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)
Who Would've Thought
Rancid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
Silhouetted palm trees backing it up against the sky
Echo Park sunset, an ambulance drives by
But someone went down
Faces flash forward, it could be anybody I knew
So I drank like a fish and I crawled like a rat
Through the city of shit I ended up on my back
But I can't believe you're with me after dark
So let it come together in Echo Park
And I say
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
A red flag and your body wins
Or a snake bite, gotta start again
So I'm fucked up and watching TV all day
I don't want to see what Ricki Lake gotta say
And it hits me when I'm alone, I'm an angry man
I start singing to myself I got dealt a shitty hand
With all these feelings my heart could explode
So is it not fear, knowing it all
And I say
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
It was and you are, lighted darkness come through
Nah nah nah nah nah
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
The lyrics of Rancid's song "Who Would've Thought" portray a mix of hope, disbelief, and hardship. The song's chorus repeats the line "Who would've thought that the dreams come true?" twice, followed by the idea of ending up with someone unexpected, which the singer seems hardly to believe. The first verse talks about believing in dreams and overcoming the darkness. However, the second verse depicts the singer consuming copious amounts of alcohol and narcotics, ending up on his back in a "city of shit," and feeling angry and overwhelmed when alone.
The third verse continues with the theme of hardship, mentioning a red flag and a snake bite, as well as watching daytime TV to avoid the world's reality. The song ends with the chorus repeated once more, with the addition of some nonsensical "nah nah nah"s.
The song expresses a mixture of positivity, hopelessness, and disbelief that dreams can come true. It also illustrates the struggles of everyday life, including substance abuse and mental health issues. The central message is that despite the hardships, there's still room for hope, and it's essential to surround ourselves with people who can shed some light on our darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
It is surprising that the dreams actually come true.
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
It is unexpected that I am with you.
And who would've thought what they said was true?
It is shocking that what they said was true.
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
Despite the surprising and shocking outcome, you are the light in darkness.
Silhouetted palm trees backing it up against the sky
The palm trees are in shadow against the sky.
Echo Park sunset, an ambulance drives by
There is an ambulance driving by in the sunset.
But someone went down
Someone got hurt.
And I wonder who
I am curious who got hurt.
Faces flash forward, it could be anybody I knew
I think about the faces of people I know who might have been involved.
So I drank like a fish and I crawled like a rat
I drank excessively and moved around like a small animal.
Through the city of shit I ended up on my back
I ended up on my back after traveling through a bad part of the city.
But I can't believe you're with me after dark
I am surprised and grateful that you are with me in the dark.
So let it come together in Echo Park
I hope things work out in Echo Park.
A red flag and your body wins
Your body signals danger and it is best to trust it.
Or a snake bite, gotta start again
If you get bit by a snake it is important to start over.
So I'm fucked up and watching TV all day
I am messed up and spending all day watching TV.
I don't want to see what Ricki Lake gotta say
I do not care about what Ricki Lake has to say.
And it hits me when I'm alone, I'm an angry man
When I am alone, I realize I am angry.
I start singing to myself I got dealt a shitty hand
I begin to sing that I have been dealt a bad hand in life.
With all these feelings my heart could explode
I have so many feelings that they could overwhelm me.
So is it not fear, knowing it all
Is it not scary to know everything?
Nah nah nah nah nah
Non-verbal vocalization.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY (USA) ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giacomoguazzarini4867
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
Silhouetted palm trees backing it up against the sky
Echo Park sunset, an ambulance drives by
But someone went down
And I wonder who
Faces flash forward, it could be anybody I knew
So I drank like a fish and I crawled like a rat
Through the city of shit I ended up on my back
But I can't believe you're with me after dark
So let it come together in Echo Park
And I say
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
A red flag and your body wins
Or a snake bite, gotta start again
So I'm fucked up and watching TV all day
I don't want to see what Ricki Lake gotta say
And it hits me when I'm alone, I'm an angry man
I start singing to myself I got dealt a shitty hand
With all these feelings my heart could explode
So is it not fear, knowing it all
And I say
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
It was and you are, lighted darkness come through
Nah nah nah nah nah
Who would've thought that the dreams come true?
And who would've thought I ended up with you?
And who would've thought what they said was true?
But it was and you are, lighted darkness come through
@mikeb.3173
who woulda thought that a good chucnk of us would still be listening to these dudes for over 30 years as we all get fat and old together? Cheers ✌
@domferretti
The Beatles of punk rock. Rancid is one of the most underrated bands out there. So much genius.
@reverseapachemaster5459
Well said homie
@UPBEATFOREVER
Oh come on!NO!!NO,NO,dude!!!dude!!DUDE😡😡😡😡😡
@UPBEATFOREVER
I am here for the modern stuff.not for any underrated crap like the Beatles!
@DelightBrandClothing
Miss these days. This song gives a vibe many won't understand! Stay safe everyone <3
@captainggttv3243
Makes me so happy and so sad cause I yearn for the times I’ve had when this song and band was first introduced to me
@jamiewilliams4152
Same here my friend. Same here!!!
@divapbitz77
Great song! Rancid always puts a smile on my face!!!
@IKIRG336
Greetings 🙋🤗😊