The first band members were skinheads (although not white power skinheads). After a few years and lineup changes, the band and their style changed slightly. By 1996, Al Barr was the only remaining original member of The Bruisers. One notable release by the band was a 7" split with Barr's future band Dropkick Murphys in 1997. After 10 years, the band broke up in 1998. The Bruisers had a reunion concert on September 14, 2005 at The Roxy in Boston. The bill included local acts The Ducky Boys and Tommy & The Terrors, as well as The Casualties from New York City.[1] The Bruisers played a second reunion show on August 31, 2012 headlining the first night of the 2000 Tons of TNT Fest at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT.
Independence Day
The Bruisers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching the scene all around me
People fighting in the streets
For their given right to be free
As the walls fell down in Germany
I proudly watched them win
You know that it's true
You can never keep us in
This is the hour
This is the day
This is the hour
Our Independence Day
The time has come for the western world
To jump into the fight
And make a stand on freedoms side
While chance is still in sight
As the walls fall the people vow to never go down again
If it comes to it we got to know right now
Are you ready to make a stand
This is the hour
This is the day
This is the hour
Our Independence Day
The Bruisers’ "Independence Day" is an ode to fighting for freedom and standing up for oneself. The song features a very anthemic, heart-pumping chorus that inspires a spirit of rebellion and motivation. It talks about the collective fight of people all over the world, who are pushing officials and governments to respect their innate and inalienable rights. The song’s lyrics explicitly refer to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the triumph of democracy over oppression. The walls once erected to divide human beings based on ideologies and cultures now lay in ruins while real people claim back their rightful space in the world.
The song calls upon the Western world to keep the fight for freedom and democracy alive. In the face of forces that threaten democracy, individual freedoms, and liberty, the Bruisers call on everyone to stand up and make a difference. They invite people to come together and make a positive change, to step up and do the right thing. The "Independence Day" in the lyrics is less of a celebration of a physical event but more of a recognition of the collective will to rise and take action towards a better, more equitable world.
Overall, "Independence Day" serves as an inspiring reminder of the infinite possibilities that await when people come together and fight for a noble cause. It is also an imperative to continue to pursue and expand the reach of democracy and individual freedoms around the world, ensuring that walls of oppression and tyranny never rise again.
Line by Line Meaning
I stood in the middle
I stood amidst the conflict
Watching the scene all around me
Observing the situation around me
People fighting in the streets
Civilians protesting in public
For their given right to be free
In pursuit of their fundamental freedom
As the walls fell down in Germany
Referring to the fall of the Berlin Wall
I proudly watched them win
I was happy and triumphant witnessing their victory
You know that it's true
It is a fact beyond doubt
You can never keep us in
We will never be contained or suppressed
The time has come for the western world
The present is the moment for Western civilization to act
To jump into the fight
To take part in the battle
And make a stand on freedoms side
To uphold and defend the side of liberty
While chance is still in sight
While there is still an opportunity
As the walls fall the people vow to never go down again
As barriers disappear people commit to never surrender again
If it comes to it we got to know right now
Let it be clear what must be done if necessary
Are you ready to make a stand
Are you prepared to stand up for what you believe in
This is the hour
This moment is critical
This is the day
Today is significant
Our Independence Day
The day of liberation and autonomy
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.