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."
She's a Knockout
Social Distortion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a knockout
Everyone wishes she was sleeping in
their beds
She's a knockout
When guys see her comin' they start
spending their money
She's a knockout
call her honey
She's a knockout
She's a knockout, She's a knockout
She's exotic but not foreign, built like
an old Cadillac
She's a knockout
Once she's left your life she ain't never
comin' back
She's a knockout
With her black silk stockings and her high
heeled shoes
She's a knockout
Once she's left your life you'll surely sing the blues
She's a knockout
She's a knockout, She's a knockout
Some friends were tellin' me, just the other day
They walk right up to her, they don't know what to say
And when she calls me (hear a ring on the telephone)
I'll be there waiting for her, sitting at home
All alone
All alone
In the night clubs baby when the lights shine down
She's a knockout
If the feeling ain't right she don't even come around
She's a knockout
When she walks down the aisles you know her
Hips begin to sway
She's a knockout
Come on little baby I'll show you the way
She's a knockout
She's a knockout,
She's a knockout
The lyrics to Social Distortion's song She's a Knockout describe a woman who attracts the attention of everyone around her. She is a stunning beauty and is desired by many men. Men are willing to spend their money on her, but the singer claims that he is the only one who can "call her honey." He describes her as exotic but not foreign and compares her to an old Cadillac. Once she is in someone's life, they will never forget her. However, the singer is waiting for her call and will be ready for her, even if he is sitting at home alone. The woman is selective about where she goes, and if the feeling is not right, she will not even bother to show up. She has a seductive walk that makes her hips sway, and the singer offers to show her the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Everywhere she goes people turn their heads
She is extremely attractive and draws attention from everyone around her.
She's a knockout
She is stunningly attractive and catches the eye of everyone who sees her.
Everyone wishes she was sleeping in their beds
Everyone finds her attractive and desirable.
When guys see her comin' they start spending their money
Men are willing to buy things for her just to be near her.
But don't you know I'm the only one who can call her honey
He is the one with a personal and intimate relationship with her, not just one of the many guys who want to be near her.
She's exotic but not foreign, built like an old Cadillac
She is unique and special, but not too different from what people are used to or comfortable with.
Once she's left your life she ain't never comin' back
If you lose her, you won't be able to get her back again.
With her black silk stockings and her high heeled shoes
She dresses provocatively and sexily.
Once she's left your life you'll surely sing the blues
If you lose her, you will be very sad and upset.
Some friends were tellin' me, just the other day
He's heard from other people about her attractiveness and popularity.
They walk right up to her, they don't know what to say
Other people are often intimidated by her beauty and don't know how to interact with her.
And when she calls me (hear a ring on the telephone)
She has a personal relationship with him and is willing to reach out to him.
I'll be there waiting for her, sitting at home, All alone
He values his relationship with her and is willing to prioritize it over other things in his life.
In the night clubs baby when the lights shine down
She often goes out to nightclubs and other social events where the lighting accentuates her beauty.
If the feeling ain't right she don't even come around
She is selective about the events she attends and only goes to ones where she feels comfortable.
When she walks down the aisles you know her hips begin to sway
She moves in a way that emphasizes her attractiveness and draws attention.
Come on little baby I'll show you the way
He is confident in his ability to help guide her and show her things.
She's a knockout
She is incredibly attractive.
She's a knockout
She is incredibly attractive.
She's a knockout
She is incredibly attractive.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL NESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind