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)
Otherside
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wore the crucifix
We put our differences to the side
Lesson taught well and lesson learned
You told me not to mourn
Your heart was bigger than any man alive
Campbell California
Robert I remember when you used to run the town
I'll never forget and I'll always be your friend
I'll be seeing you on the other side
I'm weakened at the knees
From pain and now you are free
I miss the days that you walked with me
Loyal brother, loyal friend
Showed me how to be a man
I love you Robert and I always will
The lyrics of Rancid's song Otherside revolve around the idea of reconciling differences and learning from those who are different from us. The song describes a relationship between two people who couldn't be more different from each other, one being a self-proclaimed atheist while the other wears a crucifix. Despite their differences, they put them to the side and learn from each other, with the singer of the song being taught a valuable lesson in the process. The lyrics also describe the pain of losing a friend, and the memories associated with that loss.
The song pays tribute to Robert, who used to run the town of Campbell, California. The singer remembers Robert with great fondness, who seemed to have a heart bigger than any other man alive. In the chorus, the singer pleads not to be let down by Robert, who has passed away, and expresses his undying friendship with him. The song is a touching tribute to a friend who has passed away, but whose memories remain etched forever in the mind of those who knew him.
Line by Line Meaning
I was an atheist
I did not believe in God
You wore the crucifix
You believed in and wore a symbol of Christianity
We put our differences to the side
We set aside our differing beliefs and got along despite them
Lesson taught well and lesson learned
We both taught and learned from each other
You told me not to mourn
You wanted me to cherish the good memories of you, not just mourn your death
Your heart was bigger than any man alive
You had an exceptionally kind and caring nature
Campbell California
A place that holds memories for the singer
Oh please don't let me down
Speaker is hoping to feel comforted by memories of their friend in Campbell California
Robert I remember when you used to run the town
The artist remembers when their friend Robert was an influential figure in their community
I'll never forget and I'll always be your friend
The artist will always cherish their friendship and never forget their friend
I'll be seeing you on the other side
The singer believes they will be reunited with their friend after death
I'm weakened at the knees
The artist is emotionally overwhelmed and physically affected by grief
From pain and now you are free
The singer acknowledges their friend was suffering before their death and is now at peace
I miss the days that you walked with me
The singer fondly remembers the times they spent with their friend
Loyal brother, loyal friend
The singer is honoring their friend's loyalty
Showed me how to be a man
The artist learned important life lessons from their friend
I love you Robert and I always will
The artist expresses their enduring love for their deceased friend
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LARS FREDERIKSEN, TIM ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iwildboy3
this is the best track they could ever put at the end of the cd it concludes it very nicely.
@lall89
"I love you Robert and I always will" man I always feel like crying when listening to that line
@skiptracer5628
This is one of the most incredible lines in any song I've ever listened to. It hits me in the feels every time. I know exactly the sentiment, and want to cry when I hear it. At the same time, it reminds me to be greatful that I've had relationships that deep, and that I can still experience that type of feeling
@franciscodagger8831
My bestfriend RIP
@manyfacesofgore
one of the best songs on the album
@MrBandini27
All of their great attributes come together in this song. It's a song full of love in distortion!!!! <3 R.I.P. Robert!!!
@mircsusz
this song is written to remember to Lars' brother, i love this song r.i.p. Robert
@tragediadelpunkrock
Para mí papá, y los hermanos que he perdido, para los que quedan "tiraos por el camino"
@Parade-ps6mi
Miss you, papa. Can't wait to see Rancid in your honor. I hope they play this one.
@OpakeArawra2
goosebumps every time