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.

Who Can You Believe In
Youth Brigade Lyrics

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It seems that life is a system a duality at best a choice of taking this or that yet there's more than east or west don't limit yourself despite what you've been taught it's so hard to decide what's right or wrong until you get caught it's difficult to understand and I know it get's confusing trust and faith are just mere words, so always ask your self who can you belive in the politics that run our lives the institutions that guide us don't always work the way they should they seem to function despite us what's in the food we eat what's in the air we breathe what do we need tos ustain us, the knowledge of one man's life is not enough to maintain us when you think about it there is so little that we know everything is relative and most is just for show so when you find your world crashing down all around you close your eyes and listen to yourself and then let go

Overall Meaning

In the song "Who Can You Believe In?" by Youth Brigade, the lyrics explore the complexities of life and the struggle to make sense of it. The lyrics suggest that life is a dualistic system, with choices that often conflict with one another. Despite this, the song encourages listeners not to limit themselves to one side or the other. The lyrics go on to criticize the institutions and politics that shape our lives, suggesting that they often fail to function in the way that they should.

The song also acknowledges the difficulty of discerning right from wrong and the confusion that comes with it. The lyrics reaffirm the importance of self-reflection, asking who we can believe in, and encouraging listeners to trust themselves above all else. The song concludes with a call to action, suggesting that in times of crises, one should listen to themselves and let go.

Line by Line Meaning

It seems that life is a system a duality at best a choice of taking this or that yet there's more than east or west
Life appears to be a two-sided system where one has to make a choice between options. However, there are more ways than just the ones that come from the east or west.

Don't limit yourself despite what you've been taught
One must not limit themselves due to what they have been taught.

It's so hard to decide what's right or wrong until you get caught
It is difficult to differentiate between right and wrong until one faces the consequences of their actions.

It's difficult to understand and I know it gets confusing
It is challenging to comprehend, and I acknowledge that it can be perplexing.

Trust and faith are just mere words, so always ask yourself who can you believe in
Trust and faith are words without substance, hence one must always question themselves about whom they can put their belief in.

The politics that run our lives, the institutions that guide us don't always work the way they should
The politics that govern our lives and the institutions that give us direction do not always function as they must.

They seem to function despite us
These systems appear to operate even when we cannot control them.

What's in the food we eat, what's in the air we breathe, what do we need to sustain us, the knowledge of one man's life is not enough to maintain us
There are questions about the food we consume, the air we inhale, and what is essential to sustain us. The wisdom one man possesses is insufficient to keep us sustained.

When you think about it, there is so little that we know - everything is relative and most is just for show
When one reflects upon it, they realize that there is so much they do not know- everything is subjective and most is superficial.

So when you find your world crashing down all around you, close your eyes and listen to yourself and then let go
When one's world collapses, they must close their eyes and hear their voice, and then release all their troubles.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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