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)
The 11th Hour
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey little sister do you know what time it was
When you finally seen all your broken dreams
Come crashing down your door
I say, they demand an answer and they demand it quick
Or the questions fade and the wasted days
Come crawling back for more
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
I say, it starts and ends with you
The face of isolation
Well that's one you recognize
When you can't get straight
It's a lonely place and
It's one you do despise
I say, boredom is for sale now
And the helplessness you feel
Is a wounded dove and the hawks are above
Blood splattered on a reel to reel
And I say do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
I say, it starts and ends with you
I was almost over, my world was almost gone
In a sudden rush I could almost touch
The things that I'd done wrong
My jungle's made of concrete
And through the silence I could feel
My aim is true and I will walk on through
These mountains made of steel
And I say do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
I say it starts and ends with you
Oh, I say it starts and ends with you
I say it starts and ends with you
In "The 11th Hour," Rancid's Tim Armstrong sings about a person experiencing a crisis in their life. This person, referred to as "little sister," is facing the aftermath of their dreams being shattered. The people around them want answers and demand them quickly, but the wasted days only bring more pain. Armstrong asks little sister if she knows where the power lies and who pulls the strings. He asserts that it starts and ends with her.
The song also touches on feelings of isolation and boredom being commodified. The helplessness the person feels is like a wounded dove being hunted by hawks above. The final verse brings a glimmer of hope, with the person realizing that they were close to losing everything but somehow managed to find the strength to keep going. The mountains they face are made of steel, but their aim is true. Armstrong again reminds them that the power lies within themselves.
Overall, "The 11th Hour" is a powerful song about taking control of one's life and not giving up in the face of adversity. It speaks to the importance of recognizing that our own thoughts and actions are where the power lies, and that we must hold ourselves accountable.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little sister do you know what time it was
When you finally seen all your broken dreams
Come crashing down your door
Asking if someone recognizes the point of time where they realized their dreams were shattered.
I say, they demand an answer and they demand it quick
Or the questions fade and the wasted days
Come crawling back for more
Stressing upon the importance of providing an answer quickly before there is no longer a need for a question’s answer.
And I say do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
I say, it starts and ends with you
Asking someone if they’re aware of who holds power and how much power they have, reminding them of their own power.
The face of isolation
Well that's one you recognize
When you can't get straight
It's a lonely place and
It's one you do despise
Describing loneliness and depression as a recognized feeling that is despised.
I say, boredom is for sale now
And the helplessness you feel
Is a wounded dove and the hawks are above
Blood splattered on a reel to reel
Showcasing how boredom is something that can be purchased and the helplessness that results from it is like a weak and hurt dove. Meanwhile, those with power overlook and take advantage of those beneath them.
I was almost over, my world was almost gone
In a sudden rush I could almost touch
The things that I'd done wrong
My jungle's made of concrete
And through the silence I could feel
My aim is true and I will walk on through
These mountains made of steel
Being at the verge of destruction led to the realization of wrongdoings. Despite being in a concrete jungle made by man, one can see through the silence, aim for a proper goal, and walk right through obstacles.
Oh, I say it starts and ends with you
I say it starts and ends with you
Repeatedly emphasizing the point that the only one in control of one's life is themselves.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Eric Roy Dinwiddie, Lars Frederiksen, Roger Matthew Freeman, Timothy Armstrong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ghostysmokesweed9628
Hey little sister
Do you know what time it was
When you finally seen all your broken dreams
Come crashing down your door
They demand an answer
And they demand it quick
Or the questions fade and then the wasted days
Come crawling back for more
And I said, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings
Do you know where the power lies
It starts and ends with you
The face of isolation
Well that's one you recognize
Well you can't get straight
It's a lonely place
And one you do despice
Boredom is for sale now
And helplessness you feel
It's a wounded dove and the hawks are above
Blood splattered in a reel to reel
And I said, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
It starts and ends with you
Yeah, I was almost over
And my world was almost gone
And in a sudden rush, I could almost touch
The things that I'd done wrong
My jungle's made of concrete
Through the silence I could feel
Ho my aim is true and I will walk on through
These mountains made of steel
And I say, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
It starts and ends with you
Ohh, I say it starts and ends with you
I say it starts and ends with you!
You're very welcome 😊
@stijnvanheumen
"The 11th Hour"
Hey sister do you know what time it was when you finally seen all your broken
dreams come crashing down your door. They demand an answer and they demand it
quick or the questions fade and the wasted days come crawling back for more.
Do you know where the power lies? And who pulls the strings. Do you know where
the power lies. It starts and end with you. The face of isolation well well this
one you recognize well you can't get straight it's a lonely place and it's one
you do despise boredom is for sale now and helplessness you feel it's a
wounded dove and the hawks are above blood splattered on a reel to reel I was
almost over my world was almost gone in a sudden rush I coul almost touch the
things that I'd done wrong my sungle's made of concrete through silence I
could feel my aim is true I will walk on through these mountains made of steel
@ACrowNamedPoe
This entire album was brilliant.
@bernatfabregasoliveras7533
sure?
@raulpenu818
Best written album they have.
@reyfREDbay
i still remember the smell of the cassette..the inlay...good old days
@ghostysmokesweed9628
Hey little sister
Do you know what time it was
When you finally seen all your broken dreams
Come crashing down your door
They demand an answer
And they demand it quick
Or the questions fade and then the wasted days
Come crawling back for more
And I said, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings
Do you know where the power lies
It starts and ends with you
The face of isolation
Well that's one you recognize
Well you can't get straight
It's a lonely place
And one you do despice
Boredom is for sale now
And helplessness you feel
It's a wounded dove and the hawks are above
Blood splattered in a reel to reel
And I said, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
It starts and ends with you
Yeah, I was almost over
And my world was almost gone
And in a sudden rush, I could almost touch
The things that I'd done wrong
My jungle's made of concrete
Through the silence I could feel
Ho my aim is true and I will walk on through
These mountains made of steel
And I say, do you know where the power lies
And who pulls the strings?
Do you know where the power lies?
It starts and ends with you
Ohh, I say it starts and ends with you
I say it starts and ends with you!
You're very welcome 😊
@shuazilla8268
i get a huge clash vibe from this song whenever i hear it
@ELEcomments
big clash vibes
@danbam3411
Josh Cruz The whole thing basically sounds like “capital radio one” when you think about it
@IguanaMassacre
Entirely lifted from Capital Radio
@anthonymichael1833
One of the BEST ALBUMS EVER!!