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)
Midnight
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know where I am
That's right
I know where I'm going
Shut down
Vacant city ghost town
Tensions rising
Kick kick kick the door in
And affairs affairs of the nation
When the pressure came down
Sustain authority
Midnight
I know I can
That's right
I ain't broken
Shut down
Vacant city ghost town
Tensions rising
Kick kick kick the door in
Lock lock lock around
And affairs of the nation
When the pressure came down
Sustain authority
"Midnight" by Rancid is a song that seems to be about the idea of being in control during uncertain and chaotic times. The opening lines are "Midnight, I know where I am. That's right. I know where I'm going." These lines suggest a sense of confidence and awareness of one's surroundings. The following lines "Shut down. Vacant city ghost town. Tensions rising. Kick kick kick the door in" provide imagery of a city that is deserted and abandoned, but with a palpable sense of danger and instability. It seems as though people are trying to take control of the situation by physically kicking down doors and locking things up, in order to protect themselves and their interests.
The lyrics "And affairs affairs of the nation. When the pressure came down, sustain authority" suggest that this sense of chaos is not limited to just one city or place, but is affecting the entire nation. Even in the midst of all of this chaos and uncertainty, the singer is resolute and determined to maintain their authority and control. The repeated lines "Kick kick kick the door in. Lock lock lock around" create a sense of urgency and action, that one must take action in order to survive.
Overall, "Midnight" by Rancid seems to be a commentary on the current state of society, and the need to take control in uncertain times. The lyrics are powerful and evoke a sense of urgency, as if the singer is urging listeners to take action in order to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight
The time of night when this story takes place
I know where I am
The singer is aware of his current location
That's right
Affirmation of the previous statement
I know where I'm going
The artist has a clear sense of direction for his next move
Shut down
The city has come to a standstill, possibly due to a crisis or disaster
Vacant city ghost town
The city feels empty and abandoned, possibly due to a curfew or evacuation
Tensions rising
The situation is becoming more intense and stressful
Kick kick kick the door in
The artist is taking aggressive action to enter a building, suggesting a sense of urgency
Lock lock lock around
The artist is securing the area to prevent anyone from interfering
And affairs affairs of the nation
The situation is important and involves matters of national security or politics
When the pressure came down
Some sort of crisis or deadline has been reached, making the situation more urgent
Sustain authority
The artist must maintain control and power in this situation to achieve his objectives
I know I can
The singer is confident in his abilities to handle the situation
That's right
Affirmation of the previous statement
I ain't broken
The singer is not defeated by the situation, suggesting resilience and determination
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LARS FREDERIKSEN, ROGER M. FREEMAN, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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