Starting as a hardcore punk band in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Social Distortion would go on a temporary hiatus in the mid-1980s, due to Ness's drug addiction and troubles with the law which resulted in extended stints in various rehabilitation centers that lasted for two years. Following their reformation, the band has shifted its style to a country, blues and early rock and roll-influenced style of punk. Since its inception, the band's lineup has seen significant turnover, with Ness as the only constant member. After 44 years of performing, Social Distortion continues to tour and record music.
To date, Social Distortion has released seven full-length studio albums, two compilations, one live album, and two DVDs. They released two albums — Mommy's Little Monster (1983) and Prison Bound (1988) — before signing a three-album contract with Epic Records in 1989. Social Distortion rose to fame with their 1990 self-titled third album, which produced their well-known hit singles "Ball and Chain", "Story of My Life", and the cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", and was certified gold by RIAA. Many of their later albums, including their second gold record Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), were also well received. Dubbed by Steven Blush as "the Rolling Stones of hardcore," Social Distortion is considered one of the best-selling and most influential punk rock bands, with more than three million albums sold worldwide. The band's most recent studio album is Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011), and they have spent about more than a decade working on new material their forthcoming eighth studio album.
Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Mike Ness, inspired by the Sex Pistols and many other British punk bands as well as rock acts such as the Rolling Stones. Aside from Ness on guitar and Casey Royer on drums, early members included Mark Garrett on bass and former Cal State Fullerton basketball player Tom Corvin on vocals. Garrett was succeeded by Rikk Agnew in late 1978. On the origins of the band's name, Royer recalled "Mike was like 15, trying to play guitar but he couldn't. Social Distortion was named for my distortion pedal, which I gave to Mike to play 'cause back then he was no good."
Their early music was composed by Ness with lyrics by Royer and sometimes Corvin, and many songs were retired after only a few performances. After Corvin left in the fall of 1979 to attend graduate school at Bob Jones University, Ness recruited his high school friend Dennis Danell to join the band on guitar even though Danell had never played an instrument before. When Danell was brought in, the other members left as they did not want to wait for him to learn. Before joining the Adolescents in 1980, Royer and Agnew played with Garrett in a separate band named Social Distortion consisting of Royer on vocals, Garrett on bass, Rikk Agnew on drums, and Frank Agnew and Tim Maag on guitars. The band's first real show was in early 1979 at the Cuckoo's Nest nightclub on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, California. Mike and Dennis remained the only constant members for the next two decades with bass and drum members changing every few years. The Adolescents song "Kids of the Black Hole" and Social Distortion song "The Playpen" chronicled this period of the band's history.
Its first single, Mainliner/Playpen featuring Ness on guitar and vocals, Dennis on bass, and Carrot on drums was released in 1981 on Posh Boy, the label responsible for releasing the first singles and albums of many of the local O.C. punk bands. Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ-FM was responsible for much of the radio play in Orange County, California, that punk received in the early 80s, and took a liking to Social Distortion, releasing the single "1945" on his 1981 compilation album, Rodney on the ROQ, Blood on the ROQ in 1983, and The Best Of Rodney on the ROQ in 1989.
In 1982, the band—now consisting of Ness, Danell (who now played rhythm guitar), Brent Liles on bass, and Derek O'Brien on drums—embarked on their first international tour (US and Canada) with fellow punk band Youth Brigade, a trip chronicled in the punk rockumentary 'Another State of Mind', which was not released until 1984.
The band has consistently used as their logo a skeleton holding a cigarette and a martini glass. It was designed by Mackie Osborne, wife of Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne. It is frequently featured in live performances as well as album covers. The logo came from an invitation to a New Year's Eve party that a friend of Ness' had designed. Said Ness in an April 2011 interview with Rolling Stone: "At the time, I saw that, and it just felt like, 'That's it right there. It's life and death, it's celebration.' It just felt powerful."
Don't Take Me for Granted
Social Distortion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the volume in your fucked up teenage band
A pack of smokes and a six pack
I'm the dreams you had walking down the railroad tracks
you and me
I'm your first taste of romance
I'm your first broken heart on a Saturday night
But I'm the thing that keeps you and me alive
But not forever
[Chorus]
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm the blood on your guitar
I'm that wave you caught back in 1975
I'm as strong as a thousand armies
I'm as soft as the pedal on a long stem rose
I am love
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
But don't take me for granted
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
But don't take me for granted
The opening stanza of the song talks about how the singer represents different things in the life of the person he is singing to. He is like a worn in leather jacket, that has been by their side, probably weathered a lot together. He is also the volume in their "fucked up teenage band", suggesting that he has been a constant presence in their life, maybe even offered some sense of stability when things were uncertain or difficult. He then talks about how he has also been a part of their dreams, like walking down the railroad tracks, probably referring to times when his friend was lost in thought, trying to figure out their life.
The second stanza talks about how he has been there for the firsts of his friend's life experiences, like the first taste of romance and the first broken heart, maybe even trying to offer him some solace or comfort. He acknowledges that people like them (probably people from tough backgrounds) may not get many opportunities, but insists that he is the one thing that keeps them both alive, and yet admits that this cannot go on forever.
The chorus talks about how he wants to be taken for the ride with his friend, taken to the show - something to believe in that no one else knows. He emphasizes that he has always been there even from the beginning of his friend's life and pleads not to be taken for granted.
Overall, the song is about a strong bond between two individuals from similar backgrounds, who have stuck with each other through thick and thin, offering each other support through some of life's challenges. It's about not taking such a relationship for granted and cherishing it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm your worn in leather jacket
I'm that comfortable and familiar presence in your life that you can always turn to for comfort and protection, like your favorite old leather jacket.
I'm the volume in your fucked up teenage band
I'm that loud and rebellious soundtrack to your teenage years, the music that spoke to your soul and made you feel like you belonged to something.
A pack of smokes and a six pack
I'm that dangerous and thrilling rush of adrenaline you get from indulging in your vices, like smoking and drinking.
I'm the dreams you had walking down the railroad tracks
I'm those youthful and innocent dreams you had of adventure and freedom, of leaving your small town and exploring the world beyond.
you and me
Together, we are unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with.
I'm your first taste of romance
I'm that sweet and exciting rush of romance you felt when you had your first crush or fell in love for the first time.
I'm your first broken heart on a Saturday night
I'm that painful and heart-wrenching experience of being rejected or betrayed in love, something we all go through and never forget.
Guys like us ain't got no chance
We may be outsiders or underdogs, but that doesn't mean we can't find love or happiness in this world.
But I'm the thing that keeps you and me alive
Despite life's hardships and challenges, it's our connection and bond that keeps us going, that gives us hope and purpose.
But not forever
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and we must cherish what we have while we can.
[Chorus]
The refrain of the song, the recurring message that is meant to resonate with the listener.
So take me down the road
Let's go on this journey together, wherever life may take us.
Take me to the show
Let's enjoy the entertainment and spectacle that life has to offer, whether it's music, movies, or other forms of art.
It's something to believe in
We all crave something to believe in, something that gives our lives meaning and purpose, something that makes us feel alive.
That no one else knows
This belief or passion is unique to us, and we must hold onto it tightly and fiercely, even if others don't understand or appreciate it.
But don't take me for granted
Despite our bond and connection, we must never take each other for granted, as our time together is precious and fleeting.
I'm the blood on your guitar
I'm the passion and intensity that you pour into your art, the physical manifestation of your creativity and expression.
I'm that wave you caught back in 1975
I'm that perfect moment in time, that memory of pure joy and happiness, that we hold onto and cherish for the rest of our lives.
I'm as strong as a thousand armies
I'm that inner strength and resilience that we all have, that gets us through the toughest of times and makes us feel invincible.
I'm as soft as the pedal on a long stem rose
I'm that tender and delicate side of ourselves, the one that we show to those we love and trust.
I am love
At the heart of it all, I am love, the emotion that binds us all together and gives our lives meaning and purpose.
You can take me when you die
My presence and influence will always be with you, even beyond death, as memories and legacies endure.
With all the reasons why
There are countless reasons why we are connected and why our bond endures, reasons that can never be fully articulated or understood.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MICHAEL NESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@onesskiba5626
I'm your worn in leather jacket
I'm the volume in your fucked up teenage band
A pack of smokes and a six pack
I'm the dreams you had walkin' down the railroad tracks
You and me
I'm your first taste of romance
I'm your first broken heart on a Saturday night
Guys like us ain't got no chance
But I'm the thing that keeps you and me alive
But not forever
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm the blood on your guitar
I'm that wave you caught back in 1975
I'm as strong as a 1000 armies
I'm as soft as a petal on a long stem rose
I am love
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
But don't take me for granted
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
Don't take me for granted
No one knows
Don't take me for granted
No one knows
Don't take me for granted
@wielkeijsers3382
I 'm 70 and Social D.
still one of my favorites
@HumpX
Im 62 and right there with ya....
@DBKSIOWASOBR
Rings true to me. At least the youthful me. So deep. I have a deep appreciation for this song. God bless
@SocialDFan71
Happy 17th Anniversary to this great album! Haven't listened to this album in years and immediately picked this song to listen to after all this time. Love this.
@mikevanvalkenburg8726
Underrated song 🤘 social d punk lives forever 😊
@jamespatterson1847
Lyrically grabs ahold of me EVERY time I hear it. Thanks Mike!!
@onesskiba5626
I'm your worn in leather jacket
I'm the volume in your fucked up teenage band
A pack of smokes and a six pack
I'm the dreams you had walkin' down the railroad tracks
You and me
I'm your first taste of romance
I'm your first broken heart on a Saturday night
Guys like us ain't got no chance
But I'm the thing that keeps you and me alive
But not forever
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm the blood on your guitar
I'm that wave you caught back in 1975
I'm as strong as a 1000 armies
I'm as soft as a petal on a long stem rose
I am love
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
But don't take me for granted
So take me down the road
Take me to the show
It's something to believe in
That no one else knows
But don't take me for granted
I'm with you when you're born
You can take me when you die
With all the reasons why
Don't take me for granted
No one knows
Don't take me for granted
No one knows
Don't take me for granted
@narbekalantarians6269
Taking my 4 pawed son to the vet tomorrow. We’ve jammed to this countless times.
@thanos9846
That first riff, every fucking time!!!
All these years later.
@phoenixramirez5475
I’m 16 and my mom raised me on Social D. I’m so grateful for that, Social D has gotten me through some rough times