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.
Up In Flames
The Bruisers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's where you find out what it's all about
We're the same they got both you and me
This road ain't easy street
You gotta make your own breaks
Or you're gonna get beat
And spend the rest of your life trying to find
Where you got lost
Go ahead try and break your chains
That's when you'll see that it's all a game
The deck is stacked and the won't let you win
On the street there's a neon sign
It say's take it easy boy cause it's the end of the line
It's a dead end street and it'll break a good man's will
Oh going up in flames
Oh going up in flames
Oh keep trying but it's all the same
Oh going up in flames
I just don't want to hang around
In the bars the streets or the slums in this town
This place is nowhere and that's just where you'll stay
You could say that you think I'm wrong
But you wouldn't last in these shoes for long
Trying to face a future that's going up in flames
Oh going up in flames
Oh going up in flames
Oh keep trying but it's all the same
Oh going up in flames
The Bruisers's song Up In Flames talks about the difficulties of life, especially on the streets. The song emphasizes that life is tough, and regardless of your situation, you will still experience difficulties. The lyrics paint a picture of being up in flames and down and out, which is where you will find out what life is all about. The song suggests that we all have the same struggles and challenges to face, whether we are rich or poor. The road is never easy, and you must create your pathway, or you will be beaten.
Furthermore, the lyrics showcase that there is no easy way out of life's challenges. You must try to break the chains that bind you and work hard to create your opportunities. However, the deck is stacked against you, and you will not always win, like in a game. Life on the street is like a dead end street that can break even the best of us. Therefore, it is not easy to stay away from the bars, streets, and slums. But staying in such situations will only lead to the end of the road, going up in flames.
Overall, The Bruisers's song Up In Flames may sound like a bleak and depressing song. But upon closer examination, it reveals that life is challenging for everyone, and the only way to succeed is to keep a positive attitude and keep working hard.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in flames and down and out
When everything is burning down and you're left with nothing
That's where you find out what it's all about
You discover the harsh reality of life in such situations
We're the same they got both you and me
We're all equal in the eyes of those who want to bring us down
This road ain't easy street
This path we're on is not a smooth ride
You gotta make your own breaks
You have to create your own opportunities in life
Or you're gonna get beat
Otherwise, you'll end up being defeated by those who strive harder
And spend the rest of your life trying to find
And then you'll spend an eternity in search of the lost moments
Where you got lost
Which led you to a path where you lost track of your goals and ambitions
Go ahead try and break your chains
Try to break free from the chains that bind you down
That's when you'll see that it's all a game
Only then you'll realize that everything in life is a mere gamble
The deck is stacked and the won't let you win
The odds are always against you, and the society will never let you triumph
On the street there's a neon sign
On this road of life, there's a flashy signboard
It say's take it easy boy cause it's the end of the line
It suggests that you take it easy and not stress over the uncertainties
It's a dead end street and it'll break a good man's will
This path is the end of the road, and it will only demoralize even the best of men
Oh going up in flames
Everything is crumbling down to ruins and ashes
Oh keep trying but it's all the same
Even though you strive hard, nothing seems to change
I just don't want to hang around
I wouldn't want to spend much time at such a place
In the bars the streets or the slums in this town
Entwined within the alleys of this wretched town, be it streets, bars or shanties
This place is nowhere and that's just where you'll stay
This place is a dead end and once you're here, you're stuck
You could say that you think I'm wrong
You might say that I'm incorrect in my beliefs
But you wouldn't last in these shoes for long
But if you were to be subjected to my hardships, you wouldn't last for long
Trying to face a future that's going up in flames
Attempting to plan for and confront a future that is being destroyed right before our eyes
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.