song number one is not a fuck you song i'll save that thought until later on you want to know if there's something wrong? it's nothing. everybody's talking about their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines you want to know what it all means? it's nothing. fighting for a haircut? then grow your hair crying for the music? i doubt you really care looking for an answer? you can find it anywhere it's nothing. life is what you want it to be so don't get tangled up trying to be free and don't worry what the other people see it's nothing.
It has always seemed to me that this song is Fugazi announcing themselves to the music scene.
"Song #1 is not a fuck you song" Hardcore punk was largely political, but when you're shouting for approximatley one minute you can't get much deeper than "Fuck you"
"I'll save that for later on" But hey, Fugazi isn't entirely against saying "Fuck you"
"Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines you want to know what it all means? It's nothing" Here they're decrying the gossip of the 'scene.' People in any community ultimately seemt to lose sight of the intention and end up being mad at one another behind each other's backs.
"fighting for a haircut? then grow your hair crying for the music? i doubt you really care looking for an answer? you can find it anywhere"
Kids at hardcore shows would routinely get beaten up simply for having long hair. MacKaye then points out how shallow the scene had become, that music was secondary to the politics.
I agree with Omnicide.
It reminds me of why Fugazi is so great. It's punk that transcends any scene or genre or any border you can throw at it. Most bands and in fact most people can't do the same.
the last line sums it up for me
Yep, it's Fugazi's entire ethos in one song.
yeah and you have your own power to do what you want and still have respect for others kind of thing or have i gonetoo far
It is a song about Henry Rollins - Ians good friend since childhood- coming back to DC after he had joined Black Flag. Many of the straight edge punk elitists were disappointed in Henry because the Flag guys drank and smoked pot..etc Many of them also accused Henry of selling out because he left the DC scene to be in a "big rock band" and felt he had abandoned his roots. Black Flag was famous for having long hair at a time when long hair "was for hippies". Ian toured with Black Flag alot...often paying his own way and providing security as well as being a roadie. Great Band!
I love Fugazi
Around 93 or 94 this song was on the jukebox in the pool room at Reed College, good times... It seemed to fit the attitude on campus at the time too: Do your thing, and quit bitching about what everyone else is doing!