One of the first bands that Tim played in was Basic Radio. After Basic Radio disbanded, he performed in the ska punk band Operation Ivy under the nickname "Lint" from their beginning in 1987, until they disbanded in 1989. Soon thereafter, Armstrong helped found the Dance Hall Crashers, but left the band after a brief period of time. He was also in Downfall with Matt Freeman (Rancid). In 1991 Armstrong went on to greater fame with the very successful Rancid.
While still with Rancid, he also has a side-project, Transplants, which started with Armstrong, his friend "Skinhead Rob" Aston and a drum machine. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker later came on to replace the drum machine.
In addition to his projects, Armstrong has also been known to pop up on others' albums in various roles. He's contributed vocals, guitar, songwriting to tracks by bands including Box Car Racer, Cypress Hill, Bad Religion, Stubborn All-Stars, Head Automatica, The Specials, The Matches, Left Alone, NOFX, Fruit Cocktail, H2O, Dr. Israel, Agnostic Front, The Lordz, Time Again and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, which is a side-project of his Rancid bandmate Lars Frederiksen.
He has collaborated with P!nk, the Aggrolites, Gwen Stefani, Buju Banton, Kelly Osbourne and Skye Sweetnam.
He has also produced several albums, including the debut albums by AFI, Answer That and Stay Fashionable (1995), The Gadjits, At Ease (1996), F-Minus, S/T (1999) and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, S/T (2001).
Armstrong is still very active in the Berkeley scene that grew up around 924 Gilman Street. He has showcased his other artistic talents and created artwork for the INSAINTS logo. His artwork and photography are also to be seen on various cds of his own label HellCat, eg. Give 'em the Boot compilations, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards.
A new album by Rancid was set for an early 2007 release, but had been delayed as to the fall of 2008. As of recent the album has been set for a spring/summer 2009 release.
He has also done a solo album entitled A Poet's Life, which fans can download for free on the internet. He was releasing one song at a time, and has released a music video with each song.
Take This City
Tim Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hit the city all night long
Lars and Will, Daniel and Bill
And little Larry gonna tag along
Rollin' deep, comin' up
Night I'm still wakin' up
Got a light? Smoke it up
Zig Zag, Roll it up
You are a memory 'cause
She is the future
Hold on tight
I'll be the teacher
Take this city
Take this city by storm
We're gonna take this city
Take this city
Take this city by storm
Here we go again
Here we go tonight
Gotta keep it going, gonna make it alright
Life is so short so ya gotta keep it tight
Gotta keep moving till the daylight rises
So many people, I'll never know
I'll never get to see where they're from
So what's your name? Say it again
Hear it again and again and again
Take this city
Take this city by storm
We're gonna take this city
Take this city
Take this city by storm
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Take this city
Take this city by storm
We're gonna take this city
Take this city
Take this city by storm
Big city life, well here's my take
There's a crack in the picture, window gonna break
It's a catch 22, catcher in the rye
You get caught stealin' shot down now you're gonna die
Listenin' to the sounds of reggae and soul
Pile in the Cadillac here we go
All over town playin' rock and roll
It's all I've ever done girl
All I'll ever know
Yeah
Just give us one moment, watch this...
This song is a typical tribute to a night out with friends, where the singer describes his adventures with his boys in the city. He lists the names of his friends - Lars, Will, Daniel, Bill, and Little Larry - and they seem to be smoking weed and living in the moment. As the night goes on, he reflects on how short life is and how many people he will never meet.
The chorus, "take this city by storm," is an anthem of freedom, encouraging listeners to live their lives with energy and enthusiasm. The bridge is somewhat of a departure from the rest of the song, as the singer ruminates on a "crack in the picture," referencing a Catch-22, and mentioning reggae and soul music. The song finishes with the repetitive na-na-na-na chorus, encouraging listeners to take the city by storm.
Overall, the song is a celebration of youth and living in the moment, epitomizing the punk rock genre with its rebellious nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Goin' out with all my boys
I am going out with my friends.
Hit the city all night long
We plan on being out in the city for the entire night.
Lars and Will, Daniel and Bill
I am with my friends named Lars, Will, Daniel, and Bill.
And little Larry gonna tag along
My friend Larry is also coming with us tonight.
Rollin' deep, comin' up
We are driving around a lot and on our way to have a good time.
Night I'm still wakin' up
I'm still awake from the night before.
Got a light? Smoke it up
Asking for a lighter to smoke with.
Zig Zag, Roll it up
I'm rolling a joint with Zig Zag papers.
You are a memory 'cause
Refers to someone in the past who is no longer significant in their life.
She is the future
Their current significant other is their future.
Hold on tight
Hold on and don't let go.
I'll be the teacher
I will teach you how to succeed.
Take this city
We want to conquer this city.
Take this city by storm
We are going to take over this city with great intensity.
Here we go again
We are about to start our night of fun once again.
Here we go tonight
Our night of fun and adventure is starting.
Gotta keep it going, gonna make it alright
We need to maintain the energy and momentum of the night to make it a good one.
Life is so short so ya gotta keep it tight
Life is brief, so you need to make the most of it.
Gotta keep moving till the daylight rises
We will continue to be active and having fun until the sun comes up.
So many people, I'll never know
There are countless people in the world who will never cross the singer's path or become their acquaintance.
I'll never get to see where they're from
It is unlikely that they will have the opportunity to learn about their origin or background.
So what's your name? Say it again
Asking someone's name, and having them repeat it for clarity or to remember it for the future.
Hear it again and again and again
Their name is worth remembering and repeating.
Na na na na na na na na na na
A repeated melody.
Big city life, well here's my take
The singer offers their opinion on life in the city.
There's a crack in the picture, window gonna break
The city is not perfect and there are flaws that may lead to its demise.
It's a catch 22, catcher in the rye
There are both positive and negative aspects about living in the city.
You get caught stealin' shot down now you're gonna die
Committing crimes could cost you your life and/or freedom.
Listenin' to the sounds of reggae and soul
Enjoying the music of reggae and soul.
Pile in the Cadillac here we go
Getting ready to ride in the car and head out for adventure.
All over town playin' rock and roll
Going to different areas in the city and experiencing the sights and sounds.
It's all I've ever done girl
The singer emphasizes that this is a typical night for them.
All I'll ever know
This is a lifestyle that they are used to and will continue with.
Just give us one moment, watch this...
The singer is about to put on a show - watch and be amazed.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OneManArmy1421
love it. this whole album is amazing. Glad Tim is still playing reggae/ska.
Tåm Bakkelund
I couldn't agree more, my friend. This is the soundtrack of my childhood and teenage years! All of the guys in Rancid and their music means the world to me.
Wingy
This brings me back to the op ivy days. Very nice to hear the ska again.
lorlgd
Tim Armstrong is just fuckin awesome, one of the best
WhiteIslandStudios
Agreed
littlewoodenboy
His video production style speaks to me - he's really come into his own in that realm.
Matt Simpkins skateboarding
Same!!👍👍
Sorryborrylorry
When i listen to this song i can go outside on a rainy day and still feel like the sun is shining
Madness6569
This is my "going out" song!!!! <3 Tim Armstrong!
R. Nomad
This album always reminds me of Thailand because that's where I was living when it was released. I actually got to meet Tim in Hollywood, CA way back in 1998 and he gave me a sticker which I still have to this day.