(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.
Sad But True
Youth Brigade Lyrics
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When all the problems would disappear.
Working at a dead end job saving up to fly away.
Drunken weekends, forgotten names.
The faces start to look the same.
Got no reason just got time.
Slipping tripping down the line.
Why don't we try to do more than get by.
Sit at home and contemplate.
TV, music, sex and drinking.
Little choice and little cares,
To be a famous millionaire.
No sense, no motivation.
Battered souls of smashed emotions.
Get that money, drive that car.
Anyone can be a star.
Every day in every way.
We plan, we scam, we damn the forces.
A thousand plans to anticipate,
More excuses to procrastinate.
Faith, hope, belief mean nothing.
Thinking is not condoned.
Consume work and obey.
Your future is assured as empty.
The song “Sad But True” by Youth Brigade speaks of disillusionment with the American Dream, reflecting on the idea that life can become monotonous, repetitive, and unsatisfactorily routine. The song speaks to a sense of feeling trapped in a cycle of apathy and unfulfillment created by unattainable expectations and lack of motivation. The opening lines, “Used to think there’d come a day when all the problems would disappear” speaks to the unfulfilled promises of the American dream – that with hard work, anyone can achieve success and security. However, the following lines, “Working at a dead-end job, saving up to fly away. Drunken weekends, forgotten names. The faces start to look the same” suggest that for many, the fulfillment of these promises never become a reality.
The chorus of the song, “Sad but true, this could be you. Why don't we try to do more than get by?” emphasizes the idea that the life illustrated in the verses is not an anomaly, but something that could happen to anyone who follows the same path without critical thought. In the second verse, the song characterizes life as a series of meaningless distractions in the form of “TV, music, sex, and drinking” and the idea of aspiring to be a “famous millionaire” as ultimately unfulfilling. The song concludes with a message of institutionalization and conformity, with the idea that creativity and critical thinking are not valued, while conforming to society’s expectations of consumerism and compliance are strictly enforced.
Line by Line Meaning
Used to think there'd come a day,
I used to believe that one day, all problems in life would disappear.
When all the problems would disappear.
I hoped that all issues in life would eventually resolve themselves.
Working at a dead end job saving up to fly away.
I work at a job with no growth potential, just to save enough money to escape from my reality.
Drunken weekends, forgotten names.
My weekends are filled with excessive drinking, leading me to forget even the names of those around me.
The faces start to look the same.
As I continue down this path, everyone I meet seems to blend together and become indistinguishable.
Got no reason just got time.
I have no real purpose in life, just plenty of free time.
Slipping tripping down the line.
My life is slowly spiraling out of control with no clear direction or purpose.
Sad but true, this could be you.
This lifestyle may seem depressing, but you too could easily become trapped in it.
Why don't we try to do more than get by.
We should strive for more than just barely surviving in life.
Sit at home and contemplate.
I spend most of my time sitting at home, lost in thought.
TV, music, sex and drinking.
My distractions include watching television, listening to music, engaging in casual sex, and drinking alcohol.
Little choice and little cares,
I feel as though I have limited options in life and little motivation to change it.
To be a famous millionaire.
I dream of becoming a rich and famous person, despite the unlikelihood of it happening.
No sense, no motivation.
I lack sense and motivation to create a fulfilling life for myself.
Battered souls of smashed emotions.
My emotional state is severely damaged and has taken a beating over time.
Get that money, drive that car.
I value accumulation of wealth and material possessions, believing it will bring fulfillment.
Anyone can be a star.
I believe that with enough effort, anyone can become a successful and famous person.
Every day in every way.
Every day I make decisions that affect my life in various ways.
We plan, we scam, we damn the forces.
I strategize, lie, and blame external factors for my problems.
A thousand plans to anticipate,
I have endless ideas and plans for my future.
More excuses to procrastinate.
Despite my forward-thinking, I often make excuses to delay my goals.
Faith, hope, belief mean nothing.
My faith, hope, and beliefs have lost value and significance in my life.
Thinking is not condoned.
I place limited importance on thinking and reflection as part of personal growth.
Consume work and obey.
I am consumed by my job and follow societal expectations without question.
Your future is assured as empty.
My future seems bleak and unfulfilling due to my current lifestyle choices.
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.