Formed in 1984, the group endured several line-up changes and soul-searching before coalescing around vocalist Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner, guitarist Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, and drummer Steven Sweet. In January 1988, Warrant signed a contract with Columbia Records. They then released their debut album, which they titled 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich'. Although coming in at the tail end of the 80s pop metal boom, their tuneful rock brought them some critical and commercial acclaim, the album reaching the #10 slot on the Billboard 200 top albums chart.
The band's second record, 'Cherry Pie', was released in March 1990, and spawned the hits "Cherry Pie", "Uncle Tom's Cabin", and "I Saw Red". It reached the Top Ten in the United States, and went on to sell over three million copies. The group found the title song, written by the band under studio pressure with the lyrics literally composed on a pizza box, a 'throw-away' type tune, giving them a commercial breakthrough. Yet their other tracks showed a desire to branch out into diverse subject matter and styles. For example, their southern rock inspired track "Uncle Tom's Cabin" alludes to the famous 1852 novel on racial divisions and features lyrics discussing shocking, covered-up murders while power ballad "Bed of Roses" discusses a romance beset by poverty and struggles reminiscent of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".
Through riding high after their multi-platinum success and passionate touring, the band found itself in the middle of the rise of alternative music in the early 90s. In 1992, Warrant released 'Dog Eat Dog'. The record, an attempt by the band to evolve in the face of changing musical trends, received some critical acclaim but achieved only moderate commercial success. Single "Machine Gun", the title alone showing the change in direction, still managed to reach the top 40 rock charts.
After this, the band would begin a long string of member changes, including even singer Jani Lane leaving the band briefly. Lane achieved some small success producing work without the group, doing some covers of other hard rock and metal bands. He would then return before the band released 'Ultraphobic' in 1995 and 'Belly to Belly, Vol. 1' in 1998. These were released on a smaller label and featured a new darker sound. Neither album would remotely come close to the success of the earlier albums. A live album and an album of re-recorded classic tracks as well as an all-covers disc, titled 'Under the Influence', followed these.
Jani Lane would once again leave the band in 2004. Ironically, all the other original members would return to the band the same year. Vocalist Jaime St. James, known for serving as the frontman of Black 'n Blue, would take over as singer. In 2006, Warrant released 'Born Again', which was their first album to not have Lane on vocals.
On March 4, 2008, Warrant announced that Lane had returned to the band. Lane toured with the band through 2008, but he left the band once again soon after. On August 11, 2011, Lane was found dead in a hotel room in Woodland Hills, California. He was 47, and condolences poured in from hard rock fans.
There is another band with the same name:
2) Warrant is, secondly, the name of an 80s-era Speed Metal band from Germany. This Warrant was formed in 1983 in Düsseldorf and has featured an aggressive heavy metal sound akin to contemporaries Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. The band's original line-up was Jörg Juraschek (vocals and bass), Thomas Klein (guitar) and Lothar Wieners (drums). Oliver May (guitar) followed shortly afterwards.
In early 1985, Warrant released the EP 'First Strike', and they soon also released 'The Enforcer'. They went on tour with Warlock later that year. The band sadly split up not too long later, with Juraschek and May going on to form Punchline while Wieners formed Monroxe.
In 1999, the band (with Jörg and Oliver) briefly reunited and recorded two new songs. Both of Warrant's albums were reissued on a single disc in 2000, with those new tracks included. In 2010, 'First Strike' and 'The Enforcer' were re-released, this meaning new artwork as well as the inclusion of some some live recordings.
The band also notably performed several live shows with Necronomicon and starred in some music festivals. In August 2010, they signed a deal with PSR. Fans rejoiced as the group had new life breathed into it.
Down Boys
Warrant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way the streetlight silhouttes your thighs inside your dress
Wild child in the streets I think I see you But I really don't know
Goin' a million miles an hour Headed out to where the down boys go
Woah Can we rewind to where we've been
Ooh I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in
Where the down boys go I wanna go where the down boys go
Baby You comb your hair Put on your shades You look so cool
Gimme the run-around Make me feel like a fool
You got a lot of nerve to call me cheap Even though it's true
I don't care where we go tonight Just take me along with you
Woah Can we rewind to where we've been
Ooh I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in
Where the down boys go, go. Where the down boys go, go
Where the down boys go I wanna go where the down boys go
Certain things you do Really make me mad I must confess
The way the streetlight silhouttes Your thighs inside your dress
Woah Can we rewind to where we've been
Ooh I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in
Where the down boys go, go. Where the down boys go, go
Where the down boys go
I wanna go where the down boys go, yeah
Where the down boys go Where the down boys go
Where the down boys go Where they go---
The lyrics to Warrant's song "Down Boys" provide a narrative of a wild and adventurous night out with a woman who is full of energy and excitement. The singer is initially frustrated with the woman's unpredictable behavior, but is ultimately drawn in by her charm and allure. The lyrics describe the woman's physical appearance, including her thighs illuminated by the streetlights, and portray her as a "wild child in the streets" who is always on the move.
The refrain of the song, "Where the down boys go," becomes a sort of mantra that expresses the singer's desire to escape from the constraints of society and join in the wild and reckless behavior of the "down boys." These "down boys" are never clearly defined, but seem to represent a group of young people who are living outside the norms of society, taking risks and living on the edge. In this way, the lyrics of "Down Boys" are an ode to youthful rebellion and the search for adventure.
Overall, "Down Boys" is a song that celebrates the excitement and danger of living outside the lines, and the way that the thrill of living on the edge can be both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
Certain things you do Really make me mad I must confess
The things you do bother me, but I have to admit it.
The way the streetlight silhouttes your thighs inside your dress
I can see the outline of your legs in that dress under the streetlight.
Wild child in the streets I think I see you But I really don't know
You seem like a wild and free spirit, but I don't really know who you are.
Goin' a million miles an hour Headed out to where the down boys go
You seem to be moving fast, going where all the reckless boys go.
Woah Can we rewind to where we've been
I wish we could go back to where we started.
Ooh I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in
I want you to see the state I'm in without you.
Where the down boys go, go. Where the down boys go, go
The place where crazy boys go, let's go there.
Baby You comb your hair Put on your shades You look so cool
You look stylish and cool with your hair and sunglasses.
Gimme the run-around Make me feel like a fool
Lead me on and confuse me, make me feel foolish.
You got a lot of nerve to call me cheap Even though it's true
You have the audacity to call me cheap, even though it may be true.
I don't care where we go tonight Just take me along with you
I don't care where we go, as long as I'm with you.
Where the down boys go, go. Where the down boys go, go
Let's go where those reckless boys go.
Where the down boys go I wanna go where the down boys go
I want to go to the place where those wild boys go.
Woah Can we rewind to where we've been
Let's go back to where we started.
Ooh I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in
I want you to see how I'm doing without you.
Where the down boys go, go. Where the down boys go, go
Let's go where those reckless boys go.
Where the down boys go, yeah Where the down boys go
Where those wild boys go.
Where the down boys go Where the down boys go Where they go---
Where those wild boys go, that's where we go.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC TURNER, JERRY DIXON, JOEY CAGLE, JOHN PATRICK OSWALD, STEVEN CHAMBERLAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dean Grotzky
I am sooo glad that this music is making a comeback. Warrent rocks.
Han Anderson
Too bad you cant spell the comeback properly. WARRANT.
BASSstarlet
@Han Anderson lol
Jordan
How is it making a comeback?
William Flint
What a great front man. In my opinion, Jani's voice never changed. He sounded the same at 45 as he did at 25. Thats a rare thing. RIP Jani, i hope you found your peace.
Rturo Bhutan
I'm Arthur Bhutic.
He didn't age! It's not rare nowadays! Since by the 2010s, life expectancy exceded 80!
Angela P
Yes sad his life ended soo soon....great vocalist and front man yesss ...can we go back to this time and stay there please......
Conway Twitter
They were awesome live too. I seen them in 2001. They sounded great.
chad lallathin
Facts
M Mireaux
I was in a "hair metal" band back in the mid to late 80's called "Tempest", and we opened for Warrant at a club in West Hollywood called (at the time), "Gazzari's". I remember they were just about to get signed to Columbia, I believe, and we were hanging with them upstairs in the dressing rooms just talking girls and music. The were VERY cool and sweet dudes-ALL of them. Jani was a real nut, and had an awesome sense of humor. R.I.P., Mr. Lane. You are missed!