Tankard were formed by three classmates, Andreas "Gerre" Geremia, Axel Katzmann and Frank Thorwarth. At the time, the band was known as Vortex and Avenger until the current name of Tankard was discovered by the band in a dictionary. Their first song written was called "Ray Death", a song about nuclear war and their first gig was played in a local classroom in 1983. As the band were not permitted to drink alcohol in the school, they smuggled their beer in with milk cartons. Soon after, band member Bernhard Rapprich left the band as his conservative father did not want him "hanging around with a bunch of drunks" and was replaced by Andy Bulgaropulos.
In 1984, Tankard signed to Noise Records after narrowly missing out on signing with Steamhammer during a gig where guitarist Andy Bulgaropulous made the mistake of wearing a blue sweatshirt with a deer on the front creating the wrong image and causing Steamhammer to retract their offer of a contract.
Members:
* Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (1982)- Vocals
* Frank Thorwarth (1982) - Bass
* Olaf Zissel (1994)- Drums
* Andy Gutjahr (1998)- Guitars
Former Members:
Guitars:
*Axel Katzmann (1982-1995)
*Andy Bulgaropulos (1982-1998)
*Bernhard Rapprich (1982)
Drums:
*Oliver Werner (1982-89)
*Arnulf Tunn (1989-1993)
Land of the Free
Tankard Lyrics
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Doesn't matter - if you can pay the bail
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here - I won't stay
A young boy of eleven on trial
Land of the free - if you're able to pay
Land of the free - if you're righteous than stay
Land of the free - but we don't give a fuck
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
Where's O.J. - he's got money that talks
High paid lawyers - that's why the rich man waolks
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here - I won't stay
Breaking rules that I knew now existed
Inane laws which I knew not about
Land of the free - if you're able to pay
Land of the free - if you're righteous than stay
Land of the free - better bring some good luck
Land of the free - but we don't give a fuck
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
Land of the free - but not in the bible belt
Land of the free - persecution is what I felt
Land of the free - now I'm really bored
Land of the free - of rednecks and the lord
Please help me - I'm stranded without a beer
I'm not of age - fake liscence tucked in my rear
Gotta get out of here
Gotta get out of here - I won't stay
It's the law and you obey with blind folds
Don't complain 'cause it's you who's at fault
Land of the free - if you're able to pay
Land of the free - if you're righteous than stay
Land of the free - better bring some good luck
Land of the free - but we don't give a fuck
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free?
The lyrics to Tankard's song Land Of The Free primarily criticize the American justice system and the idea of freedom in the country. The opening lines depict the harsh consequences of breaking even the smallest laws in America, such as jaywalking, and how wealth heavily influences the punishment one receives. The lyrics also paint a picture of a young boy being put on trial, possibly unfairly, in a country where freedom seems to only exist for the rich.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Land of the free," sarcastically noting that freedom in America only applies to those who can afford it or those who adhere to the righteous values of the country. The song also critiques the injustice present in the "bible belt" and how it feels like persecution to those who do not conform to its values. The last lines of the song, "Land of the free - but without me, land of the free," express the frustration and disillusionment with the idea of freedom in America.
Overall, the lyrics of Land Of The Free highlights the flaws and injustices present in the American justice system and the selective nature of freedom in the country.
Line by Line Meaning
Jay walking - and you're gonna land in jail
Crossing the street outside designated areas is illegal, and if you do it, you will get arrested.
Doesn't matter - if you can pay the bail
If you have enough money, you can pay bail and get out of jail, regardless of the crime committed.
Gotta get out of here
I need to leave this place immediately.
Gotta get out of here - I won't stay
I need to leave this place immediately, and I refuse to stay any longer.
A young boy of eleven on trial
A child who is barely 11 years old is being put on trial, which is unjust.
Land of the free - if you're able to pay
In America, you have freedom as long as you have enough money to pay for it.
Land of the free - if you're righteous than stay
If you follow the rules and don't break any laws, you can stay in America and have your freedom.
Land of the free - better bring some good luck
It's not enough to just follow the rules; you also need some good luck on your side to enjoy your freedom in America.
Land of the free - but we don't give a fuck
While America claims to be the land of the free, in reality, those in power don't care about your freedom.
Land of the free - but without me, land of the free
If I leave America, it's not really the land of the free anymore because my freedom is important.
Where's O.J. - he's got money that talks
O.J. Simpson, a famous person who was acquitted of murder charges, only got away with it because he had enough money to afford good lawyers.
High paid lawyers - that's why the rich man walks
If you're wealthy, you can afford the best lawyers, and that's why rich people often evade punishment for their crimes.
Breaking rules that I knew now existed
I didn't know that some of the rules I was breaking were actually against the law.
Inane laws which I knew not about
The laws I broke were pointless and ridiculous, and I didn't even know that they were laws.
Land of the free - but not in the bible belt
If you're not religious or don't follow the Christian faith in parts of America, you're not really free to express yourself.
Land of the free - persecution is what I felt
Even when you're supposed to be free, there are still people who will persecute you for being different or having different beliefs.
Land of the free - now I'm really bored
Now that I have my freedom, I realize that it's quite boring and not as exciting as I thought it would be.
Land of the free - of rednecks and the lord
Some parts of America may be free, but they're also full of close-minded people who judge and discriminate against others.
Please help me - I'm stranded without a beer
I need someone to help me because I don't have a beer, which is a problem for me.
I'm not of age - fake liscence tucked in my rear
I'm not legally old enough to drink, but I have a fake ID to make it seem like I am.
It's the law and you obey with blind folds
Even if the law is unjust or ridiculous, you're supposed to obey it without question or criticism.
Don't complain 'cause it's you who's at fault
If you get in trouble with the law, it's your fault for not following it, and you shouldn't complain about the consequences.
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