Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
Combat Rock
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you are on our side you're right, if not you're wrong
But are we innocent, pargons of good?
Is our guilt erased by the pain that we've endured?
Hey look it's time to pledge allegiance
I love my dirty Uncle Sam
Our country's marching to the beat now
Where is the questioning? Where is the protest song?
Since when is skepticism un-American?
Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same
Those who disagree are afraid to show their face
Let's break out our old machines now
It sure is good to see them run again
Oh gentlemen start your engines
And we know where we got the oil from
Are you feeling alright now?
Paint myself all red, white and blue
Are you singing let's fight now?
Innocent People die, uh oh
There are reasons to unite
Is this why we unite?
If you hate this time
Remember we are the time!
Show you love your country, go out and spend some cash
Red, white, blue hot pants doing it for Uncle Sam
Flex our muscles show them we're stronger than the rest
Raise your hands up baby, are you sure that we're the best?
We'll come out with our fists raised
The good old boys are back on top again
And if we let them lead us blindly
The past becomes the future once again
"Combat Rock" is a song by Sleater-Kinney that expresses dissatisfaction with the way American patriotism is expected to go hand in hand with blind obedience to the government, the military, and corporate interests. The song's lyrics take a critical stance to the way patriotism and loyalty are presented as an either/or proposition - you are either with us, or you are against us. The song asks, however, whether we are truly innocent or whether our suffering has made us forget our own complicity in perpetuating violence and injustice. This sentiment is reflected in lines like "But are we innocent, pargons of good? Is our guilt erased by the pain that we've endured?"
The song also criticizes the way dissent and questioning are portrayed as unpatriotic or even traitorous. The lines "Where is the questioning? Where is the protest song? Since when is skepticism un-American? Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same," highlight the importance of holding those in power accountable instead of blindly following them. The song concludes with a warning that if we allow ourselves to be led blindly by those in power, we risk repeating the same mistakes of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
They tell us there are only two sides to be on
There's a binary view of every issue
If you are on our side you're right, if not you're wrong
Those who are on our side are right, and those who aren't are wrong
But are we innocent, pargons of good?
Are we really innocent and good?
Is our guilt erased by the pain that we've endured?
Does our suffering absolve us of our guilt?
Hey look it's time to pledge allegiance
It's time to pledge our loyalty
I love my dirty Uncle Sam
I'm devoted to my country, flaws and all
Our country's marching to the beat now
Our country is moving forward
And we must learn to step in time
We must conform to the norm
Where is the questioning? Where is the protest song?
Why aren't people asking questions or protesting?
Since when is skepticism un-American?
When did being skeptical become un-American?
Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same
Disagreeing is not the same as being a traitor but people treat it that way
Those who disagree are afraid to show their face
People who disagree are afraid to speak up
Let's break out our old machines now
Let's use our old tactics again
It sure is good to see them run again
It's satisfying to see them work again
Oh gentlemen start your engines
Let's get started
And we know where we got the oil from
We know where our resources come from
Are you feeling alright now?
Are you okay with this?
Paint myself all red, white and blue
Proudly show my patriotism
Are you singing let's fight now?
Are you ready to fight?
Innocent People die, uh oh
Innocent people die, which is a problem
There are reasons to unite
There are reasons to come together
Is this why we unite?
Is this the reason we come together?
If you hate this time
If you don't like this era
Remember we are the time!
Remember that we create the era we live in
Show you love your country, go out and spend some cash
Demonstrate your patriotism by spending money
Red, white, blue hot pants doing it for Uncle Sam
Wear patriotic clothes to show your love of country
Flex our muscles show them we're stronger than the rest
Show others how strong we are
Raise your hands up baby, are you sure that we're the best?
Are you confident that we're the best?
We'll come out with our fists raised
We'll come out fighting
The good old boys are back on top again
The traditional power structure is back in control
And if we let them lead us blindly
If we follow blindly
The past becomes the future once again
We repeat the past
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE RACHEL BROWNSTEIN, CORIN LISA TUCKER, JANET LEE WEISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mihir Talakchand / Desai
They tell us there are only two sides to be on
If you are on our side you're right, if not you're wrong
But are we innocent, pargons of good?
Is our guilt erased by the pain that we've endured?
Hey look it's time to pledge allegiance
I love my dirty Uncle Sam
Our country's marching to the beat now
And we must learn to step in time
Where is the questioning? Where is the protest song?
Since when is skepticism un-American?
Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same
Those who disagree are afraid to show their face
Let's break out our old machines now
It sure is good to see them run again
Oh gentlemen start your engines
And we know where we got the oil from
Are you feeling alright now?
Paint myself all red, white and blue
Are you singing let's fight now?
Innocent People die, uh oh
There are reasons to unite
Is this why we unite?
If you hate this time
Remember we are the time!
Show you love your country, go out and spend some cash
Red, white, blue hot pants doing it for Uncle Sam
Flex our muscles show them we're stronger than the rest
Raise your hands up baby, are you sure that we're the best?
We'll come out with our fists raised
The good old boys are back on top again
And if we let them lead us blindly
The past becomes the future once again
Kris de Valle
I've just been doing a tour of S-K vids live or studio listening to the intensity of Janet. She is just so on target.
Ciaran O Sullivan
Kris de Valle will be hard to replace
BRAVE NEW ORDER FILMS
Great tunes!
L Garagem
Great band! I want them back!!
Moira Russell
October 21st 2014, Sub Pop Records will reissue the remastered catalog of the acclaimed American rock band, Sleater-Kinney
//SCREAMS SO LOUDLY SHE KNOCKS SEVERAL SATELLITES OUT OF ORBIT
Genny Zee
This sounds like a Strokes song which might come across as offensive but I mean it in the best possible way because S-K saw all these garage rerival bands come along and decided “hey, we’re actually gonna sound ten times better”. I fuckin love this song and could honestly play it forever
openskiesmedia
The theme song of the GWBush presidency for me...
Moira Russell
'Show you love your country go out and spend some cash,' oh hell yeah
Matt Luckett
**SAME**
Joseph Corridon
Carrie Brownstein doing a British accent was not something I was prepared for.