Rooted in the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, California, founding band members Jared Watson and guitarist / vocalist Dustin Bushnell met in 1996 while in high school, embarking on a friendship based on music, as well as their shared passion for surfing, skating and the endless party of the laid-back SoCal lifestyle.
Early on, they spent many late nights jamming in Bushnell’s soundproof garage with a four-track recorder, writing unique acoustic hip-hop songs that featured reggae inflections. Inspired by the rock and reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, 311 and The Beastie Boys, the band’s music evolved into their distinct Dirty Heads style.
To complete the Dirty Heads’ sound, the duo added percussionist Jon Olazabal and drummer Matt Ochoa, both talented, experienced musicians. With a set of solid material, the Dirty Heads were further motivated to take their craft to the next level, and they began building a loyal fan base throughout the west coast, while performing acoustically at local bars and small music venues. As they started playing in neighboring Los Angeles, the band found it necessary to charter party buses so their fans could make the 30-mile trek to their shows.
Connecting with sought-after producers Steve Fox and Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray / Ashlee Simpson) the band worked long hours to polish their material and further develop their style. The Dirty Heads also recruited mixing engineer Mario Caldato Jr., best known for his work with the Beastie Boys, to add the finishing touches and create just the right blend.
The band’s highly-anticipated first full-length album is entitled, Any Port in the Storm (Released on EMG through Fontana, a division of Universal Music Group Distribution - September 2008). This debut features 14 tracks that are reminiscent of the upbeat, sun-soaked Southern California party energy. The first single is the optimistic, “Stand Tall.”
Any Port in the Storm also features one of the final recordings of the late music industry icon Billy Preston. Frequently referred to as “The Fifth Beatle,” Preston played on three tracks, including “Stand Tall,” “Chelsea,” and “Driftin.’ ” Other special guests on the album are drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Sting, The Vandals), and veteran session percussionist Alex Acuna, whose A-list musician resume includes Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, and Jackson Browne, to name only a few.
Recently, the band’s music has been attracting attention throughout the world of entertainment. Their songs have been featured in the movie and soundtrack for Surf’s Up (Sony 2007); and the television drama, Shark staring James Woods (CBS 2007. Actor Matthew McConaughey selected the band’s music to be in his upcoming film, Surfer Dude. In addition, the Dirty Heads can be heard in Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam video game (Activision 2007), and several other music compilations and surf/skate videos. On the marketing side, the Dirty Heads have also been included in campaigns for Etnies Jeans and Vestal Watches.
Dirty Heads vocalist Jared Watson sums up their fun, uncomplicated style, “We want to be positive and entertain,” he says. “We just want to make you feel good.”
And who can’t dig that?
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Stand Tall
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She can't stand me but I miss her face
I feel like drowning but the tides too low
And now I'm waiting for the undertow
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I see the wall we can break down together,
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I see the wall we can break down together,
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
(We can break it down, yes we can break it)
Well I can only take so much,
Depression ain't gonna pressure us,
Oh, they came to watch us fall,
Oh yes, they came to watch us fall,
We will rise up against them all
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I see the wall we can break down together,
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
(We can break it down, yes we can break it)
Pardon me if I'm too loud
Sing my song gonna sing it proud
No ones gonna bring me down
Gonna stand up strong gonna hold my ground
Tell me what are we fighting for
Change to do we done before
Tell me what are we fighting for (yeah yeah yeah)
Pardon me if I'm too loud
Sing my song gonna sing it proud
No ones gonna bring me down
Gonna stand up strong gonna hold my ground
Tell me what are we fighting for
Change to do we done before
Tell me what are we fighting for (yeah yeah yeah)
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I see the wall we can break down together,
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
(We can break it down, yes we can break it)
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I see the wall we can break down together,
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
(We can break it down, yes we can break it)
The lyrics in The Dirty Heads' song Stand Tall seem to be about persevering through hard times and trying to stay positive. The first few lines suggest that the singer is trying to distance himself from someone he cares about but can't take the emotional pain anymore. He's overwhelmed but waiting for something to happen to change his situation. However, the chorus seems to be a message of hope, that if he stands tall and keeps fighting, things will improve.
The second verse is more defiant and suggests that despite any challenges, the singer is determined to keep going and rise up against those who doubt him. The lines "pardon me if I'm too loud / sing my song gonna sing it proud / no one's gonna bring me down / gonna stand up strong gonna hold my ground" suggest that he's not going to let anyone silence him or bring him down. The last lines, "tell me what are we fighting for / change to do we done before / tell me what are we fighting for," seem to be a call to action, wondering why we keep repeating the same mistakes instead of striving for something better.
Overall, the song seems to be a message of hope and perseverance, urging listeners to stand strong against adversity and work together to break down barriers.
Line by Line Meaning
Say what you say I just sail away,
I won't engage in negative talk and instead choose to distance myself from it.
She can't stand me but I miss her face
Despite not being on good terms, I still have feelings for this person and miss them.
I feel like drowning but the tides too low
I'm struggling and feel like I'm sinking, but things could be worse.
And now I'm waiting for the undertow
I'm anticipating and preparing for the worst to come.
So I, stand tall it gets a little better,
I'll stay strong and have faith that things will improve.
I see the wall we can break down together,
We can overcome obstacles by working together.
Stand strong, it's gets a little better now,
If we keep persevering, things will improve.
(We can break it down, yes we can break it)
We have the power to overcome challenges and break down barriers.
Well I can only take so much,
I have a breaking point and can only handle so much stress or negativity.
Depression ain't gonna pressure us,
I won't let depression or negative thoughts control me.
Oh, they came to watch us fall,
There are people who want to see us fail or struggle.
We will rise up against them all
Despite adversity, we will come out on top and prove the naysayers wrong.
Pardon me if I'm too loud
I won't apologize for being confident and standing up for myself.
Sing my song gonna sing it proud
I'm going to share my message and talents with pride.
No ones gonna bring me down
I won't let anyone's negative comments or actions affect me.
Gonna stand up strong gonna hold my ground
I'll stay firm in my beliefs and values.
Tell me what are we fighting for
I question the motives behind the struggles we face.
Change to do we done before
We can make progress by using past experiences to guide us.
(yeah yeah yeah)
An expression of emphasis and agreement.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STAN FRAZIER, STEVE FOX, JARED WATSON, DUSTIN BUSHNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@moztachorocks
so many years have passed, so many things happened, and this song still makes me feel so good after all this time
@asneakyproduction7144
Same
@kelseyteubel381
This song is currently getting me through some tough times. It has before and it still continues to do so. I LOVE YOU, DIRTY HEADS!
@hankhill2940
Same here, I lost my dad five months ago and this was our shit
@NATIVE617
Same here man, my 1 y/o daughter just died two weeks ago. She died from SIDS. 😢
@NATIVE617
It's crazy how bad shit happens to good people.... my wife left me after that..... not cause we didnt love each other. But because we can't look at each other anymore without thinking about my baby.
@mariesha7692
I’m sorry you guys are going through it but know when I first heard this song was through my husband and he was having a hard time THEN but NOW he is doing wonderful I promise it gets easier.❤
@danwalker6162
This band has gotten me through many hard times and helped me to focus on being positive. Fav band of all time!!! And I'm a metalhead!
@rondomkat4006
ha! same
@tundraillustration
Same here! :)