Youth Brigade can refer to two different punk music groups.

(1) The … Read Full Bio ↴Youth Brigade can refer to two different punk music groups.

(1) The first was a punk music trio formed by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern, in Hollywood, California in 1980. The band has broken up and subsequently re-formed a number of times. They have been together again for several years as of 2006, and playing shows throughout California. Youth Brigade have only released a few records, but were influential as the founders of the Better Youth Organization, an independent record label and concert booking firm.

(2) Youth Brigade was also another, unrelated punk band from Washington D.C., who released a 7" EP on Dischord Records in 1981. This band subsequently, during their short life, called themselves DC Youth Brigade. Youth Brigade DC also has 3 tracks featured on the 1982 Dischord compilation Flex Your Head. An unreleased song entitled "I Object" is also featured on the 20 Years of Dischord compliation set. Although only around for a short period of time the DC Youth Brigade played shows with the legendary Minor Threat. Their style is also now considered a classic example of American hardcore punk.

Guns Are For...
Youth Brigade Lyrics

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tommy was a good boy no one ever dreamed he'd do such a foolish thing then mom heard the screams he'd been told a million time these were not toys why don't you ask the dead what guns are for now he's lying in a pool of blood his friends puking on the floor dad's magnum lying by the door how could this happen here bang bang your dead play the little kids growing up on tv hell people been killing people all through the centuries scream about the constitution and how the government must listen t people have the right to keep and bear arms nra and politicians semi-automatic weapons do the people have the right to shoot and kill people kill people guns are just tools but they are made for just one thing and that's to kill

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Youth Brigade's song "Guns Are For..." portray the tragic aftermath of a young boy's fatal mistake of handling a gun as a toy. The song highlights the devastating effects of gun violence and the need for stricter gun control laws. The opening verse introduces a character named Tommy, who was considered a good boy until he mishandles a gun and causes a fatal accident. The lyrics then refer to Tommy's mother hearing the screams, which suggests that Tommy's accident resulted in someone's death.

The chorus of the song, "why don't you ask the dead what guns are for," carries a strong message about the purpose of guns. The lyrics go on to describe the scene of the accident, with Tommy lying in a pool of blood and his father's magnum lying by the door. The lyrics also reference the widespread issue of gun violence and killing, which has been happening throughout history. The song raises questions about the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms, and questions whether guns are just tools or designed solely for killing.

Overall, "Guns Are For..." delivers a strong anti-gun message and brings attention to the need for stricter gun control laws to prevent fatal accidents and gun violence.

Line by Line Meaning

tommy was a good boy no one ever dreamed he'd do such a foolish thing
Tommy was considered a good boy by everyone and no one ever thought he would ever do anything foolish.

then mom heard the screams
Tommy performed a foolish act that resulted in screams which reached his mother's ears.

he'd been told a million time these were not toys
Tommy had been warned countless times that guns were not toys.

why don't you ask the dead what guns are for
The true purpose of guns can only be understood by those who have died because of them.

now he's lying in a pool of blood his friends puking on the floor
Tommy is now dead and his friends are unable to control their emotions and are vomiting due to the horrific scene.

dad's magnum lying by the door how could this happen here
Tommy's father's magnum is lying by the door and the family is left wondering how this could have happened in their own home.

bang bang your dead play the little kids growing up on tv
Children are exposed to violent images of people being shot and killed on TV shows and video games.

hell people been killing people all through the centuries
Humans have been murdering each other for centuries and it is not a new phenomenon.

scream about the constitution and how the government must listen t people have the right to keep and bear arms
People argue with passion about the right to bear arms as granted by the Constitution, and feel that the government should listen to their concerns.

nra and politicians semi-automatic weapons
The National Rifle Association and politicians support semi-automatic weapons.

do the people have the right to shoot and kill people
People debate the right to shoot and kill others, which is an extremely sensitive issue.

kill people guns are just tools but they are made for just one thing and that's to kill
Guns are simply tools, but their sole purpose is to kill.

Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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