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)
Radio Havana
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
A friend that said you gotta make a choice
The New York Times read that it aint over yet
you can't forget, cause you'll never forget
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
Yeah i got it right(yeah i got it right)
Going down tongiht..(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go..(oh where'd you go)
Going down below(going down below)
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
Buenes tardes señoras y señores, bienvenidos a Radio Havana. Hoy en nuestro
programa, desde Estados Unidos le damos la bienvenida a la banda de punk rock
de mayor exito: Rancid (Rancid, Rancid,Rancid, Rancid..)
Yeah i got it right(yeah i got it right)
Going down tonight..(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go..(oh where'd you go)
Going down below(going down below)
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
The lyrics to Rancid's song "Radio Havana" is a depiction of a melancholic world view that can be associated with the counterculture of punk rock music that emerged in the late 1970s. The first two lines of the song, "El Diablo is like a soundtrack, All concurrent playback" can be interpreted as a reference to the devil, who is often associated with demonic rock music, and how it serves as the background score for the world around us. The next line "57 Chevy with the radio on" adds to the imagery of being transported to an era of American excess and glamour, which is in stark contrast to the sad song being played on the radio. This juxtaposition of the glamour and the melancholy is a recurring theme in the lyrics, with the line "It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana" capturing the fleeting nature of rebellion and the attempts to escape time itself.
The decision of choosing to live in the moment or to be responsible for one's actions is another theme that can be interpreted from the lyrics. The line “A friend that said you gotta make a choice, He's got the leather skin and the velvet voice” is a nod to the seductive nature of temptation and the allure of living life in the fast lane, which can lead to a feeling of freedom, but ultimately leaves one feeling trapped. The reference to Radio Havana, which was a prominent station in Cuba known for airing anti-American content during the Cold War, elevates the idea of rebellion, with the song offering an escape from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
The devil represents a consistent background noise, always present in our lives.
All concurrent playback
The devil's soundtrack plays non-stop with every other sound in our lives.
'57 chevy with the radio on
The classic car symbolizes a nostalgic time period, while the radio represents the constant presence of the devil's soundtrack.
It's a sad song
The constant background noise of the devil's soundtrack provides a melancholy feeling.
That goes on and on
The sadness persists regardless of how much time passes.
It's a fugitive of time Radio Havana
Radio Havana represents a fleeting moment in time, the devil's soundtrack as an ever-present reminder to enjoy life while it lasts.
A friend that said you gotta make a choice
A friend warns the singer to make a decision before it's too late, likely related to the fleeting nature of life represented by Radio Havana.
He's got the leather skin and the velvet voice
The friend is a charismatic and tough individual, perhaps symbolizing the artist's inner voice or conscience.
The New York Times read that it aint over yet
Despite the fleeting nature of life, there's always more to experience and accomplish.
you can't forget, cause you'll never forget
The artist (and potentially the friend) have experienced something they cannot forget, a reminder to live life to the fullest.
Yeah i got it right(yeah i got it right)
The singer is confident in their understanding of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
Going down tongiht..(going down tonight)
Enjoying life is important and should be done as often as possible, even if it means engaging in potentially risky or dangerous activities.
Oh where'd you go..(oh where'd you go)
Potentially a call to the listener to join in the celebration of life and the fleeting nature of time, or a lament about someone who has passed away or moved on.
Going down below(going down below)
Again, a potentially risky or dangerous activity that represents the importance of taking risks and living life to the fullest.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Timothy Armstrong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michael.psicologo
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
A friend that said you gotta make a choice
He's got the leather skin and the velvet voice
The New York Times read that it aint over yet
you can't forget, cause you'll never forget
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
Yeah i got it right
(yeah i got it right)
Going down tonight
(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go
(oh where'd you go)
Going down below
(going down below)
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
Buenas tardes señoras y señores, bienvenidos a Radio Havana. Hoy en nuestro programa, desde Estados Unidos le damos la bienvenida a la banda de punk rock de mayor exito: Rancid!
Yeah i got it right
(yeah i got it right)
Going down tonight
(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go
(oh where'd you go)
Going down below
(going down below)
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
@michael.psicologo
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
A friend that said you gotta make a choice
He's got the leather skin and the velvet voice
The New York Times read that it aint over yet
you can't forget, cause you'll never forget
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
Yeah i got it right
(yeah i got it right)
Going down tonight
(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go
(oh where'd you go)
Going down below
(going down below)
El Diablo is like a soundtrack
All concurrent playback
'57 chevy with the radio on
It's a sad song
That goes on and on
Buenas tardes señoras y señores, bienvenidos a Radio Havana. Hoy en nuestro programa, desde Estados Unidos le damos la bienvenida a la banda de punk rock de mayor exito: Rancid!
Yeah i got it right
(yeah i got it right)
Going down tonight
(going down tonight)
Oh where'd you go
(oh where'd you go)
Going down below
(going down below)
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
It's a fugitive of time
Radio Havana
@manucontrovento
Best Rancid song ever
@xmizljm_2354
Rancid! One of their best songs
@thebrownmenace3511
100% agree
@Philinleshed
You don't even need to be into punk rock to realize the genius behind this album
@mikeniemczyk4380
this song kicks ass
@JoeRancid
Una delle più belle canzoni dei Rancid...punx not dead 🖤... Rancid Forever
@stevepierce3364
Leather skin and the velvet voice
@wadeboyful
Nice 👍
@wendellmakilanw.researchde7312
У́тро ве́чера мудрене́е.