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)
Let's Go
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, he's from Los Angeles ohh!
Jimmy said he could handle this
Born and raised in West Los Angeles
Dad's a lawyer, Mummy's sleep,
runs down the family can't ya see,
One thing seems very clear
Daddy's got no connection here,
Everything's reject and demanded,
Lived your life and thought handled it
Let the dying shorten this Rythm!
Let's Go! Where the shores are green
Let's Go! Where the music's loud
Let's Go! Where there ain't no problems, fuck this, fucking transit
I ain't forty, I like your stories
Keep them coming cause It's kind a boring
It ain't coming you have to find it
'Cause all of a sudden you got grounded
You didn't care, you just did
At the sign that said: "all beware",
In and Out and said: 'Oi, Tik, Tok',
I'm glad you got away of me
Let the dying shorten this Rythm!
Let's Go! Where the shores are green
Let's Go! Where the Music's loud
Let's Go! Where there ain't no problems, fuck this, fucking transit
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah, yeah,yeah, yeah! yeah!
The song "Let's Go" by Rancid is a commentary on the feeling of being stuck in one's life and wanting to break free from it. The lyrics tell the story of a guy named Jimmy who believes he can handle his life in Los Angeles, despite his family's issues and his own discontent. However, the song implies that Jimmy's life is not what he wants it to be and he longs for a change. The chorus expresses his desire to escape to a place where there are no problems and where the music is loud and the shores are green.
The first verse delves into Jimmy's family life and upbringing. His father is a lawyer and his mother is struggling with sleep issues. The line "One thing seems very clear, Daddy's got no connection here" implies that his father is not emotionally connected to the family and perhaps is not helping them deal with their issues. The verse ends with "Let the dying shorten this rhythm," a phrase that could mean Jimmy wants to escape his mundane and monotonous life.
In the second verse, the singer of the song acknowledges that he is not forty yet, but he has already grown weary of the stories he's been told. He encourages someone to keep sharing their stories, even if it seems boring, because they might find something that sets them on the right path. The lyrics reference In and Out, a popular fast food chain in California, and the phrase "Oi, Tik, Tok," which could refer to the clock ticking away and a need to take action.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy said he could handle this
Born and raised in West Los Angeles, Jimmy thought he was capable of handling the task
Oh, he's from Los Angeles ohh!
Being from West Los Angeles, Jimmy confidently believed he could handle the challenge at hand
One thing seems very clear
It is quite evident that Jimmy's father has no influence in this situation
Daddy's got no connection here
Jimmy's father does not have any sway in this matter
Lived your life and thought handled it
Although he thought he had everything under control, Jimmy realized that life can be unpredictable
Let the dying shorten this Rythm!
Expressing his frustration and desperation, Jimmy wants the current situation to end
Let's Go! Where the shores are green
Jimmy wants to escape to a serene and peaceful place
Let's Go! Where the music's loud
Jimmy seeks to immerse himself in loud, energizing music
Let's Go! Where there ain't no problems, fuck this, fucking transit
Fed up with the current situation, Jimmy desires a carefree life without any issues or struggles
I ain't forty, I like your stories
Although he's not old, Jimmy enjoys hearing others' life stories
Keep them coming 'cause It's kind a boring
He finds his current mundane life tedious and unexciting, so he wants to hear others' more exciting experiences
It ain't coming you have to find it
Realizing that opportunities will not come to him, Jimmy decides to seek them out himself
Cause all of a sudden you got grounded
Jimmy was suddenly put in a difficult situation that he didn't expect
You didn't care, you just did
Despite the challenges he faced, Jimmy didn't let them hold him back
At the sign that said: 'all beware'
A warning sign appeared, alerting Jimmy of potential danger
In and Out and said: 'Oi, Tik, Tok'
Jimmy quickly moved in and out of a dangerous situation
I'm glad you got away from me
Reflecting back on his life, Jimmy is glad he was able to overcome his struggles and move on
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah,yeah, yeah! yeah!
Expressing his enthusiasm and excitement for the new opportunities and experiences ahead
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Roger Matthew Freeman, Timothy Armstrong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GeoffWerbicki
43 and still rocking out to this album. Only difference is that instead of shredding on my skateboard, I’m vacuuming the house 🤣
wtf's alommy?
@Rebecca Vinai yea, this album was my popper....summer of 8th grade
wtf's alommy?
@Rebecca Vinai fck yea we dooo...
Rebecca Vinai
Lmfao. Same age. Blasting album while I scrub dishes and cook dinner sipping whiskey. I tell myself that's punk rock adulting. AND I still know all the words.
wtf's alommy?
@The Järnsida see ya in The Pit !!!!!
The Järnsida
You kids, smh.
BaronVonBlair
This was my 1st punk album. Got it for Christmas in 4th grade. Memorized it immediately.
ChefKenBurnEm
for the kids who are being misinformed,punk is not how many tattoos you have,the clothes you wear, or your hair.its about how you think, and how you live your life everyday.
Rebecca Vinai
Philosophy and mindset baby. I am ready to fist-fight people who claim the Clash aren't punk due to the depth and variety of their sound, inspiration, and method. Idiots.
your mom
RIGHT ON LOVE... MOM OF 3 TEENS.... LOVE ME SOME RANCID