrics then delve deeper into the topic, pointing out that addiction is not only a physical ailment but a spiritual one as well. While the common man may not understand this struggle, those who have never been able to find true happiness and love in their lives often turn to drugs as a way to cope. The line "Let us adore our beautiful son, he's ridin' on the river of Babylon" reflects the idea that the drug itself becomes a beloved but dangerous savior.
Throughout the song, Rancid highlights the failures of a system that does not provide sufficient resources and support to those who struggle with addiction. The lines "No one answers, no one takes that call from you" reflect the feeling of isolation and abandonment that people often experience when trying to get help. Instead, the system further perpetuates the cycle of addiction by enforcing conformity and failing to acknowledge individual needs. The lyrics "Internalize the lunacy of the misery that's showin' when you're brought up, you're caught up in a system that's goin'" reflect the idea that society plays a role in perpetuating addiction and that individuals are not solely responsible for their struggles.
In summary, Rancid's "Junkie Man" is a poignant and powerful portrait of addiction and its systemic roots. It emphasizes the deep physical and spiritual pain of addiction and highlights the ways in which society fails to address this issue adequately.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, it's burning up!
The pain is unbearable for the common man who has never experienced it.
Only the soul that has never been kissed
The pain is only felt by those who have never experienced love.
Let us adore our beautiful son
Praise the one who overcomes the struggles and suffering in life.
He's ridin' on the river of Babylon
The one receiving praise is overcoming the struggles and moving forward like the Israelites in Babylon.
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Asking for the story behind the addiction and how it came to be.
See the son of god is comin' up and I see a likeness
The one overcoming struggles is being likened to the son of God.
Internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
Take in and understand the craziness and sadness that comes with addiction.
When you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
Growing up can be restrictive and it can be hard to break out of societal norms.
No one answers no one takes that call from you
Addicts often feel hopeless and ignored when trying to seek help.
Some parent's house is on fire
The crisis of addiction can resemble a burning building and it is difficult to get out.
Oh slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
The path of addiction is destructive and leads to tragedy.
Will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
It is difficult for outsiders to fully understand the struggles and pain of addiction.
But he's not and they know that, they can't get him, he's not crazy
Addiction is a real issue and those who are suffering are not crazy, but rather have a problem that needs attention.
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Asking again for the story behind the addiction and how it came to be.
My hand went blind
A metaphor for losing control and awareness while using drugs.
You were in the vein clairvoyant
The high of the drugs can make one feel more in tune with their surroundings.
I make love to my transistor, my transistor
A reference to escaping reality through technology or other means.
And my transparency from the balcony
Feeling exposed and vulnerable while looking at the world from a distance.
It opens like the cover of an old bible
The world is revealed as an old, complex, and unreadable text.
And out come the wolves, out come the wolves
The harsh reality of the world is revealed, and one's safety is threatened.
Their paws trampling in the snow the alphabet
The wolves' movements are strong and irreverent, leaving no room for logic or reason.
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
One can feel powerless and helpless in the face of addiction.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: JIM CARROLL, LARS FREDERIKSEN, ROGER M. FREEMAN, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IMAXXHEW
The common man doesn't suffer pain like this
only the soul that has never been kissed
let us adore our beautiful son
he's ridin' on the river of Babylon
bootin' up, shootin' up to bring on the brightness
see the son of God is comin' up and I see a likeness
internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
when you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...
water water water water I desire
some parents house is on fire oh
slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
the neighborhood will watch without a sound
will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
but he's not and they know that and they can't get him cause he's not crazy
beat him lock him knock him take him away his authority
hit 'em, ship 'em, club 'em submitted conformity
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...
my hand went blind clairvoyant
I make love to my trance sister my transistor
and my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field on the big field
it opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves
their paws trampling the snow the alpha bet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
bootin' up, shootin' up bring on the brightness
see the son of God is comin' up and there is a likeness
internalize the lunacy the misery is showin' when
your brough up and caught up in a system that is goin'
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...
@opheliajones407
@@waifutrashqueen5930 this song has nothing to do with the queer community, this line is about dope (heroin) that's why the song is called " junkyman" ...
My hand went blind
You were in the vein clairvoyant
You were in the vein clairvoyant
My hand went blind
I make love to my transistor, my transistor
And my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field, on the big field
It opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves, out come the wolves
Their paws trampling in the snow the alphabet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
Jim Carroll is also a writer of this song
@airborneandrowdy
Oh man, nostalgia is overwhelming.
@adriennetanner2960
My favorite album track off this classic
@ryanini999
Lars Frederiksen said in an interview once that this was his favorite Rancid song. Always loved this one
@rauladdams5709
I first heard this song so very long ago...It's mind-boggling.
Such awe-inspiring music. Groundbreaking. Kick-ass.
Love. With my whole heart.
@Jasonradiation999
I stole this record when it was released!
@callaghanbrakepads6823
Matt Freeman you are a bass God!
@rigit23
2:19 he said it! He said the thing!
@FireIsTheCIeanser
lol
@deningunlado3086
😆 😆 😆
@IMAXXHEW
The common man doesn't suffer pain like this
only the soul that has never been kissed
let us adore our beautiful son
he's ridin' on the river of Babylon
bootin' up, shootin' up to bring on the brightness
see the son of God is comin' up and I see a likeness
internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
when you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...
water water water water I desire
some parents house is on fire oh
slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
the neighborhood will watch without a sound
will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
but he's not and they know that and they can't get him cause he's not crazy
beat him lock him knock him take him away his authority
hit 'em, ship 'em, club 'em submitted conformity
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...
my hand went blind clairvoyant
I make love to my trance sister my transistor
and my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field on the big field
it opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves
their paws trampling the snow the alpha bet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
bootin' up, shootin' up bring on the brightness
see the son of God is comin' up and there is a likeness
internalize the lunacy the misery is showin' when
your brough up and caught up in a system that is goin'
no one answers no one takes that call from you
junkyman tell me what your story is...