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)
Unwritten Rules
Rancid Lyrics
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The dialog of maximum decibels is enough to move the fucking ground
I'm gonna amplify the rage of a class
That's thought inferior the message in the volume
This song a carrier
Unwritten rules
Rules understood
Boomin' out the speakers and amps in the hood
I like to drink beer play music and go to shows
It's not about paying your dues if you do it out of love
I'm not a jaded junkie running dry
I don't know anything else
I'll be playing till I die
The lyrics to Rancid's song Unwritten Rules start off by referencing the amplification of sound through the kick drum, emphasizing the power of music to move people in a visceral way. The lyrics then shift to a message about amplifying the rage of a class that has been deemed inferior, using the message in the music to spread awareness and empowerment. The song itself is described as a carrier of this message, a vehicle through which a greater truth can be communicated.
The chorus of the song, "Unwritten rules, rules understood," implies that there are certain societal expectations and norms that are not explicitly stated, but are still widely accepted and enforced. Rancid is challenging these unwritten rules, urging listeners to question and resist them. The final lyrics of the song emphasize the joy and passion the band members and their fans feel for punk rock music, and a commitment to continue playing and creating for as long as they are able.
Line by Line Meaning
Kick the kick drum increase the weight of the sound
Intensify the music by enhancing the sound of the bass drum
The dialog of maximum decibels is enough to move the fucking ground
Playing at high volumes can make an impact and shake things up
I'm gonna amplify the rage of a class
I will use music to express the frustration of a group of people
That's thought inferior the message in the volume
The message in the music can be more important than the social status of the musicians
This song a carrier
This song is a vessel for expressing a message
Unwritten rules
Unspoken expectations
Rules understood
Implicit social norms that are widely recognized
Unwritten rules
Unspoken expectations
Boomin' out the speakers and amps in the hood
Playing music loudly in the neighborhood
I like to drink beer play music and go to shows
I enjoy simple pleasures like drinking beer, playing music, and attending concerts
It's not about paying your dues if you do it out of love
Doing something for the love of it is more important than earning recognition or status
I'm not a jaded junkie running dry
I am not a disillusioned addict losing inspiration
I don't know anything else
Playing music is all I know and want to do
I'll be playing till I die
I will continue to play music until the end of my life
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ROGER M. FREEMAN, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Epiglottis Dynasty
1:15 "Some days I shit my pants and I fall down, see?"
finn difrischia
I cannot find lyrics for his part but if that is legitimatley the line I love that
Vi
Hha nice, love ya Tim stay the same!