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)
Maxwell Murder
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He just wants you to visit him there
Same old game that he's playin'
His rules are never fair
Nobody want to look back everybody want to get high tonight
Before they run outta time where's the felon the chargeable
Felon the name of the crook who committed the crime
Dial nine nine nine if you really want the truth
Dial nine nine nine if you can't see it through
He ain't Jack the Ripper he's your ordinary crook
Calling Maxwell murder for you
Maxwell got a hand in this plan
He knows who you are in this plan
Shop the rock before you bought it
Sickness Maxwell knows you caught it
Nobody want to look back
Everybody want to get high tonight before they run out of time
Where's the felon, the chargiale felon
The name of the crook who committed the crime
Dial nine nine nine if you really want the truth
Dial nine nine nine if you can't see it through
He ain't Jack the Ripper he's your ordinary crook
Calling Maxwell murder for you
Oh Max, you motherfucker
Dial nine nine nine if you really want the truth
Dial nine nine nine if you can't see it through
He ain't Jack the Ripper he's your ordinary crook
Calling Maxwell murder for you
The song "Maxwell Murder" by Rancid is a fast-paced and energetic punk rock song that tells a story about a criminal named Maxwell who is seemingly enjoying the chaos he has created. The lyrics suggest that he is in a state of denial and believes his slightly twisted world to be a better place than reality. The mention of felons and charges in the song indicates that the authorities are after Maxwell, but he's not worried as he thinks he's invincible. The song also highlights the corruptness of society where people tend to escape from their problems by getting high and ignore the truth.
The chorus of the song, which is repeated multiple times, is a call to dial 999 (which is the emergency number in the UK, but the song was actually recorded in the US where the emergency number is 911) if you want to know the truth and if you can't see through the lies. The lyrics suggest that Maxwell's ordinary criminal activities could be a far more significant issue than people anticipate, and the song is warning listeners to be aware of the real criminals who are roaming society unnoticed. The overall mood of the song is fast, chaotic, and angry, a typical punk rock sound that Rancid was famous for.
Line by Line Meaning
Maxwell can't tell he's in hell
Maxwell is unaware that he is living in a place of misery
He just wants you to visit him there
Maxwell wants to trap others in his suffering
Same old game that he's playin'
Maxwell is repeating the same manipulative tactics
His rules are never fair
Maxwell's actions lack fairness
Nobody want to look back everybody want to get high tonight
People are focused on enjoying the present and not dwelling on the past
Before they run outta time where's the felon the chargeable
People are trying to party before time runs out and are questioning the whereabouts of the guilty party to blame
Felon the name of the crook who committed the crime
The perpetrator of the crime is named Felon
Dial nine nine nine if you really want the truth
If you truly desire the truth, call emergency services
Dial nine nine nine if you can't see it through
If you are unable to see the situation clearly, seek assistance
He ain't Jack the Ripper he's your ordinary crook
Maxwell is not a notorious killer, but a regular criminal
Calling Maxwell murder for you
Maxwell is committing murder and is calling out to pull others into his crimes
Maxwell got a hand in this plan
Maxwell is involved in this scheme
He knows who you are in this plan
Maxwell is aware of the identity of those involved in the scheme
Shop the rock before you bought it
Beware of shopping for illicit substances without caution
Sickness Maxwell knows you caught it
Maxwell is aware of the negative consequences of drug use
Oh Max, you motherfucker
Expressing anger and frustration towards Maxwell
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LARS FREDERIKSEN, ROGER M. FREEMAN, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@metaldesire4
RIP Dave Mirra, if it wasn't for that game I wouldn't have known a thing about this band or about him. Awesome song, awesome game, rest in peace Dave.
@bcp5296d
same
@MartinBluck
Same here
@ryanmason74
Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX literally got me into punk music. That soundtrack was amazing.
@ClassicalPan
I forgot that that's where I first heard this song and I forgot about Dave Mirra's death. Now I'm sad. But also happy to be reminded of some of the best and formative moments of my teenage years. I'm 36 years old and play classical guitar now, but I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for my teenage punk rock youth.
@kylepatton3055
Bruh
@brandonwalker2713
Most bad ass bass solo ever
@spreadz-xt4ef
Hello Meow - Squarepusher, pretty bad ass bass solo you may enjoy
@xmisteralex
Are you Brandon Segura? haha!
@joehawkins77
SICK BADASS SOLO!
Matt freeman is a fuckin god!