Scream was formed in Northern Virginia in 1981 by singer Peter Stahl, his brother Franz Stahl on guitar, bassist Skeeter Thompson and drummer Kent Stax. They are considered one of the benchmark bands in the history of the Washington, D.C. hardcore music movement. Along with bands such as Minor Threat and Government Issue, Scream ultimately merged the attributes of the movement, which were blinding speed, heavy political and social connotations in the lyrics, unpretentiousness of attitude, and shunning of commercialism. Their music is faithful to the roots of rock, but spun itself into other genres by employing sounds that predate the raunchiness of grunge, while saluting reggae and speed metal. Scream hated the classification of bands into certain types and considered what they played as simply 'music.' Recording their music in the basement of the now legendary Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia, Scream became the first band on the Dischord label to release a whole album, Still Screaming, as opposed to singles or 12 inch EPs. Like the hardcore band Bad Brains, they could play clearly at breakneck speed, but also played mid-tempo songs like "American Justice" and "Hygiene," which were metal-tinged reggae.
For their second album Scream added another guitarist to their line-up, Robert Lee "Harley" Davidson, to thicken up the sound in the studio and in their live performances. In turn this eventually led to a powerful dual-lead guitar style, with complex guitar tracking, a more powerful live sound and an over-all crunchier sound for their third album. For a few compilation efforts and some live shows they added a keyboard player, Bobby Madden, who was a colleague of Davidson's from the same metal scene.
After the third album Banging the Drum, Kent Stax left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by local drummer Dave Grohl, who then played on Scream's 4th album No More Censorship. The band then toured Europe; with their May 4, 1990 show in Alzey, Germany being released by Tobby Holzinger as Your Choice Live Series Vol.10. Scream then recorded their fifth and final studio album Fumble, (which was much later released in 1993 on Dischord Records) and then called it quits in late 1990. Pete and Franz moved to North Hollywood and started rock band Wool, while Grohl joined Grunge band Nirvana. In 1997, Franz Stahl joined Dave Grohl's newly formed group, the commercially successful Foo Fighters, for a two year stint. During this time Pete Stahl worked as a road manager for both the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age, while continuing to record albums with several bands, including the Earthlings? and Goatsnake. Skeeter Thompson remained in the D.C. area and continued to work in bands, as did Kent Stax with the Skinhead/Oi! -tinged bands: the Suspects, United 121, Spitfires United, and Alleged Bricks. Stax has also committed himself to a family life. Davidson continued in the band Angelstorm, (in Huntsville, Alabama), from 1993–1995 and created the new bands Orangahead, Festival of Fools, (with Madden in 1998) and two different bands both named God Is Dead, (one in D.C. and one in Huntsville, Alabama) from 2002-2005.
The original line-up of the band played a reunion show on December 20, 2009 at the Black Cat nightclub in Washington, D.C.
On February 7, 2011, the band supported Foo Fighters on a special show at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, when the Foo Fighters showcased their new album Wasting Light for the first time from beginning to end.
Current members
Peter Stahl – lead vocals (1981–1990, 2009–present)
Franz Stahl – guitar, backing vocals (1981–1990, 2009–present)
Skeeter Thompson – bass, backing vocals (1981–1990, 2009–present)
Kent Stax – drums, percussion (1981–1986, 2009–present)
Former members
Dave Grohl – drums, percussion (1986–1990)
Robert Lee Davidson – guitar, backing vocals (1984–1989)
People People
Scream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But there'll come a time when it'll come to call
When every war fought in your name
Won't bring you answers
Will bring you shame
When every child who sewed your clothes
Will bring you anguish
Because you'll know
that you own
Somebody's sweating and you'll hear them groan
Come on people, people
Remember the people
People
Is it as hard now as it seems?
hands on the plough of another mans dreams
Well they try to tell you we're on different teams
And when we get together, they've always got this scheme
First there's a silence
Then there's a shot
And then there's siren's woah ah oh oh oh oh
And when the smoke clears
They'll say you're to blame
And when you try to protest
They'll steal your name
When truth gets ambushed
Theyll say it's fair game
But if we don't stand up
It'll stay the same
Come on people
People
Remember the people
People
See the deer by the side of the road?
It's broken spindly legs
Well someone else was driving
This is the burden of our age
See the empty promises and the sleight of hand
See teeth falling out in this promised land
See the new world rising, hear her marching band
Get yourself together now as she commands
Come on, People
People
Remember the people
People
In these lyrics, the band Scream is addressing societal issues and calling for people to wake up and take action. The first paragraph focuses on the consequences of ignorance and complacency. The lyrics suggest that there will come a time when individuals cannot ignore the negative impacts of their choices and the systems they support. Wars fought in the name of these individuals will no longer provide answers, but instead bring shame. The exploitation of labor, particularly in the garment industry, will also bring anguish, as people realize the suffering behind the goods they consume.
The second paragraph delves into the manipulation and division created by those in power. Scream suggests that some forces try to separate people by making them believe they are on different teams or have different interests. However, the band encourages unity and warns of the consequences of not standing up against injustice. The silence, shootings, and sirens mentioned allude to the violence and suppression faced by those who challenge the status quo. The lyrics suggest that even when the smoke clears, the blame is shifted onto those who dare to protest, as their voices and identities are stolen.
The third paragraph uses metaphors to highlight the brokenness and emptiness of society. The deer with broken legs symbolizes the vulnerable and damaged state of the world. The burden of our age is depicted as someone else being in control of our actions, as if we are just passengers in our own lives. The lyrics reference empty promises, deception, and the decay of the American dream. However, there is also a sense of hope and empowerment, as the "new world rising" and the commanding marching band represent the potential for change. The band calls on people to come together and remember the importance of unity in challenging these issues.
Overall, these lyrics speak to the need for awareness, action, and solidarity in tackling the various injustices and exploitations present in society. Scream urges individuals to recognize their complicity, question the narratives fed to them, and stand up against oppression in order to create a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you may be sheltered in your life now
Even though you may currently live a comfortable and protected life
But there'll come a time when it'll come to call
There will be a time when the consequences of your actions will catch up with you
When every war fought in your name
Every conflict waged in your honor
Won't bring you answers
Will not provide you with the solutions you seek
Will bring you shame
Instead, it will bring you disgrace
When every child who sewed your clothes
Each and every young individual who stitched the garments you wear
Will bring you anguish
Will cause you deep distress
Because you'll know
Because you will understand
Behind every good thing that you own
Behind every possession of yours that brings satisfaction or happiness
Somebody's sweating and you'll hear them groan
There is someone toiling and suffering, their complaints becoming audible to you
Come on people, people
Let's unite, fellow individuals
Remember the people
Keep in mind the plight and wellbeing of others
Is it as hard now as it seems?
Are the challenges we face truly as difficult as they appear?
Hands on the plough of another man's dreams
Working towards fulfilling someone else's goals and aspirations
Well they try to tell you we're on different teams
They attempt to divide us and make us believe we are opponents
And when we get together, they've always got this scheme
And whenever we unite, they always have a hidden agenda or plan
First there's a silence
Initially, there is a lack of noise or resistance
Then there's a shot
Followed by a gunshot
And then there's siren's woah ah oh oh oh oh
And subsequently, the blaring of sirens can be heard
And when the smoke clears
Once the haze dissipates
They'll say you're to blame
They will attribute the fault to you
And when you try to protest
And when you attempt to express your objection
They'll steal your name
They will tarnish your reputation
When truth gets ambushed
When honesty is aggressively attacked
They'll say it's fair game
They will claim it is an acceptable tactic
But if we don't stand up
However, if we do not take a stand
It'll stay the same
The current situation will persist
See the deer by the side of the road?
Notice the deer standing beside the road
It's broken spindly legs
Its legs are frail and damaged
Well someone else was driving
The responsibility for its condition lies with another person
This is the burden of our age
This exemplifies the weight and responsibility we carry in modern times
See the empty promises and the sleight of hand
Observe the unfulfilled commitments and deceptive tricks
See teeth falling out in this promised land
Witness the deterioration and decay happening in this supposedly ideal place
See the new world rising, hear her marching band
Witness the emergence of a new society, and listen to the sounds of its celebratory parade
Get yourself together now as she commands
Organize and compose yourself as instructed by this new order
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LAUREL LEIGH SPRENGELMEYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind