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)
Skull City
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's my honky tonk girl
She dances on my table
She dances on a pole
Some cities born,
Some cities burn
Some cities die,
Some cities take the
Worst of the turn
And if it ain't your business
Then it's not your concern
Listen, brick buildings
Broken windows, smoke stacks
Tell me somethings broken
And there's blood tracks
And if you see the train coming
You're gonna relax
So tell the facts ma'am
Only the facts
Stand down what you gonna do
She's a wild one
I'm a wild one too
She's my go-go baby
She's my honky tonk girl
She dances on my table
She dances on a pole
Ahh
She's my go-go baby
She's my honky tonk girl
She dances on my table
She dances on a pole
Midnight and I'm rolling on
Nobody sees me coming home
And out here man
A lot of things can go wrong
Shh listen to my song
The morgue is busy
Day after day
Stick it on the line
And throw it away
And if you see it coming on
Then you got it made
And the grave diggers laugh
As they rot and decay
Say it loud,
What you gonna do
She's a wild one
And I'm a wild one too
She's my go-go baby
She's my honky tonk girl
She dances on my table
She dances on a pole
Ha ha
I'm a wild one
I'm a wild one
The lyrics to Rancid's song "Skull City" provide an insightful commentary on the rise and fall of cities, while also delving into the gritty underbelly of urban life. The opening lines of the song establish a sense of familiarity and fondness for a particular woman - "She's my go-go baby/She's my honky tonk girl." This woman is a dancer, both on a table and a pole, which sets the scene for the rest of the song.
The chorus is repeated often and sets the tone for the song. It describes the deep-seated problems that some cities face - birth, burn, die, or learn. The lyrics suggest that some cities are simply destined for failure because they have been built on unsustainable foundations. The verses paint a picture of a decaying city with broken windows and smokestacks, suggesting that the city has gone through tough times. The city is said to be "Skull City," a place where bad things happen and people often end up getting hurt.
The lyrics suggest that the people who inhabit this city are tough and wild. They are used to crime and danger, and they carry themselves with a sense of confidence that comes from knowing they can handle whatever comes their way. The song as a whole captures the essence of what it means to live in an urban environment - a place where survival is the name of the game, and where only the strong survive.
Line by Line Meaning
She's my go-go baby
She is the one I love, who dances for me to lust after
She's my honky tonk girl
She is the kind of girl who likes to have a good time and dance
She dances on my table
She is not afraid to break social conventions and express herself
She dances on a pole
She is willing to do what it takes to feel alive and desired, even if it involves objectification
Some cities born,
There are some cities that are established and have always existed
Some cities burn
There are some cities that are destroyed by fire and other natural disasters
Some cities die,
There are some cities that slowly become obsolete and are eventually abandoned
Some cities learn
There are some cities that adapt to changing times and remain relevant
Some cities take the
There are some cities that suffer the worst possible outcome
worst of the turn
They experience the most difficult challenges and setbacks
And if it ain't your business
If something does not concern you, then it is not your place to interfere or judge
Then it's not your concern
It is important to respect boundaries and not meddle in other people's affairs
Listen, brick buildings
Take a moment to observe the structures that make up this place
Broken windows, smoke stacks
Notice the signs of decay and abandonment
Tell me somethings broken
Acknowledge and identify that something is not working
And there's blood tracks
There are traces of violence and death in this place
And if you see the train coming
Be aware of the danger and potential harm ahead
You're gonna relax
Stay calm and composed even in the face of fear and danger
So tell the facts ma'am
Stick to the truth and do not exaggerate or dramatize the situation
Only the facts
Avoid speculation or embellishment, and focus on what is known to be true
Stand down what you gonna do
Accept and come to terms with the situation, rather than trying to change or control it
She's a wild one
She has a free spirit and refuses to be tamed
I'm a wild one too
I share her rebellious and nonconformist attitude
Midnight and I'm rolling on
It is the middle of the night and I am driving alone
Nobody sees me coming home
I am returning to a place where nobody knows or cares about me
And out here man
In this desolate and isolated setting
A lot of things can go wrong
There are many dangers and risks to be aware of
Shh listen to my song
Pay attention to my words and allow me to express myself
The morgue is busy
There are many deaths and fatalities in this place
Day after day
The tragedy and loss is a constant and ongoing reality
Stick it on the line
Be honest and straightforward about the situation
And throw it away
Let go of your attachment and emotions towards these events
And if you see it coming on
If you can anticipate the danger or threat ahead
Then you got it made
You will be able to survive and thrive in this harsh environment
And the grave diggers laugh
Even in death and loss, there is a sense of humor or irony
As they rot and decay
All things eventually come to an end, even in the midst of life
Say it loud,
Speak up and make your voice heard
What you gonna do
What are you going to choose or decide?
She's a wild one
She defies expectations and refuses to be constricted by societal norms
And I'm a wild one too
I share her sense of adventure and rebellion
Ha ha
An expression of amusement or irony
I'm a wild one
I refuse to conform to societal expectations and embrace my own eccentricities
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY (USA) ARMSTRONG, LARS FREDERIKSEN, ROGER MATTHEW FREEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Moe Emmanuel
Best album so far, made me hate mainstream!
Watcosindoncaumawt
This is really his best album!!!!!!
Sheila Murphy
Best song on that album