Their recorded debut was a 7" E.P. titled "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit Of Shit" that was self-released on the band's own Police Records in the U.S. in August 1996 and re-released by Nefer Records in Canada in 1997. In addition to that record, The Pinkerton Thugs released two full albums ("The Pain and The Pinkerton Thugs" on V.M.L. Records in 1997 and "End Of an Era" on Go Kart Records in 2000), a split 7" record with the Ducky Boys, and a 7" on Go Kart Records titled "The Times." The bands later recordings saw Paul Russo playing both drums and guitar as well as singing in the studio while Tommy "Von" Gatton, who joined the band in 1998, played drums live. Shortly after the recording of "End Of An Era" in early 1999 Smaldone left the band to concentrate on playing rockabilly with The Racketeers. Paul Russo moved up from the drums to sing and play guitar and James Lynch of The Ducky Boys joined as a permanent member. He only played one show with the band before he left to join The Dropkick Murphys and The Thugs stopped performing, playing its last show in February 2000 at the Karma Club in Boston, Massachusetts. "End of an Era" was released posthumously in June 2000, some 18 months after it was recorded, to both critical and public acclaim.
The Pinkerton Thugs officially got back together in 2008 and are currently active with a touring line-up. The band was signed to Jailhouse Records in 2011. They are doing a full U.S. tour summer of 2012, re-releasing all their older albums, and recording a brand new record fall of 2012.
Discography:
"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Shit" 7" (1996 Police/Nefer Records)
"The Pain and the Pinkerton Thugs" CD (1997 VML Records)
split 7" with the Ducky Boys (1998 Police Records)
"The Times" 7" (1999 Go-Kart/AF Records)
"End of an Era" CD (2000 Go-Kart Records)
Brighter Day
The Pinkerton Thugs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There ain't no spirit anymore
There ain't no hope anymore
There ain't no glory anymore
Goldman, Debs, and Parsons
Must be rolling in their graves
The way this movement behaves
That together we would see a brighter day
There ain't no turning back no more
There ain't nowhere to hide no more
There ain't no heroes anymore
There ain't no justice anymore
The song "Brighter Day" by The Pinkerton Thugs is a song that expresses the frustration and disappointment in the lack of progress towards achieving the goal of freedom and justice. The song suggests that there is no more reason, spirit, hope, glory, heroes or justice in the world, referencing historical figures like Goldman, Debs, and Parsons who fought for labor and socialist causes, who are now rolling in their graves over the way the movement behaves. The song laments the lack of progress in the modern world towards achieving a brighter day.
The lyrics suggest that there is no turning back or hiding anymore, implying that the struggle for freedom must continue despite the lack of visible progress. The song urges people to keep believing in the cause of freedom and justice, and to work together to see a brighter day. The lyrics are a call for action and a reminder that the fight for justice and freedom is ongoing, and that the struggle for a better world must continue.
Line by Line Meaning
There ain't no reason anymore
There is no logical explanation for the current state of affairs.
There ain't no spirit anymore
The passion and drive towards change is lacking.
There ain't no hope anymore
The belief in a better future is lost.
There ain't no glory anymore
The achievements of the past are forgotten or devalued.
Goldman, Debs, and Parsons
The historical figures who represented radical political ideologies.
Must be rolling in their graves
They would be disappointed and angered by the current state of affairs.
The way this movement behaves
The actions and choices made by the current iteration of the movement for social change.
So if you believe in freedom, well I believed in you
As a supporter of freedom and social justice, the artist had faith in like-minded individuals.
That together we would see a brighter day
Through collective action, progress and positive change were once thought to be possible.
There ain't no turning back no more
The current situation has reached a point of no return.
There ain't nowhere to hide no more
It is impossible to escape the consequences of the current state of affairs.
There ain't no heroes anymore
The individuals that were once seen as role models and leaders are no longer present or effective.
There ain't no justice anymore
The ideal of justice has been lost in society.
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MetalWarrior 1916
I bought this CD over 20 years ago and this song still motivates the hell out of me.
Scott Collette
I remember them playing this at the Elvis room and most of the so called punks were mad they were playing a Springsteen song
Bliss Creation
5 yrs later, thank you for this, been on you ever since...
Michael Rothstein
Great cover
Drake Engelhart
Seeing them tonight
Ian Good
Let's go!!
mal atesta
Hoist the black flag of NO SURRENDER!
TM MOC
its a springsteen cover
chet BONES
thats lame.wouldnt you wanna raise your fist with your brothers not towards them?