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)
Something to Believe in a World Gone Mad
Rancid Lyrics
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Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
You get it man you got it man
You don′t belong
You want the good life, you are respected
Break a neck man, stay ejected
Well we come up on the gutters
In the streets we do remain
The rhythm and the fact that we ain′t here...
Fixing up the violence
Any substance to be had
Something to believe in in a whole world goin' mad
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
You think you got it made man
They go invisible
They come at 5 man
They go hysterical
I take it personal
It's just the principle
Oh look a merry man
He went invisible
Yeah the hoolies got the purpose
Yeah we got the fucking style
Fulfillment′s costs a gun for some
Plastic shattered smile
We′re lonely and we're chosen ones
Deep in the pack
Immoral and delinquents
So you better watch your back
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Honor (Honor)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
The lyrics of "Something to Believe in a World Gone Mad" by Rancid seem to express the thoughts and feelings of a group of individuals who feel outcast in society. They begin by chanting the word "honor", which may represent the group's loyalty and values, as well as their desire to be respected. The lines "You get it man you got it man/ You don't belong" may be interpreted as a way of claiming that only those who share their beliefs and experiences can understand them.
The song goes on to describe the harsh realities of life on the streets, where violence and substance abuse are common. The lines "Fixing up the violence/ Any substance to be had/ Something to believe in in a whole world goin' mad" suggest that the group may have turned to violence and addiction as a way of coping with their struggles. Despite this, they still hold on to their ideals of honor and respect, which they see as a way of finding meaning in an otherwise chaotic world.
The lyrics also contain references to the group's sense of alienation from society, such as the lines "They go invisible/ They come at 5 man/ They go hysterical". This may be interpreted as a commentary on the way in which marginalized groups are ignored or mistreated by those in power. However, the group's identity and purpose are defined by this sense of exclusion, as they are able to find strength and solidarity in their shared experiences.
Overall, "Something to Believe in a World Gone Mad" can be seen as an expression of the struggles and values of those who feel marginalized and rejected by mainstream society. The lyrics suggest that despite the difficulties they face, these individuals are able to find meaning and purpose in their beliefs and relationships with others who share their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Honor (Honor)
Repetition of the word 'honor' to emphasize its importance
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Repetition of the phrase 'oh yeah' to create an informal tone
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Repetition of the phrase 'yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah' to create a sense of urgency
You get it man you got it man
Acknowledging that some people understand the importance of honor and live by it
You don′t belong
Not fitting into the mainstream society because of one's unconventional beliefs
Goddamn scumbag won't last long
Expressing disapproval for those who lack honor and will eventually suffer the consequences
You want the good life, you are respected
Honor and respect are prerequisites for achieving a happy and fulfilling life
Break a neck man, stay ejected
Taking pride in being an outcast and rejecting the conventional way of life
Well we come up on the gutters
Referring to humble beginnings and difficult circumstances
In the streets we do remain
Choosing to live in the streets due to a preference for freedom and independence
The rhythm and the fact that we ain′t here...
Finding a sense of purpose and hope in music and self-expression
Fixing up the violence
Working towards ending violence and promoting peace
Any substance to be had
Acknowledging that some people look for solace in drugs and alcohol
Something to believe in in a whole world goin' mad
Finding hope and meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and confusing
You think you got it made man
Disapproving of those who are complacent and overconfident
They go invisible
Referring to those who ignore their surroundings and the people around them
They come at 5 man
Being critical of the work routine and conventional lifestyle
They go hysterical
Expressing disapproval of those who easily lose control of their emotions
I take it personal
Believing that one's personal values and beliefs should be taken seriously
It's just the principle
Referring to the importance of standing up for one's principles
Oh look a merry man
Sarcastically pointing out that some people seem happy and content despite being ignorant
He went invisible
Metaphorically suggesting that the happy-go-lucky person disappears in the face of harsh reality
Yeah the hoolies got the purpose
Celebrating one's unconventional group of friends who share similar values
Yeah we got the fucking style
Taking pride in one's unique style and way of life
Fulfillment′s costs a gun for some
Acknowledging that some people resort to violence as a way of finding fulfillment
Plastic shattered smile
Referring to insincere and fake happiness
We′re lonely and we're chosen ones
Acknowledging that some people who live by their own values and beliefs may feel lonely and isolated
Deep in the pack
Referring to one's true friends and allies who share one's values and beliefs
Immoral and delinquents
Acknowledging that mainstream society regards those who live by their own code as immoral and delinquent
So you better watch your back
Warning others that those who live by their own rules may be unpredictable
Writer(s): Timothy Armstrong, Roger Matthew Freeman, Lars Frederiksen
Contributed by Zoe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.