The original lineup consisted of vocalist Jason Cruz, guitarists Jake Kiley and Rob Ramos, bassist Jim Cherry and drummer Adam Austin. After releasing a self-titled 7" record, they became one of the first bands to be signed to Fat Wreck Chords, the record label owned and operated by Fat Mike of the band NOFX. Austin left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Brad Morrison who also left the band and was replaced on drums by Jordan Burns, formerly of fellow Simi Valley natives Ten Foot Pole. Their first album, Another Day in Paradise, was released in May of 1994. Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues followed in 1996. In 1998 they released The Skinny Years...Before We Got Fat, a compilation album of their pre-Fat Wreck Chords material.
The band showed notable musical growth on their 1998 album Twisted by Design, which was both speedy and technical but also punk-based and with darker overtones. The album established a mixture of the fast, poppy sound the band had established with Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues but mixed it with more atonality and more abstract song structures. Bassist Jim Cherry left the band in 1999 and went on to play in Pulley and Zero Down, but died of heart failure in 2002. He was replaced by Chris Aiken, whose musical background had a strong impact on the 2000 album The Element of Sonic Defiance, which continued in the fast, melodic punk tradition of the band while introducing more hard rock and metal elements.
In 2002 the band released their fourth full-length album An American Paradox, their first release to appear in the Billboard Top 200. The initial production run contained a bonus song entitled "Don't Look Back". A video was filmed for the song "Cemetery" and was included on several punk rock video compilations. In 2003 they recorded and released a live album as part of the Fat Wreck Chords Live in a Dive series. Exile in Oblivion, was released in 2004, with a video filmed for the song "Analog." Strung Out released their sixth full-length album, Blackhawks Over Los Angeles on June 12, 2007.
In March 2009, Strung Out released a compilation of B-sides, demos, and covers called "Prototypes and Painkillers" with material from all eras of the band's history. Many of these tracks have been on various punk compilations and/or were included in their "Live in a Dive" recording.
On September 29, 2009, Strung Out Released a their 7th studio album titled Agents of the Underground.
Bark at the Moon
Strung Out Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waking from the dead of night
Vengeance is boiling
He's Returned to kill the light
Then when he's found what he's looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Years spent in torment
Buried in a nameless grave
Now he has risen
Miracles would have to save
Those that the beast is looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
Bark at the moon!
They cursed and buried him
Along with shame
And thought his timeless soul had gone
In empty burning hell - Unholy One
But he's returned to prove them wrong, So wrong
Oh, Yeah Baby!
Howling In shadows
Living in a lunar spell
He finds his heaven
Spewing from the mouth of hell
Then what he's found what he's looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
Bark at the moon!
Oh, Yeah Bark at the moon!
Whoa, Yeah Bark at the moon!
Whoa, oh oh yeah Bark at the moon!
(Howl)
In Strung Out's song "Bark at the Moon," we hear the story of a vengeful creature rising from the dead and seeking to destroy the light. The opening lines set the tone of the song - "Screams break the silence, waking from the dead of night, vengeance is boiling, he's returned to kill the light." The character's anger and need for justice are palpable. He has spent years in torment, buried in a nameless grave, and now he has risen. The lyrics allude to the idea of resurrection and miracles - "Miracles would have to save, those that the beast is looking for." It's clear that he's on a mission - "Listen in awe and you'll hear him, bark at the moon!" The chorus of the song is a clear call to action, inciting the listener to join in and howl with the moon.
The story of the creature continues - "they cursed and buried him, along with shame, and thought his timeless soul had gone." However, he has returned to prove them wrong. He is living in a lunar spell, howling in shadows and finding his heaven, spewing from the mouth of hell. The creature has found what he's looking for, and the listener is instructed again to listen in awe and bark at the moon. The song ends with an elongated howl, cementing the theme of werewolves and the moon.
Overall, "Bark at the Moon" is a powerful, evocative song that tells the story of a creature seeking vengeance and justice. The imagery of howling at the moon and living in a lunar spell is both mystical and haunting.
Line by Line Meaning
Screams break the silence
The silence of the night is shattered by ear-piercing screams.
Waking from the dead of night
Something or someone is rising from the darkness of the night, coming back to life.
Vengeance is boiling
There is a strong desire for revenge that is on the verge of boiling over.
He's Returned to kill the light
The person or thing that has returned is here to destroy the source of light, which could be a metaphor for hope or happiness.
Then when he's found what he's looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Once the person or thing has found their target, you will hear them laughing maniacally in triumph.
Years spent in torment
Buried in a nameless grave
The returned person or thing has suffered for years and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Now he has risen
Miracles would have to save
Those that the beast is looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
This individual or entity has returned, and nothing short of a miracle will be able to save those who it seeks to destroy. Once again, you can hear the sound of their victory.
Bark at the moon!
This is a command or an invitation to join in a ritual, to celebrate the return of the person or creature. Let us all howl together under the moon!
They cursed and buried him
Along with shame
And thought his timeless soul had gone
In empty burning hell - Unholy One
But he's returned to prove them wrong, So wrong
Oh, Yeah Baby!
The person or thing was cursed, shamed, and buried as if they were dead forever. However, they have returned, proving everyone's assumptions wrong. This return is met with great excitement.
Howling In shadows
Living in a lunar spell
He finds his heaven
Spewing from the mouth of hell
This being or individual resides in the shadows, giving off an otherworldly feeling. They seem to enjoy this position, as it is where they find their idea of heaven. Instead of speaking, noises and cries come from the depths of despair.
Then what he's found what he's looking for
Listen in awe and you'll hear him
Bark at the moon!
Once again, with the goal in sight, the invite or command to join in the song or ritual is given. Let us all bark and howl at the moon with delight!
Oh, Yeah Bark at the moon!
Whoa, Yeah Bark at the moon!
Whoa, oh oh yeah Bark at the moon!
(Howl)
A repeat and continuation of the previous howling invitation, with a final burst of joy in the sound of howling at the moon.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Osbourne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gothik Extravaganza
There needs to be more punk covers off Ozzy classics.
dirtymartinikisses
love this version Strung Out kicks ass!
Tavo Trujillo
I still have this album its awesome
Ruan Avila Ribeiro
the drums is very fuck awesome
ninetyfive300zx
Damn I remember this from like 2003 lol
capatheist
Right... 04-05 for me.... on a nostalgia kick.
Good riddance, strung out, penny wise, thrice, early AFI..... damn it’s taking me back
Ivo Herrera
this guys Unleash Hell in this version
Risingmoon utopia beyond
THIS CAN BE CONSIDER THRASH
demolazer
Great punk remix
Pedro Bernardo
i think this is harder to play on guitar than the original