(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.
Reason Why
Youth Brigade Lyrics
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Nothing's ever simple when a little kid dies
The people search themselves to try & understand
Gun in a child's hands is death in the end
Add it up, struggle to get by
Had enough, there is no reason why
Pointing fingers won't ease the pain
They seemed like nice boys
The neighbours always say
No one ever had a clue
Life turns out this way
It's easy to second guess
The parents & the schools
Listen to the hollow cries
Now we need more rules
Add it up, struggle to get by
Had enough, there is no reason why
Pointing fingers won't ease the pain
And really whose to blame
Is it all they know, listen
How could children be so cruel?
No respect for our rules
Of God & Country & the schools
NRA says owning guns is an American tradition
One that they keep alive by buying politicians
Are we so stupid, or just desensitized
With a gun anyone can kill we're all equalized
Add it up, struggle to get by
Had enough, there is no reason why
Pointing fingers won't ease the pain
And really whose to blame
But it's all they know
"You look for a reason, there is no reason why." The first line sets the tone of the song, letting the listener know the topic at hand. The melancholic melody, coupled with the lyrics of the song, deals with the complex issue of children and guns. The song starts with asking us to search for a reason to justify the tragic events that surround a child's death due to gun violence. We're compelled to recognize that there is no simple explanation, no rationalization that can take away the grief and sorrow that's inflicted on families and communities when such events occur.
"Nothing's ever simple when a little kid dies." The next line drives home the severity of the issue of children and guns. It emphasizes that a child's life is precious and that their tragic end is far more complicated than just a lawsuit or an arrest. It highlights that an innocent life has been taken away, and it's a tragedy that we cannot fix.
Throughout the song, the lyrics express anger, frustration and an ample dose of sorrow over the issue of children and gun violence. It repeatedly asks us to take responsibility for our children, our society and to implement more stringent rules to control guns, so that innocent lives are not lost. The song acknowledges that while gun violence is a complex and deeply-rooted issue in society, we must act collectively to end the cycle of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
You look for a reason, there is no reason why
People often search for a reason behind a child's death, but in reality, there is no satisfactory explanation for such a tragic event.
Nothing's ever simple when a little kid dies
The death of a child is not a simple occurrence, it is a grave tragedy that deeply affects everyone around them.
The people search themselves to try & understand
In an effort to comprehend the inexplicable, people introspectively search for answers.
Gun in a child's hands is death in the end
If a child has access to firearms, it can lead to fatal consequences.
Add it up, struggle to get by
Life is challenging and requires significant effort to manage and cope with.
Had enough, there is no reason why
Despite great efforts, life can still feel insurmountable and depressing at times without any apparent reason.
Pointing fingers won't ease the pain
Blaming others for what happened will not alleviate the heartache or bring back the lost child.
And really whose to blame
No one can be held accountable for an inexplicable and tragic loss like this.
They seemed like nice boys
The boys in question, despite their actions, were perceived to be good kids by their community.
The neighbours always say
Their neighbours, in retrospect, recall their perception of the boys as positive and good.
No one ever had a clue
The boys' cruel actions seemed to come out of nowhere and were not expected by those who knew them.
Life turns out this way
Sometimes, life can take a dark and unexpected turn.
It's easy to second guess
It's natural to question what could have been done differently to prevent such a tragedy.
The parents & the schools
Parents and schools are often scrutinized and judged after such events.
Listen to the hollow cries
The cries of sadness and grief in the wake of such a loss are often empty and hollow because they cannot be satisfied.
Now we need more rules
After such a tragedy, people seek greater safety measures and rules to prevent it from happening again.
How could children be so cruel?
It is shocking and difficult to comprehend how children can act so cruelly.
No respect for our rules
The children in this situation had no regard for the societal norms and rules in place.
Of God & Country & the schools
The principles of religion, patriotism and education are not always enough to prevent such tragedies.
NRA says owning guns is an American tradition
The National Rifle Association maintains that owning firearms is an American tradition.
One that they keep alive by buying politicians
The NRA perpetuates this tradition through political lobbying and financially supporting politicians that protect it.
Are we so stupid, or just desensitized
It is a matter of debate whether as a society we do not care or if we are insensitive to the consequences of gun ownership.
With a gun anyone can kill we're all equalized
Possessing a gun makes everyone equal in their lethal capability, regardless of their age, sex or physical strength.
But it's all they know
Possibly due to their upbringing, this was the only way those children knew how to cope with their problems and emotions.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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