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."
Down Here
Social Distortion Lyrics
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To put the food on the table
You're working for the men
Who don't even know your name
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
You might lose now
Your happy home, yeah
And your beautiful wife
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
You'll suffer hard now
As you bury
Your loved ones
You'll suffer hard now
When you lose your best friend
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
That's the way that it goes
And I know how you feel
No ones immune now
To a world of problems
No ones exempt now
From a world of pain
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
I try hard now
To do the right thing
Yet I wonder
Why I still do what's wrong
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
That's the way that it goes
And I know how you feel
The lyrics of Social Distortion's song Down Here express a sense of empathy and solidarity with those who are struggling in life. The song begins by acknowledging the hard work and sacrifice of the working class, who toil anonymously for the benefit of others. The lyrics recognize that even though people work hard, they can still lose everything they hold dear. They may lose their family, their friends, and their homes. The song expresses a sense of shared pain and suffering, acknowledging that everyone is susceptible to the problems and pains of life.
As the song continues, the singer reveals that they too struggle with doing the right thing. Despite their best efforts, they often find themselves making mistakes and giving in to temptation. This sense of self-reflection and inner turmoil adds a layer of complexity to the song, highlighting the universality of the human experience.
Overall, the lyrics of Down Here by Social Distortion offer a poignant message about the struggles and hardships of life. The song recognizes the sacrifices made by the working class, acknowledges the pain and suffering that comes with loss, and expresses empathy for those who are down on their luck.
Line by Line Meaning
You work hard now
To put the food on the table
You're working for the men
Who don't even know your name
Despite your hard work to provide, you only work for people who do not even bother to recognize you.
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
You might lose now
Your beautiful children
When you are in the same difficult situation as we are, you may encounter the possibility of losing what is most precious to you, your children.
Your happy home, yeah
And your beautiful wife
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
Even your happy home and beautiful wife do not guarantee absolute happiness when you are like us, in a troubled state.
You'll suffer hard now
As you bury
Your loved ones
You'll suffer hard now
You will have to endure unbearable pain as you give your final respects to your loved ones who pass away.
When you lose your best friend
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
That's the way that it goes
And I know how you feel
Even your closest friend, your confidante, can be taken away from you, and this is something we both understand while being in the same miserable state.
No ones immune now
To a world of problems
No ones exempt now
From a world of pain
No one is free from the world's troubles and pain that we are facing now.
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
Such is the harsh reality of life when you find yourself in the same situation as us.
I try hard now
To do the right thing
Yet I wonder
Why I still do what's wrong
Even though I aspire to make things right, I still doubt myself as to why I still do the wrong things occasionally.
That's the way that it goes
When you're down here with the rest of us
That's the way that it goes
And I know how you feel
Suffice to say, this is how life is when we find ourselves in a troubled state, and I understand where you are coming from.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MICHAEL NESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind