Volbeat was formed in 2001 after frontman Michael Poulsen split up his former band, Dominus. Volbeat plays a fusion of heavy metal and rockabilly. They are inspired by the rock n' roll legends Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. No other Danish heavy rock band Volbeat has been able to get to position 18 at the Danish Top 100 for CD sales in over 10 years. This milestone was reached after their concert at the Roskilde Festival 2006.
Critics have generally been positive towards The Strength / The Sound / The Songs. The German hard rock magazine RockHard gave it 10/10 in a review.
Volbeat is also praised for its live performances. Their concert at Roskilde Festival 2006 received a 6/6 stars review in the Danish newspaper BT.
In week 8 of 2007, the record Rock The Rebel / Metal The Devil debuted as #1 in the Danish Top 40 for CD-sales and at the same time The Strength / The Sound / The Songs re-entered the chart at #21. Recently, the album achieved gold status for sales in Denmark.
Volbeat opened the Roskilde Festival in 2007. Volbeat also supported Metallica together with Mnemic at their concert on Denmark July 13 of that year.
More recently, Volbeat was announced to do a seven-date European spring tour and to support legendary speed metal act Megadeth in Finland and in their home town, Copenhagen. They have also already announced a few festival appearances for the summer 2008.
Volbeat has a large range of influences, which can be clearly heard in their music. On their official MySpace site Volbeat lists their influences in their own recognizable way:
"Everything from Elvis Presley to Napalm Death .. hail: Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ramones, Social Distortion, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Dio, Megadeth, Metallica, Manic Street Preachers, Iron Maiden and bla bla bla bla..."
Volbeat's lyrics usually revolve around love, failed love or the power of a twisted mind. They thereby distance themselves from stereotypical heavy metal lyrics, although many of their most popular songs have very dark or sincere themes and plots.
Their first single was the cover version of Dusty Springfield's evergreen "I Only Wanna Be With You". The song doesn't differ much from the original with regard to the lyrics, but the accompanying music video is quite typical of Volbeat. In it, the band is seen with a classic microphone on top of a city roof.
Another popular feature of the band's lyrics are the returning "series" of songs. This is best represented with the songs "Danny & Lucy (11 pm)" and "Fire Song" from The Strength/The Sound/The Songs followed by "Mr. & Mrs. Ness" on Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil. The story is about the two desperate lovers, Danny and Lucy, who are killed in a car crash after Lucy runs away from her family.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ness, I'm so sorry to bring you this - We believe we found your girl in an old burning car way up the hill"
In the successor, "Mr. & Mrs. Ness", Lucy's mother commits suicide and the father is suspected for the murder:
"The old man is crying and he's lying - The blood on his hands' from his wife yeah"
The story is followed further by "Mary Ann's Place" from Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, and was concluded with "You Will Know" off 2016's Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie.
Lineup
Michael Poulsen - Vocals, guitar (ex-Dominus)
Rob Caggiano - Guitar (ex-Anthrax)
Kaspar Boye Larsen - Bass
Jon Larsen - Drums
Former members:
Teddy Vang - Guitar
Franz Gottschalk - Guitar
Thomas Bredahl - Guitar
Anders Kjølholm - Bass
Official homepage : www.volbeat.dk
16 Dollars
Volbeat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a window open hearing Aerosmith rocking with
Dick Brave "Walk This Way"
I need a quick drink more volume for the beat
I see the cats are playing dice
It's 7 in the morning and you lost all your money
To a fat lady singing boogie woogie chili honey
I've been walking the streets again
But it's the same old thing I'll do it again
Just to see what the day will bring
But it's the same old song I'll do it again
I'll bring you home my baby I will
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
16 hours on my back in a corner and an empty bottle of Jack and a bitch
Well I'm sorry to inform you that the poison in my body guiding you
To walk away from this mess
I need a quick drink more volume for the beat
I see the cats are playing dice
It's 7 in the morning and you lost all your money
To a fat lady singing boogie woogie chili honey
I've been walking the streets again
But it's the same old thing I'll do it again
Just to see what the day will bring
But it's the same old song I'll do it again
I'll bring you home my baby I will
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
16 dollars in a back street corner is enough for a beautiful day
I see a window open hearing Aerosmith rocking with
Dick Brave "Walk This Way"
I need a quick drink more volume for the beat
I see the cats are playing dice
It's 7 in the morning and you lost all your money
To a fat lady singing boogie woogie chili honey
I've been walking the streets again
But it's the same old thing I'll do it again
Just to see what the day will bring
But it's the same old song I'll do it again
I'll bring you home my baby I will
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
The song "16 Dollars" by Volbeat is a moody and gritty depiction of life on the streets in search of any kind of pleasure or escape. The lyrics describe the thrill of finding sixteen dollars on a back street corner, enough to afford a "beautiful day." The singer then observes a window where he can hear Aerosmith and Dick Brave's cover of "Walk This Way" playing, and decides to have a quick drink to increase his enjoyment of the music. He also notes some people playing dice nearby.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I've been walking the streets again," suggesting that this is a common occurrence for the singer. He admits that it's the same old thing he'll do again, just to see what the day will bring. The lyrics are ambiguous about what the singer's specific purpose or urgency is, but the repeated refrain of "I'll bring you home my baby I will / I would love to bring you home" imply that he has someone waiting for him at home who he wants to take care of and protect.
The second verse contains some ominous imagery, with the singer describing himself as having poison in his body that is guiding others to walk away from him. This could be read as a metaphor for drug addiction or simply the self-destructive impulses that characterize his lifestyle. Again, he notes the presence of other people gambling nearby and seems to find some solace in the music around him.
Overall, "16 Dollars" is a compelling and vivid portrait of one person's survival on the margins of society. The lyrics suggest a sort of fatalism in the narrative's willingness to repeat his self-destructive patterns, but also a glimmer of hope in his desire to bring someone else home with him.
Line by Line Meaning
16 dollars in a back street corner is enough for a beautiful day
You don't need a lot of money to have a good day, sometimes the simple pleasures in life are enough.
I see a window open hearing Aerosmith rocking with
Dick Brave "Walk This Way"
I see a window open and I can hear a mix of Aerosmith and Dick Brave's "Walk This Way" playing loudly.
I need a quick drink more volume for the beat
I see the cats are playing dice
I need to get a drink to keep me going and the people around me are gambling with dice.
It's 7 in the morning and you lost all your money
To a fat lady singing boogie woogie chili honey
It's only 7am and someone has already lost all their money to a loud, singing woman in the streets.
I've been walking the streets again
But it's the same old thing I'll do it again
Just to see what the day will bring
But it's the same old song I'll do it again
I've been walking the streets again and it's the same routine every day, but I'll keep doing it just to see what happens, even though it's predictable.
I'll bring you home my baby I will
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
I would love to bring you home
I'll take you home with me, baby, and I really want to take you home, I want to take you home, I want to take you home.
16 hours on my back in a corner and an empty bottle of Jack and a bitch
Well I'm sorry to inform you that the poison in my body guiding you
To walk away from this mess
I've been lying in a corner for 16 hours with an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and I'm sorry to say that the effects of the alcohol may make you want to leave this situation because it's a mess.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL POULSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Buchanan
Definitely one of very few rock bands out there with a unique style. If Elvis, Metallica, Johnny Cash, and some drifter had an orgy that made a baby band, you would get Volbeat. Awesome style, original sound, and excellent writing. Volbeat kicks ass.
RedGoldGreen-Dub1975
Fantastic song 😎❤️🔥
mamahetfield
This song makes me want to dance and sing along everytime I hear it! Cool video.... LOVE VOLBEAT!!!
Simeon Brewster
Saw them Friday night. Easily one of the best live bands. They're so good. I'm considering quitting my job and selling everything I own just so I can flow them on tour.
James Lewton
Oh my god what a fantastic song. Great voice and great musicians. It’s driving my wife crazy🤪🇺🇸🏴🇬🇧
Sean Dresser
Volbeat is the deal! Keep cranking out the tunes, can't get enough of it LOUDER,LOUDER,LOUDER.
Alicia Woolsey
Someone introduced me to this band in the last year, and they have quickly become a favorite to listen to.
Brad Myles
this song never gets old
Jeremy Kowalewski
I love how these guys are not afraid to show influences i went to their show in buffalo they played the opening riffs to slayers reign in blood and if you were not thrashing in the mosh pit that took over the whole floor in front of the stage you were headbanging as hard as you can this band fucking rocks. We thank you volbeat for being around.
Brandon Graves
These guys are great !! They have a great original sound. Too many bands sound like clones of each other, but they broke the mold. I haven't heard a song I didn't like by them.