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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We Will Rise
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until we die, until we die, until we die, until we die
Oh, we will rise, we will rise until we die
Well I'm rude boy for life and yes I carry a knife inside my mouth
And when I speak it likes to come out just to slice
I try to keep it under wraps, I push and pull and fight
But it loves to come and cut when sucker emcees try to bite
And if you want me to stop you can tell me to shut up
'Cause I was born with this mouth and yes my horns poking out
And yes I'm devilish
I'm not Bob Marley but I'm so rebellious
Oh, we will rise, we will rise,
Until we die, until we die, until we die, until we
If you give up, tell me how you wake up every single morning
Remember you were younger and did everything you wanted
Didn't have a worry only had a dream and you chased it
Now you realize your time was wasted
Dwelling on the whack shit, look at those who make it
It takes hard work and practice
Nothing comes easy they say but to me
Life's easily thrown away by those who can't see that
'Cause once you're gone you can never get these times back.
Oh, we will rise, we will rise,
Until we die, until we die, until we die, until we die
Oh, we will rise, we will rise until we die
The Dirty Heads's song We Will Rise is a powerful anthem about persistence and resilience. The chorus, "we will rise, we will rise, until we die," is a rallying cry for the band's fans to never give up no matter how difficult the struggle. The use of repetition emphasizes the importance of this message, as it is repeated several times throughout the song.
The first verse is performed by the band's lead MC, who describes himself as a "rude boy for life" who carries a knife inside his mouth. He explains that he tries to keep this aggressive side of himself under control, but it often comes out when he needs to defend himself. This verse is a metaphor for the struggle that people face when dealing with their own inner demons. The MC's message is that we all have a dark side, but we must learn to control it in order to succeed in life.
The second verse is a reminder to the listener to never give up on their dreams. The lyrics suggest that many people wish they had done more with their lives, but never took the opportunity to do so. The song encourages listeners to pursue their passions and not waste their time on "whack shit" that won't matter in the long run.
Overall, We Will Rise is a powerful and inspiring song that encourages listeners to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles may come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, we will rise, we will rise,
We will keep pushing forward and succeeding,
Until we die, until we die, until we die, until we die
Until the very end of our lives, we will keep striving and achieving.
Oh, we will rise, we will rise until we die
Our determination and success will continue until our time is up.
Well I'm rude boy for life and yes I carry a knife inside my mouth
I am a tough individual who will always stand up for myself and what I believe in.
And when I speak it likes to come out just to slice
My words are powerful and can cut through to the truth.
I try to keep it under wraps, I push and pull and fight
I try to control my aggression and use it for good instead of letting it consume me.
But it loves to come and cut when sucker emcees try to bite
I will not tolerate others trying to take what is rightfully mine.
So now there's too many emcees running around get cutted up
There are too many people who try to compete with me and fail.
And if you want me to stop you can tell me to shut up
I will keep speaking my truth no matter what others may think or say.
'Cause I was born with this mouth and yes my horns poking out
I am unapologetically myself, and will not change for anyone.
And yes I'm devilish
I am confident and bold in my actions and beliefs.
I'm not Bob Marley but I'm so rebellious
I am my own person and will not conform to societal norms or expectations.
If you give up, tell me how you wake up every single morning
If you give up, how can you expect to face the challenges of everyday life?
Remember you were younger and did everything you wanted
Remember a time when you were fearless and did not let anything hold you back.
Didn't have a worry only had a dream and you chased it
At a young age, you had a clear goal and worked towards achieving it without any doubts or fears.
Now you realize your time was wasted
As you grow older, you may realize that you did not use your time wisely or pursue your dreams as you should have.
Dwelling on the whack shit, look at those who make it
Instead of focusing on negative things, look towards those who have succeeded and use them as motivation.
It takes hard work and practice
Success does not come easily, but with dedication and effort.
Nothing comes easy they say but to me
Some may view success as difficult or unattainable, but I personally believe it is achievable with hard work and determination.
Life's easily thrown away by those who can't see that
Those who do not recognize the value of life and the opportunities it presents may waste their potential and not achieve their goals.
'Cause once you're gone you can never get these times back.
Once time has passed, it cannot be regained, emphasizing the importance of making the most of every moment.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DUSTIN BUSHNELL, JARED WATSON, LEWIS RICHARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind