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)
Prisoners Song
Rancid Lyrics
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Cold breeze in a storm an electric light
Shut down the city 'cause I'll do that for you
I can taste the bitter sting of the blue
Stop and pray for a while
For everything goes wrong
My heart goes out on pause for youWhen we sing the prisoner's song
The prisoner's song
I refuse to be a beaten man
I won't accept defeat
I've been reaching for the stars
'Cause you know I'm hard to beat
So step aside and wait your turn
'Cause you will get your time
But not till I'm dead and gone
'Cause I ain't finished with mine, no
Stop and pray for a while
For everything goes wrong
My heart goes out on pause for you
When we sing the prisoner's song
The prisoner's song
Sacrifice our souls for a working wage
A constant state of manifest rage
Cast off, abandoned and into the cold
Their time will come before they grow old
Stop and pray for a while
For everything goes wrong
My heart goes out on pause for you
When we sing the prisoner's song
The prisoner's song
The lyrics of Rancid's "Prisoner's Song" depict themes of struggle, resilience, and defiance in the face of adversity. The singer expresses a sense of urgency and dependency on someone, indicating a personal problem that requires immediate attention. The imagery of a cold storm and an electric light suggests a chaotic and intense emotional state, possibly reflecting the turmoil the singer is experiencing.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the need to pause and reflect, to pray in moments of darkness and uncertainty. The mention of the "prisoner's song" evokes a feeling of confinement or being trapped, possibly in a metaphorical sense of being held back by circumstances or internal struggles. Despite these challenges, there is a determination and commitment to continue fighting and resisting defeat.
The second verse highlights the singer's refusal to succumb to defeat, choosing instead to strive for greatness and not letting obstacles stand in their way. The lyrics convey a sense of ambition and strength, with the singer declaring that they are not finished with their journey yet and will continue to push forward with determination and resilience.
The final verse touches on themes of sacrifice and labor, highlighting the harsh realities of working for a wage and navigating through constant feelings of anger and frustration. The mention of being cast off and abandoned into the cold reflects a sense of isolation and hardship. Despite these challenges, there is a sense of solidarity in the collective experience of facing struggles and injustices, as expressed through the act of singing the "prisoner's song" together.
Line by Line Meaning
I need you 'cause I have a problem tonight
I rely on you because I am struggling tonight and need support
Cold breeze in a storm an electric light
Feeling isolated and vulnerable in a difficult situation
Shut down the city 'cause I'll do that for you
I am willing to go to great lengths to help you, even if it means disrupting my own life
I can taste the bitter sting of the blue
Experiencing the pain and sadness of a difficult situation
Stop and pray for a while
Taking a moment to reflect and seek guidance
For everything goes wrong
During times of hardship and struggle
My heart goes out on pause for you
Putting my own emotions on hold to support you
When we sing the prisoner's song
Embracing the struggles and challenges of life
I refuse to be a beaten man
I will not let adversity defeat me
I won't accept defeat
I am determined to overcome obstacles
I've been reaching for the stars
Setting ambitious goals and striving for success
'Cause you know I'm hard to beat
Confident in my ability to overcome challenges
So step aside and wait your turn
Be patient and give others a chance before claiming your own
'Cause you will get your time
Everyone will have their moment to shine
But not till I'm dead and gone
I will continue to strive and achieve until the end of my life
'Cause I ain't finished with mine, no
I still have more to accomplish and achieve
Sacrifice our souls for a working wage
Giving up pieces of ourselves for a paycheck
A constant state of manifest rage
Feeling perpetually angry and frustrated
Cast off, abandoned and into the cold
Feeling rejected and left out in the harsh reality of life
Their time will come before they grow old
Others will have their chance to succeed before they are too old
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Branden Steineckert, Tim Steineckert, Lars Frederiksen, Matt Freeman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@babybree4243
One of my favourite song in the album ❤
@Joe-kt7zp
When and old band keeps dropping new good shit, is extremely rare these days. Good one, fellas
@enginesdown
Best song on this one !
@nateclark2914
Awesome song - “my heart goes on pause for you” …. Love that lyric. Like someone else said, best song on this album. I like Matt’s part of this song too.
@shamrice
Really digging the new album. Matt's bass line in this song is great. It just keeps moving the whole time.
@scottclark5538
I got mad respect for Tim Armstrong. Back in the day all the haters and fear-mongers tried to say “punk is dead”. Tim said “fuck that shit, watch this”
@dieterdumpel1606
MATTS VOCALS ARE SO GOOD
@DizzyD850
Listens to Matt Freeman, looks at my bass, throws bass in trash ...with that being done, this brings back the first album vibes
@buzzbomb6650
Matt sounds so bad ass on his verse.
@btrsetioadi85
Oi oi
Longlive rancid
❤❤❤
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