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)
Rwanda
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rwanda over planned genocide
Rwanda, won't you be strong like a lion
Tune in the transistor
And listen to the news
Cause once a week it hits ya
Heart broken and blue
It's the voice over Africa
So listen very closely to half a million dead souls
Rwanda yeah your moon shines bright
Rwanda over planned genocide
Rwanda, won't you be strong like a lion
It's complicated when facts come slow
Mass destruction mass confusion
What's the difference to the orphan
Orphans of the dead
When no more machine guns strike and there's silence instead
Rwanda yeah your moon shines bright
Rwanda over planned genocide
Rwanda, won't you be strong like a lion
The lyrics to Rancid's song Rwanda touch on the tragic events of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, in which an estimated 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed in just 100 days. The song speaks directly to Rwanda, recognizing the country's beauty and strength, but also acknowledging the horrors of the genocide that occurred there. The opening line, "Rwanda yeah your moon shines bright," is both a nod to Rwanda's natural beauty, but also a somber recognition of the fact that even in the darkest of times, the moon still shines.
The lyrics also reference the media coverage of the genocide, urging listeners to "tune in the transistor" and "listen to the news." The song recognizes that for many people, the details of the genocide may be difficult to comprehend and reconcile, as "it's complicated when facts come slow," and there is "mass destruction" and "mass confusion." However, the chorus is a message of hope, urging Rwanda to "be strong like a lion," even in the face of such horrific tragedy.
The lyrics also touch on the lasting impact of the genocide, specifically for the orphaned children who were left behind. The line "What's the difference to the orphan/Orphans of the dead" emphasizes the ongoing trauma and pain caused by the genocide, which cannot be erased even in the absence of further violence.
Overall, the song Rwanda is a powerful tribute to the victims of the Rwandan genocide, and a reminder to never forget the atrocities that occurred there.
Line by Line Meaning
Rwanda yeah your moon shines bright
Although the beauty of Rwanda's moon may provide comfort, it cannot erase the tragedy that has occurred.
Rwanda over planned genocide
The genocide that was carried out in Rwanda was a premeditated act of violence.
Rwanda, won't you be strong like a lion
Rwanda must find the strength to move forward and overcome the trauma of the genocide.
Tune in the transistor
Listen to the news on the transistor radio.
And listen to the news
Pay attention to the updates on the situation in Rwanda.
Cause once a week it hits ya
Once a week, the news brings the reality of the Rwandan genocide to the forefront of people's minds.
Heart broken and blue
The news of the genocide causes sadness and depression.
It's the voice over Africa
The news of the Rwandan genocide can be heard throughout the entirety of Africa.
So stop peregrination
Stop wandering aimlessly and pay attention to the situation in Rwanda.
So listen very closely to half a million dead souls
Take a moment to contemplate the magnitude of the lives lost in the genocide.
It's complicated when facts come slow
The truth of what happened in the genocide is difficult to uncover and may take time.
Mass destruction mass confusion
The destruction and chaos caused by the genocide is immense.
What's the difference to the orphan
The loss of a loved one is devastating, regardless of whether they were orphaned or not.
Orphans of the dead
Children who lost their parents in the genocide.
When no more machine guns strike and there's silence instead
The end of the violence does not eliminate the pain and trauma felt by those affected by the genocide.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mr420ways
this song brings tears to my eyes just by the raw emotion of the song "rwanda yer a lion!"
Jonathan Lussier
Go rancid you guys are hard punk rockers man you got talent keep it up !!! Cheers me up every time i hear you guys! Great song .
Wagner Vilela
We are waiting anxiously to the show in Lollapalooza Brasil 2017. If possible, please include this great song on the setlist. Would be amazing see Rancid plays Rwanda in the festival!!!
Boredom Ensues
@jayl1 I think they were trying to lift people's spirits with this song and raise awareness about the issue rather than trying to make a depressing song. It's kind of an uplifting song about such inhuman subject matter. "Rwanda, oh your moon shines bright" "Rwanda, oh won't you be strong, like a lion!"
Kim Alecrim
Congratulations guys! You´re Amazing!!! this song is great! Please come to Brazil!!
Ante Guzic
Thank you. Perfect song and video
Tunga munyampenda
Thanks rancid from Rwanda. Genocide never again in any part of the world
Kevin Swift
thats no accident!
Manthan Plays Drums
@Kevin Swift Wow. It isn't very well known.
Kevin Swift
excellent example, but no, referring to the 1998 invasion of the Congo by the U.S puppet forces in Rwanda. 5.4 million est. killed in 10 yrs. of a 20 yr. conflict. Literally a Congolese male, female, and child slaughter with impunity during the raids throughout the country.. Blood is on many many different hands here but i ain't fingering anyone, how could i? Shake Hands With The Devil changed me forever, i don't know if thats good or bad. Most of the killings were done at night, and by blade, so diabolically efficient, maybe thats what tim, and lars, and matt, and brett were referring to when they sing "yeah your moon shines bright over planned genocide", maybe not, oh Rwanda, beautiful Rwanda, oh Africa, Brave Africa. And thus watch it tragically repeat. bravo to all those involved in activating, educating, etc. over the genocide of voiceless people, real people who deserver to be remembered.