•
Rating: Let's Go Murphys!
After selling over 600,000 copies of the successful "The Warrior’s Code" from 2005, the Boston combo is back with a new work once again infused with the flavor of Irish folk and the most wicked and fun punk rock ever.
The album opens with the fast-paced "Famous for nothing" followed by the bagpipes of the splendid "God willing"; an epic beginning that paves the way for the real standout, which is also the first single released, "State of Massachusetts". In this track, the group’s technical skill is combined with touching songwriting, and so the accordion and banjo catapult us into the dusty proletarian world of Boston where the tales of the miserable victims of injustice become fables and ballads. There is an energetic upswing with "Tomorrow’s industry", a typical punk rock song in the style of Rancid. Then we have "Echoes on A street", original and catchy, and again "Vices and virtues" and "Surrender", the usual Dropkick Murphys songs.
Noteworthy is the gritty "(F)lanningan’s Ball" accompanied by the pogo anthem "I’ll begin again". A glimpse of tranquility is given by "Fairmount Hill", a melancholic, all-Celtic, and solemn ballad. Our thoughts wander on the foamy shores of the East Coast and the desperate love story dissolves in a missed dream. However, we are awakened by the wicked refrain of "Loyal to no One". Finally, there is "Johnny I hardly Knew ya", Irish punk to the tune of a military litany from the Civil War, and the Thin Lizzy cover "Jailbreak", a tribute to the fathers of hard rock made in Dublin.
My considerable passion for the group obviously cannot lead me to give a negative judgment on the album, yet I reproach the Murphys for a certain continuity in the structure of the songs, as they revive a formula well-established since "Sing Loud, Sing Proud!". The real commendation for "The Meanest of Times" certainly goes to the song lyrics; Al Barr and Ken Casey have truly outdone themselves.
Album recommended obviously to fans of the genre, but it could be an excellent starting point for those wanting to venture into the band’s music for the first time.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Famous for Nothing (02:47)
The barrel fire's fading
My pals are disappearing
Another night is passing but I won't go
It's 2AM at townie
and things are going my way
Three buds, a glove and a foot of snow
There's two little shits
Selling joints on the hill
And the kids down the lots
Are burning cruisers for a thrill
See, we had each other
It was us against the world
Famous for nothing
Yeah, nothing was our world
[Chorus:]
Well these lie won't save me
Don't you know, don't you know
From the time that mad me
Here we go, here we go
The courts are filling up
All the kids are coming down
For a head start on the troubles
On a long night on the town
Yeah, thank God it's Saturday
And half my problems go away
Sure the big ones on the way
But I know how to handle them
9 to 3 on weekdays
On the hour Sundays
The good lord was calling me
But I wasn't up
For the convent to thue rectory
And over in the sacristy
It's a goddamn travest
And that's just my luck
[Chorus]
Here we go!
Their gang went my way for basketball
My gang went their way for alcohol
When we met it wasn't pretty at all
Still the bells of St. Mary's kept ringing
02 God Willing (03:17)
Ricky and Gar
Well, they took it too far
They didn't make it
They didn't make it
Chrissy and Stace
Though they made no mistakes
They didn't make it
They didn't make it
Whether living with hope
or at the end of the rope
It isn't written in the stone
When the futures unknown
And though some do atone
Through no fault of their own
They fall through the cracks
And get left by the wayside
[chorus:]
God willing, It's the last time I'll say goodbye
God willing, I'll see you on the other side
It's the last time I'll put my arms around you
The last time I'll look into your eyes
I've come here to put my arms around you
And say one final goodbye
Yeah, I'll see you on the otherside
Chuck and Fly
They were really good guys
They didn't make it
They didn't make it
Laura so sweet and
Kenny right in his sleep
They didn't make it
They didn't make it
So as you walk out the door
Take care, and always be sure
That the ones in your life
Know that you love them tonight
Fate has one guarantee
And we all must agree
That the best laid plans
May all change by tomorrow
[chorus]
03 The State of Massachusetts (03:52)
She had excuses and she chose to use them
She was the victim of unspeakable abuses
Her husband was violent, malicious and distant
Her kids now belong to the state of Massachusetts
They've been taken away
Billy was a bright one, Tommy's off his head
Mother loved them both the same, at least that's what she said
I don't predict the future, I don't care about the past
Send them both to DSS, now you've had your chance
The poison stole your babies
The judges took your rights
You can have your children or the night
I suppose you were a victim, I suspect you may have lied
You've lost all ambition, why don't you give this thing a try
If you can't and you fail you won't be the only loser
These kids don't stand a chance with you in their future
They've been taken away
Billy was a bright one, Tommy's off his head
Mother loved them both the same, at least that's what she said
I don't predict the future, I don't care about the past
Send them both to DSS, now you've had your chance
The poison stole your babies
The judges took your rights
You can have your children or the night
Billy was a bright one, Tommy's off his head
Mother loved them both the same, at least that's what she said
I don't predict the future, I don't care about the past
Send them both to DSS, now you've had your chance
The poison stole your babies
The judges took your rights
You can have your children or the night
06 Vices and Virtues (02:12)
Now hear me all you victims
Come listen, gather around
For now we'll tell the story of four brothers in the ground
One died from the bottle though he wouldn't harm a fly
He froze in the south end alley
Behind a gin mill left to die
And another died by the bullet at the hand's of a sniper's gun
In the valley of the Nha-Trang for a war we never won
Whiskey, War, Suicide & Guns [x2]
The next one took his life
They said there was never any hope
He was shocked and institutionalized
Found hanging from a rope
And another son was shot again
But this time over drugs
There'll be no heroes welcome
For this small time city thug
One from the whiskey
One from the war
One by suicide
And another by the gun
Whiskey, War, Suicide & Guns
They took their lives, they took their sons
[x2]
One died from whiskey
And another in the war
One died by suicide
And the last one by the gun
Whiskey, War, Suicide & Guns
They took their lives, they took their sons
[x2]
Whiskey, War, Suicide & Guns
09 I'll Begin Again (02:38)
My first day out it rained
Eight years on a chain
For a crime that wasn't mind, I did the time
As the door was shut behind me
I was left so lonely
No one remembered, no one was there
To hear my please to hear my prayers
I'll begin again
I was headed here from the start
I'll begin again
I paid the price for my part
[x2]
Not a dollar to my name
I suppose I can't complain
My life again was mine
And that's just fine
As I knocked on my mother's door
She didn't live there anymore
A second mortgage to fund appeals that got no deal
I'll begin again
I was headed here from the start
I'll begin again
I paid the price for my part
[x2]
I'll begin again from the start!
I'll begin again
I was headed here from the start
I'll begin again
I paid my price for my part
[x2]
I'll begin again (I'll begin again)
10 Fairmount Hill (03:58)
Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind was bent on rambling, to Boston I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the wind
When next I came to anchor at the rocks on Fairmount Hill
It was on the 23rd of June the day before the fair
When Boston's sons and daughters and friends assemble there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold
Came a duty to fulfill
At the parish church of Thatcher, a mile from Fairmount Hill
I went to see old friends there, and see what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning gray
I met the broker Hills, he's as odd as ever still
See I used to crash at his mother's house, when I hung on Fairmount Hill
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily, and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arm around me saying "Andy, I love ya still."
Oh, she's one Miss Fayes O'Bailey, the pride of Fairmount Hill
I dreamt I fought a violent war for the hand of this darling gal
Against an angry, jealous foe by the name of Danny Gill
The clock it rang in the morning, it rang both loud and shrill
When I awoke in California, many miles from Fairmount Hill
12 Shattered (02:48)
Something's gone wrong with the world today
What's the matter with the human race
Everybody's fighting for more power and money
Braveheart's a racist
The paperboy's a junkie
And whats with the role models for all our boys and girls
Anorexic skinny monsters who seem to rule the world
The ball players you loved as a kid are gone
They've been replaced by streroid fed neanderthals
(Replaced by neanderthals)
Shattered, Shattered, when people aren't always what they seem
It turns out the lyrics that you live by are a fraud
When you favorite bands singer got arrested with a tranny on his job
Meanwhile little Danny down the blocks all alone
He's been abused by the parish priest
He's embarrassed and ashamed
Thinks he disgraced the family name
He's gonna buy a gun and settle the score
Then who you gonna call the local cop stalking girls down the mall
Or the worlds greatest crooks from the FBI
(The crooks from the FBI)
Shattered, Shattered, when people aren't always what they seem
Shattered, Shattered, when the ones that we rely on break thier word
Shattered, Shattered, when people aren't always what they seem
Shattered, Shattered, when the ones that we rely on break their word
Dad's never home, he says he's working overtime
Meanwhile mommy's heads in the sand she thinks everything is fine
She says "Now Dad's important kids so stay out of his way"
But little did she know that the Governor was gay
(She didn't know the Governor was gay)
Shattered, Shattered, when people aren't always what they seem
Shattered, Shattered, when the ones that we rely on break thier word
14 Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (03:55)
While on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
While on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
While on the road to sweet Athy,
A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye
A doleful damsel I did cry
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ya run from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ya
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
When first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
You're a spineless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be put with a bowl out to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I'm happy for to see ya home,
From the isle of Ceylon
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
15 Never Forget (02:51)
In a child's eye there's something I hope someday you'll know
A friend's dedication, it's something to behold
A mother's smile, it makes everything alright
To a women's caring hand I'll be holding on tonight
When you got love and we got family
When you got love and we got family
Keep 'em close and don't forget
To hold them right there in your heart
When you got love and family
Whoa!, Whoa!
I'll remember you today
To my father's stern direction
And the lessons that he taught
My grandmother's affection
And the faith I always fought
To the kids at the shows
The way you sing it back at us
And the boys down the park
When we were young and live was nuts
When you got love and we got family
When you got love and we got family
Keep 'em close and don't forget
To hold them right there in your heart
When you got love and family
Whoa!, Whoa!
I'll remember you today
To all the single parents
Who keep holding down the fort
To all you sons and daughters
Be thankful for what you've got
To everyone with no one
May good fortune turn your way
To everyone whose had someone
Remember them today
When you got love and we got family
When you got love and we got family
Keep 'em close and don't forget
To hold them right there in your heart
When you got love and family
Loading comments slowly
