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.
Hit the Fence
Transplants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Sick farms ain't doing shit without the big bucks
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you're lame ducks
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gags bust
Scrapping, let's go toe to toe, I start the capping
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
Who's that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
There's gotta be more to life than just this
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
Man, I dance with the devil but I never catch the Z's
Don't get me wrong, if I could I'd make a change
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
But the fence is in the way now and I ain't buyin' it
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
Even when I'm dead and gone, I'll always be around
I'ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
Skinhead Rob run by, motherfuckers hit the fence
The song "Hit the Fence" by the Transplants speaks about the brute reality of being in a warzone where the wrong move could result in losing your life. The lyrics portray a level of violence and bloodshed that is typical of gang rivalry, where anyone could become a target. The use of guns and murder is a daily occurrence, where people's lives are almost worthless. This is evident in the lines, "Life in a warzone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso, Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll, Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow". The chorus of the song talks about how life can be meaningless and how the vocalist doesn't see it getting any better. The only way to survive is to stay vigilant and always be prepared for the worst.
The second verse delves further into the perilous lifestyle of being a gang member, "Sick farms ain't doing shit without the big bucks, Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you're lame ducks" depicts the lack of opportunities for people who don't get involved in illegal activities. The vocalist speaks of those who are trapped in the lifestyle and have to take the risks, like paying rent off cocaine and weed to survive. The lyrics symbolize how the grass often appears greener on the other side, but the fence in the way hinders any movement. The poignant line, "Even when I'm dead and gone, I'll always be around," depicts a sense of eternal vigilance and fear that one can never escape from.
Line by Line Meaning
Life in a war zone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso
Living in a dangerous place where one wrong move could cost you your life.
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Gunshots can be heard in the distance and people are dying.
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Money is constantly being made, no matter the time of day or situation.
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Violence is used to overcome any obstacles that prevent success.
Sick farms ain't doing shit without the big bucks
Without a lot of money, small farms cannot provide the necessary resources to thrive.
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you're lame ducks
I have complete control over you and you are destined to fail.
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gags bust
Those who are not good enough will face consequences and fail.
Come on man I don't give a fuck, who wanna test nuts
I am not afraid of anyone and will always fight for what I believe in.
Scrapping, let's go toe to toe, I start the capping
Let's fight and I will come out on top.
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
I am so confident in my ability to win that I am already celebrating my victory.
Who's that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
I am always looking for a new challenge and never back down from a fight.
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
When things get tough, I will do whatever it takes to succeed.
There's gotta be more to life than just this
Life must have more meaning and purpose than just violence and money.
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
My life is far superior to yours in every way.
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
I do not believe that things will improve.
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You do not understand the constant fear and danger that I face every day.
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
You do not know the lengths I must go to in order to survive and provide for myself.
Man, I dance with the devil but I never catch the Z's
I am willing to engage in risky behavior but cannot afford to let my guard down and relax.
Don't get me wrong, if I could I'd make a change
If given the opportunity, I would choose a different path in life.
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
My experiences have been so negative that positivity seems foreign to me.
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
People often believe that things will be better elsewhere, but that is not always the case.
But the fence is in the way now and I ain't buyin' it
There are real barriers preventing me from escaping my current situation.
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
I am surrounded by destruction and chaos, but I am still standing.
Even when I'm dead and gone, I'll always be around
My legacy will live on even after I am gone.
I'ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
I am not afraid of death and will face it with bravery and determination.
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
I am succeeding in my violent lifestyle while others are left behind.
Skinhead Rob run by, motherfuckers hit the fence
When danger approaches, others flee while I remain calm and ready to face it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TRAVIS BARKER, ROB ASTON, TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
splooge825
"Hit The Fence"
Life in a war zone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Sick fucks ain’t doing shit without the big bucks
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you’re lame ducks
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gage busts
Come on man I don’t give a fuck, who wanna test nuts
Scrapping, let’s go toe to toe, I start the capping
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
Who’s that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
There’s gotta be more to life than just this
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
Man, I dance with the devil but I never get the lead
Don’t get me wrong, if I could I’d make a change
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
But the fence is in the way now and I ain’t buyin’ it
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
Even when I’m dead and gone, I’ll always be around
I’ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
Brandon Sergeon
Life in a war zone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Sick fucks ain’t doing shit without the big bucks
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you’re lame ducks
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gage busts
Come on man I don’t give a fuck, who wanna test nuts
Scrapping, let’s go toe to toe, I start the capping
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
Who’s that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
There’s gotta be more to life than just this
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
Man, I dance with the devil but I never get the lead
Don’t get me wrong, if I could I’d make a change
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
But the fence is in the way now and I ain’t buyin’ it
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
Even when I’m dead and gone, I’ll always be around
I’ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
Skinhead Rob run by, motherfuckers hit the fence
splooge825
"Hit The Fence"
Life in a war zone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Sick fucks ain’t doing shit without the big bucks
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you’re lame ducks
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gage busts
Come on man I don’t give a fuck, who wanna test nuts
Scrapping, let’s go toe to toe, I start the capping
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
Who’s that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
There’s gotta be more to life than just this
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
Man, I dance with the devil but I never get the lead
Don’t get me wrong, if I could I’d make a change
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
But the fence is in the way now and I ain’t buyin’ it
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
Even when I’m dead and gone, I’ll always be around
I’ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
Eat Your Chips
Awesome song. I love the Brotha Lynch reference too.
milk man
i just listened to the "tall cans in the air on a "fail" video n searched like hell to find who sang the song...an hour later im in love with a whole new kind of hardcore punk $#!+ that ive never heard b4-fuk yea this $#!+ gets me pumped...p.s. wat the hell happened to rancid????
spatunaz
"Thers got to be more in life then just this, your life compare to mine is like wine compare to piss"
eddie airada
Don’t get me wrong, if I could I’d make a change, been so bad for so long, any good is so strange... T-PLANTS!!
Brandon Sergeon
Life in a war zone, you make the wrong move, remove your torso
Guns blow back from the track, now the bloods roll
Unslow 24/7 now the funds flow
Anybody gets in my way, I let their guts show
Sick fucks ain’t doing shit without the big bucks
Got you in my sites, bad luck, I bet you’re lame ducks
Who game sucks, got to the point, now my gage busts
Come on man I don’t give a fuck, who wanna test nuts
Scrapping, let’s go toe to toe, I start the capping
Shirt stamping, like Sherm on a stick, nines are clapping
Who’s that then, who wanna be next, I'll make your back bend
Push comes to shove, no love, I'll make it happen
There’s gotta be more to life than just this
Your life compared to mine is like wine compared to piss
You say it gets better, well fuck that (fuck that)
You don't walk outside your house and feel the need to stay strapped
You never pay your rent off of cocaine and weed
Man, I dance with the devil but I never get the lead
Don’t get me wrong, if I could I’d make a change
Been so bad for so long, any good is so strange
They say the grass is greener on the other side of shit
But the fence is in the way now and I ain’t buyin’ it
I'm in a cloud of smoke but my feet are on the ground
Even when I’m dead and gone, I’ll always be around
I’ma walk to my funeral like my middle name was Lynch
In the game riding high, while you fuckers ride the bench
Skinhead Rob run by, motherfuckers hit the fence
Hero Toxiko
i bought this album at fye for 4 bucks
Oscar Molina
Pinche rolota;)'
LifeInInfrared
@hammertits777 Rancid's still around and touring. They're coming out with a new album next year. I hope that they don't stick with the style they had in "Let The Dominoes Fall" cause I wasn't feeling it. But yeah, everyone in that band has their own shit that they're doing. I just hope that they're still going to be around 10 years from now.
Shawna Hydinger
fuck i love you guys so much