The band took their name from the Sons of Freedom, a controversial Doukhobor activist group in Saskatchewan in the early 1900s. Their self-titled 1988 debut album was emblazoned with a prominent slogan from Canadian social justice activist Nellie McClung, Never retract, never retreat, never apologise...get the thing done and let them howl.
The band's 1991 album Gump debuted on the Canadian campus radio charts (see Chart) at #1, ahead of Nirvana's Nevermind, which debuted the same week at #2.
The band broke up in 1993, although they briefly reunited in 1995 to tour in support of a rarities compilation, Tex. Binns, Short and Harrison subsequently joined with Lee Aaron in the band 2preciious.
You're No Good
Sons of Freedom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah and don't try to rev me up a woo a woo
Yeand and don't go rolling round and move your hips
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
Sugar don't come knocking on my back door
Coz I ain't your sucker now a woo a woo
Yeah and don't you jack your skirt up here
Yeah Yeah
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
You sucked me in
With your lies so thin
But I don't know why
You've placed your bets
And I ain't free yet
You leave me to
Scream like a baby
Beg like a leper
Crawling in the dark on my knees
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
You're no good
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
You're no good
Don't get smart - I'm a fool to lose you
When a fool never listens and a fool never lies
You talk about jealousy, talk about lying
I ain't afraid to lose you, I ain't afraid of dying
Just get out of my life
The Sons of Freedom's song "You're No Good" is a classic rock song with an upbeat tempo, but the lyrics express a powerful message about a toxic relationship. The lyrics are harsh and straightforward, warning the person not to try to manipulate or control the singer. The opening line "Baby don't go rattling my monkey cage" seems to refer to the person trying to push the singer's boundaries or provoke them in some way. The chorus line "You're no good when you make me wanna cry cry cry" is a clear indication of emotional manipulation.
The second verse seems to be about sexual advances from the person, with the singer refusing to be their "sucker". The line "You sucked me in with your lies so thin" implies that the singer has been played before and is not willing to be fooled again. The bridge of the song takes a slightly softer tone, with the singer expressing their vulnerability and desperation, but it's clear that the person has already inflicted serious damage. The song ends with the singer telling the person to "get out of my life".
Overall, the song highlights the insidious nature of toxic relationships and is a poignant commentary on the pain and destruction they can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby don't go rattling my monkey cage
Don't mess with me or stir up trouble.
Yeah and don't try to rev me up a woo a woo
Don't try to get me excited or worked up.
Yeand and don't go rolling round and move your hips
Don't try to seduce me.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
When you upset me.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
Sugar don't come knocking on my back door
Don't come to me for sex.
Coz I ain't your sucker now a woo a woo
Because I won't fall for your tricks.
Yeah and don't you jack your skirt up here
Don't be promiscuous around me.
You sucked me in
You manipulated me.
With your lies so thin
With your obvious lies.
But I don't know why
But I can't explain why I fell for it.
You've placed your bets
You took a risk on me.
And I ain't free yet
And I'm still feeling trapped.
You leave me to scream like a baby
You make me feel helpless and vulnerable.
Beg like a leper
Beg for your mercy.
Crawling in the dark on my knees
Desperately searching for a way out.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
When you upset me.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
You're no good
You're a bad person.
When you make me wanna cry cry cry
When you upset me.
Don't get smart - I'm a fool to lose you
Don't try to be clever, I know I shouldn't lose you.
When a fool never listens and a fool never lies
Even though I'm foolish for not listening to good advice, I won't deceive myself.
You talk about jealousy, talk about lying
You can say whatever you want about envy and dishonesty.
I ain't afraid to lose you, I ain't afraid of dying
I'm not afraid to lose you, even if it means dying emotionally.
Just get out of my life
Just leave me and never come back.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TibetHafii
This is a really good song
@steveaitch729
was living in seattle when this came on the radio. will be 65 this year and i still dig it
@KennethLockePhotography
Thank you. This is one of my favourite bands in my life. I saw them live in Regina, Saskatchewan in the 90's
@rootreinlavery2442
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@nardpuncher
I first heard this around September of 1991. I'm so happy to find it!
@Wolfboy183
YES!!!! i been looking for this music forever!!!
@jt1929
The bass sounds much better than the mono tv speaker I first heard this on in ā91. I remember the video had a French pre-revolution look
@scottfitzgerald1167
Don Binns on Bass , Bad ass sound !Ā Ā Ā Ā I bought this when it came out back in ?Ā Ā ,Ā Always thought it held up against the other bands of the day !
@dextercharles4269
came out in 1973
@burningvinylband
Dexter Charles this album came out in 1991. Perhaps you are referring to 'You're no Good' made famous by Linda Rondstadt (but originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick). At any rate, this is a totally different song.