Tim first became inspired to work with loops and samples after being introduced to London's speed/garage scene by Kerrang! magazine writer Morat in the mid-90s.
The group's music is a combination of hip hop, reggae, drum n bass, dub, and punk, but not necessarily all at once. Although many are used sparingly throughout the album, punk and rap remain as the prominent styles. Lyrically, Rob Aston describes their songs as ranging from topics such as murder ("Quick Death") to the passing of a loved one ("Sad But True") to failed friendships ("We Trusted You").
After two years of recording, they released their debut album Transplants on Hellcat Records in October 2002. In the end, the album was recorded and mixed entirely in Tim's basement. Special guest vocalists included Eric Ozenne (Nerve Agents), Davey Havok (AFI), Danny Diablo, Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) and Brody Dalle (The Distillers, ex-wife of Tim). Brody sings on the track "Weigh On My Mind", which Tim then described as "their song".
The singles, "Diamonds and Guns" and "D.J. D.J.", quickly became MTV favorites and earned the band critical and commercial success. "Diamonds and Guns" featured unmistakable piano hook played by co-producer Dave Carlock. The band followed up the record's success by touring with the Foo Fighters.
After the 2005 blink-182 hiatus, Travis Barker said that he was returning to working with Transplants and Plus 44, a side project with Blink's Mark Hoppus. The Transplants' second album, titled Haunted Cities, was released in June 2005.
Barker announced on his twitter account that the transplants were recording new material in 2010.
Down In Oakland
Transplants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He lives life to the fullest, (yeah) every single day"
Down in Oakland
I'm gonna find them
I'm gonna get them
I'll go rewind them
You can not hide them
Oh down in Oakland
It's such a sinner
With a hard boy drunken Ballentine
He's got seven teeth left in his head, yea
He works at dark's in the day
At night he walks with the dead
And this lady come over to him
She want us take him for a ride
She said, "This dirty old town got no place a hide"
Time going away in town
And you got nowhere to go
Oh you can not move around
When your stuck in a blizzard snow
You wear your royals and eights
And you choose what's gonna be a sight
She said, "This dirty old town got no place a hide"
Down in Oakland
I'm gonna find them
I'm gonna get them
I'll go rewind them
You can not hide them
I will go find them
Oh down in Oakland
It's such a sinner
"Hey, where am I?"
Down in Oakland
I'm gonna find them
I'm gonna get them
I'll go rewind them
You can not hide them
I will go find them
Oh down in Oakland
It's such a sinner
The song "Down in Oakland" by the Transplants is a narrative about a rough area of California, Oakland, where the singer has some unpleasant experiences. The song begins with a dedication to a friend who "lives life to the fullest every single day." Then, the lyrics depict the singer's journey to find someone, saying "I'm gonna find them, I'm gonna get them, I'll go rewind them, you can not hide them, I will go find them." These lines give the impression that the song is about retribution and justice.
The singer meets a man who has lost most of his teeth while drinking Ballantine (a type of beer), and he reveals that the man works during the day and roams the streets at night. The song's second verse introduces a woman who asks the man to join her on a ride because there's no place to hide in the town. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, hinting at the theme of searching for something significant in a place of vice and wickedness.
Overall, "Down In Oakland" reflects the roughness and hopelessness of life in Oakland through the eyes of the singer. It depicts a place where people live a perilous life with no hope for improvement, as depicted in the line, "When your stuck in a blizzard snow, you wear your royals and eights and you choose what's gonna be a sight."
Line by Line Meaning
This song goes out to a good friend of mine
This song is dedicated to a close friend of the artist
He lives life to the fullest, (yeah) every single day
The friend mentioned in the first line embraces life with enthusiasm
Down in Oakland
The location for the events being described is Oakland
I'm gonna find them
The artist is determined to locate a group of individuals
I'm gonna get them
The artist plans to confront these individuals once they are found
I'll go rewind them
The artist intends to make the individuals accountable for what they have done
You can not hide them
The artist believes that it is impossible to hide the actions of the individuals
I will go find them
The artist is relentless in their pursuit of the individuals
Oh down in Oakland
The location for the events being described is reiterated
It's such a sinner
Oakland is portrayed as a place of moral depravity
With a hard boy drunken Ballentine
A man named Ballentine is described as being tough and frequently intoxicated
He's got seven teeth left in his head, yea
Ballentine has lost most of his teeth
He works at dark's in the day
Ballentine has a nighttime job
At night he walks with the dead
Ballentine spends his nights around the morbid and eerie
And this lady come over to him
A woman approached Ballentine
She want us take him for a ride
The woman looked to take Ballentine along with her
She said, "This dirty old town got no place a hide"
The woman expressed her distress with life in Oakland
Time going away in town
Time passes without progress or accomplishment
And you got nowhere to go
Feeling stuck with no exit
Oh you can not move around
Physical mobility is restricted
When your stuck in a blizzard snow
A metaphor for feeling lost and overwhelmed
You wear your royals and eights
A reference to a specific poker hand - having a good hand but still losing
And you choose what's gonna be a sight
Despite setbacks, one must continue to take opportunities to improve their life
She said, "This dirty old town got no place a hide"
The woman's previous statement is highlighted again
"Hey, where am I?"
A sudden realization of being lost or in trouble
Down in Oakland
Returning to the setting of the events
I'm gonna find them
The artist's search for the individuals is reiterated
I'm gonna get them
The artist's resolve to confront the individuals stays strong
I'll go rewind them
The artist seeks to bring accountability and justice to the situation
You can not hide them
Reiterating that the individuals' actions cannot be hidden
I will go find them
The artist's persistent determination to seek out the individuals and confront them
Oh down in Oakland
A final reference to the setting of the events
It's such a sinner
A final depiction of Oakland as a place of moral depravity
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gatoleen
Listening to this whole album back in the day...epic...listening to it again after all this time...indescribable
Patrick FIsher
I've been listening to the Transplants from the beginning and only now has this song struck me. Fucking love it. Can't wait to hear what the guys have coming up for us soon. Timmy, Rob, and Travis are absolutely amazing.
Sheena Atnip
Check out operation ivy and rancid and a poet's life by Tim Armstrong.
Adrianobrazil saopaulo
i simply cant get enough of this song tim you are a fucking genius TRANSPLANTS ROCK
Adrianobrazil saopaulo
tim armstrong is a genius love his unique sound
tag ed
This song goes out to a good friend of mine!!!
Ryan Visbeck
Loving this tune
Robin Luhm
Catchiest guitar line ever!
jorchin dat torch
Ugh man this is straight up memories here. Love to all you people
preg13
i still have the poster that came with this cd hanging in my room