This CD, released in 1991, is an
almost-complete compilation of Bad Religion's entire output before 1985. What's missing is
the stuff that was done without Greg Hetson, Jay and Mr. Brett just before they broke up
the first time. This includes the album Into the Unknown and a few songs on the Destroy
LA compilation. In 1984, the band (partially) reunited and released an EP, Back To
The Known, (which is included on the CD), then gradually faded away (until 1987, when
the entire original band reunited).
Tracks 1-14 are from How Could Hell Be Any Worse?
Tracks 15-20 are from Bad Religion, the EP.
Tracks 21-25 are from Back To The Known, the EP.
Tracks 26-28 are from Public Service, a compilation album.
We're Only Gonna Die
early man walked away as modern man took control.
their minds weren't all the same, to conquer was his big goal,
so he built his great empire and slaughtered his own kind,
then he died a confused man, killed himself with his own mind.
go!
we're only gonna die from our own arrogance.
Latch Key Kids
in this world today there ain't nobody to thank,
just blame it on the kids and toss 'em into the tank.
and if they yell for justice we'll hide them from the light
so that when they learn the truth they won't be scared of the night.
(1, 2, 3, 4)
put the key in the hole when you get home from school.
I'll be home by 8:30, your father will too.
if you cause any trouble then I don't want to see,
'cause you'll go straight to bed and you won't have no TV.
Part III
the final page is written in the books of history,
as man unleashed his deadly bombs and sent troops overseas
to fight a war which can't be won and kills the human race,
a show of greed and ignorance, man's quest for dominance.
they say when a mistake is made, a lesson can be learned.
but this time, there's no turning back, the hate engulfs the world.
a million lives are lost each day, a city slowly burns,
a mother holds her dying child, but no one is concerned!
Faith In God
it's all right to have faith in god
but when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
that's when I start to have pity on you.
you're living on a mound of dirt,
but you can't explain your reason for existence
so you blame it on god.
so much hatred in this world and you can't decide
who's pulling the strings
so you figure it's god.
your whole life foreshadows death
and you finally realize you don't want to die alone
so you'll always have god.
it's all right to have faith in god
but when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
that's when I start to have pity on you.
it's all right to have faith in god
but when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
that's when I start to have pity on you.
there's people in the world today
who say they're Jewish, Christian and such,
they're all ignorant fools.
they'll tell you you can't have your own way
unless you pay money and dedicate your life
or you'll be damned in hell.
don't be feeble like all of them,
you have your own brain full of thoughts and choices,
so use it don't let them use you.
it's all right to have faith in god
but when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
that's when I start to have pity on you.
Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell
there's people out there that say I'm no good,
'cause I don't believe the things that I should,
and when the final conflict comes, I'll be so sorry I did wrong,
and hope and pray that our lord god will think I'm good.
countries manufacture bombs and guns
to kill your brother for something that he hasn't even done.
smog is ruining my lungs, but they aren't sorry they've done wrong,
they hide behind their lies that they're helping everyone.
in the end the good will go to heaven up above,
the bad will perish in the depths of hell.
how can hell be any worse when life alone is such a curse?
fuck Armageddon, this is hell
we're living in the denoument of the battle's gripping awe,
so what's the use of being good to satisfy them all?
how could hell be any worse?
life alone is such a curse!
fuck Armageddon, this is hell
Pity
I show pity on the human race,
on the ignorant plenty who devote their lives
to an icon that they've never known.
I show pity on eons past,
when early man started the first civilization
and human aggression was born.
I show pity on the future to come,
when the government system will be omnipotent
and we'll be worse off... than we are now!
pity, pity, on the billions of ignorant people.
pity, pity, on the masses of aggression.
pity, pity, on the future centuries to come,
on the billions of ignorant people,
on the future centuries to come,
on the masses of aggression.
it's all a matter of looking at the past.
it's all a question, are we gonna last?
if we endure the aggression that's inside all of us
we'll wipe out our own species and thus... the world!
pity!
pity on...
on the masses of aggression,
on the billions of ignorant people,
on the future centuries to come,
on the masses of ignorant people,
on the future centuries to come.
In The Night
in the city, the day is too hot
and you're hoping for relief, 'cuz your head is filled with pain,
but you get no relief, 'cuz the night is the same...
in the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
in the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
you live your life in darkness, you've got pennies on your eyes.
but you say that it's all right, 'cuz you've never lived a lie,
as you crawl back to your womblike existence in the night.
in the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
in the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
you can't see no light, but you hear those heavy footsteps,
and the little man inside twists your tormented mind.
your mind is filled with shadows, your palms are wet with sweat.
limbs are bound and tangled in a fatal net.
there are two things you can do.
one is turn and fight.
the other's run headlong into the night.
in the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
in the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
you can't see no light, but you hear those heavy footsteps,
and the breathing at your side, is it yours, or is it
good bye!
Damned To Be Free
death and the shadow that it casts on life scares
me little or none.
people tell me of a divine right and the happy chosen one.
I'm a freak 'cause my morals clash with others in the world.
I go home while they work hard, then they same I'm wrong.
there's only one place to be, while living with tragedy.
if their sins affected me, I gotta be damned to be free.
freedom is responsibility, pay more than it's worth.
instincts tells us not to die, hazy myth since birth.
learn their rules, play their game, deceive yourself in haste.
turn your own brain into dust; it's not theirs to waste.
there's only one place to be, while living with tragedy.
extract the nectar, burn the tree, I gotta be damned to be free
thinking... this world it ain't so bad.
dying... it's just another fad.
working... 8 hours, that's not for me.
dying... it's just your destiny.
White Trash (2nd Generation)
wasted children, fixed blank eyes, blood and
sweat, we socialize
broken homes from which they come, beer-stained dad, compliant Mom.
fear and love, much despised, replaced by comfortable lies.
teenage classic, more cliche, one step further on the edge of decay.
white trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
white trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
are you ready to fight for your morality? Right wing allies, white supremacy.
pretty fascist on the tube draped in red and white and blue
white trash, 2nd generation, stupid foibles, indignation
offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
white trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
white trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
stiff blue collar, coat and tie, brand new breeds side by side.
Christian ethic, right extremes, shoved down our throat as the American Dream.
white trash, 2nd generation, stupid foibles, indignation
offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
white trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
white trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
white trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
white trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
American Dream
I hate my family, hate my school, speed limits and
the golden rule.
hate people who aren't what they seem, more than anything else, American Dream.
American Dream's gonna swallow you whole, it's bursting at the seam,
it'll sweep you away, so enjoy it today, tomorrow you'll be old thus useless.
American Dream... American Dream....
American Dream, that's ok, 'cause no one dare give you away.
I hate my job, I hate your god, I hate hypocrites and common slobs.
hate people who aren't what they seem, more than anything else, American Dream.
promise me today I'll have a Chevrolet, with whitewalls on the side,
one boy, one girl, comfortable lies
the American Dream... American Dream...
American Dream, that's ok, 'cause no one dare give you away.
American Dream!
(bleah!)
Eat Your Dog
weak and sick, dying in the sand, no such thing as
a promised land.
don't lose faith in a better life--reincarnation, poor excuse.
you're dying you assholes, your religion can't help you now.
dying and starving in the fields you used to plow.
rotting bones in your barren fields. Worshipped creature's supposed to heal.
he won't save you and he won't save me. See what you want to see.
Hindu religion in the mind of a working Joe,
starving and dying in the fields you used to know.
you're tied and bound to a god's useless advice.
bloated stomachs from aching diseases hold back the fight.
in the end you'll return once more to die again.
go on 'til you can't no more in non-eternal sin.
Voice Of God Is Government
neighbors, no one loves you like he loves you,
and no one cares like he cares.
neighbors, let us join today in the holy love of God and money,
because neighbors, no one loves you like He loves you.
and what better way to show your love than to dig deep into your pockets.
dig real deep, until it hurts. Alleviate your guilt,
free yourself once again, because he gave to you, brothers and sisters.
please give a 10, 25, or 50 dollar tax-deductible donation,
and I assure you your modest pledge will be used to censor TV and radio,
ban questionable books, and contribute to many other Godly services.
no longer will young Christian Americans hedonistically indulge
in masochistic submission to rhythmic music, for with your monetary support,
there is no end to what we can achieve in this country.
the voice of God is government. The voice of God is government.
the voice of God is government. In God we trust, sinners repent!
(1,2,3,4)
can't you see what we believe in, all our thoughts, all our reasons,
pursuit of life and liberty and happiness we cannot see?
speak of truth with a mighty voice, but politics are your real choice.
hire men to change the law, protect and serve with one small flaw.
voice of God is government. The voice of God is government.
voice of God is government. In God we trust, sinners repent!
if we shun God and Jesus Christ, religious love is sacrifice.
love for God is shown in cash, the love they send is mailbox trash.
with every pamphlet we receive, more money asked for Godly needs.
build a million dollar church, with money spent on God's research.
voice of God is government. The voice of God is government.
voice of God is government. In God we trust, sinners repent!
on late night TV, God can heal, a certain force you cannot feel.
love for money in God's name, religion's now a TV game!
build a million dollar church, with money spent on God's research.
build a million dollar church, with money spent on God's research.
voice of God is government. The voice of God is government.
voice of God is government. In God we trust, sinners repent!
yeah!
voice of God is government. The voice of God is government.
voice of God is government. In God we trust, sinners repent!
Oligarchy
presidential election every four years
but neither man we can see or hear
urgent cries for society
but he can't see the blood on me
do you see?
do you see too much for me?
try that with our oligarchy,
try that with our oligarchy
oligarchy, oligarchy
Doing Time
see the fight, old men crying, deny their ruin.
watch them try. the cynic laughs at the optimist's closed eyes.
darkness falls, curtain calls, the cynic's beer soon overflows.
other watches, has a drink, and from the same cup,
they drink
I'm doin' time, how long I don't know.
William had 26, blew his brains out, now look at him. John had only one, watch the mother mourn her only son.
I'm doin' time, how long I don't know.
I'll kiss goodbye my brain and body
and go to sleep for generations.
and go to sleep for generations. salvation:
cease concentration.
you'll only lose the fight.
don't tell me what's wrong or right!
you're losing sight.
you're just gonna die anyway!
Bad Religion
see my body, it's nothing to get hung about.
I'm nobody except genetic runaround.
spiritual era's gone, it ain't comin' back.
bad religion, a cabal, that is all that's left.
hey Mr. Mind, stop wasting my time,
with your factory precision.
factory precision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
nad religion, bad religion.
ay!
don't you know the place you live's a piece of shit?
don't you know blind faith in life will conquer it?
don't you know responsibility is ours?
I don't care a think about eternal fires.
listen this time, it's more than a rhyme,
it's your indecision.
your indecision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, bad religion,
bad religion.
Politics
economy, technology, doesn't really work.
can't try running for government, I'm not a jerk!
I've tried to see these faces all around the way
you're lucky if they listen to a single word you say.
what is right and what is wrong?
the government decides.
you don't have no rights at all,
as long as you don't fight.
we're all being oppressed by the upper middle class.
the government you vote for is the one that you put there.
I've put down enough dues, I'm due and so are you.
residents fear the President, I'm not the government
we ignore the masses of the whole entire race.
men in suits ? without a happy face
economy, technology, doesn't really work.
can't try running for government, just another jerk.
I've tried to see these faces all around the way
you're lucky if they listen to a single word you say.
Sensory Overload
they're all just suicides, in a social way.
I'll never need that dormant time, I'll tell you why.
'cause I think about it all the time,
I think about ?
I am ?
sensory ? you
I don't know why, trust me,
it's bleeding me,
I don't know why, God, it's social suicide.
sensory overload, what a hell of a time.
gotta sensory overload, gotta free your little mind,
free your little mi-i-mind. oh!
go!
'cause I think about ?
I think about ?
think about playing these games for real.
I wanna write down all the things I feel.
don't wanna hide from the things I hear.
I don't know why, trust me,
oh God it's bleeding me,
I don't know, God, it's social suicide.
sensory overload, what a hell of a time.
gotta sensory overload, gotta free your mind,
free your little mi-i-mind, your little....
Slaves
don't try to say that I threaten your freedom
we've done without for 20 years, so think if we really need 'em
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
we can blow up things better than in any country except this one.
waiting for it too then you realize it ain't too much fun.
we're in a country, Democracy, supposed to be the best on the globe.
living ? for the high class clones
and
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
and
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
Drastic Actions
heard a word, suicide,
not from one, but from thousands that tried.
the lawyer's wife and the teenage brat,
one thing in common, they all wanted out.
and it's plain to see.
it goes for you and it goes for me,
and all the screwed up little girls and boys
all thrown in without a choice.
but I heard him say,
"I want out,
no complaints and no doubts,
just a chance to go on."
I heard a word, suicide,
and not from one, but from thousands that died.
want some attention and a little less regret,
a teenage fluff, little threat.
and there are those, there are those who think
that drastic actions will make them unique.
it's really all the same,
that no one's happy and nobody's to blame.
and the moral to this story is old.
it's quite taboo, seldom told.
the seed is reaped before it's sown,
a bad choice was never resolved.
World War III
US government drew up plans
too much money, got the cash
break out ? staff
? is a fuckin' mess
they think they know it all.
they're gonna die in the fireball.
? overrule
? play the fool
all day
World War III
forget ?
I'll make us have another war.
it doesn't matter what the people think.
these days our President drinks:
"here I go I'll launch the bomb.
it's headed straight for Guam.
I'll ?
into your little room
World War III
Yesterday
run, but don't be scared to look behind.
stop, don't wait too long, make up your mind.
the end is almost here,
the sky, the air, so nice and clear,
the sound of your decay,
and the ringing in the air is the sweet debris of yesterday.
there, now that you know it's not so bad.
see, the good meet soon for -?-
so if you try to enhance,
we don't deserve another chance.
just laugh along the way,
and kiss your ass goodbye with a shadow dream of yesterday.
yesterday, the good old days.
yesterday, the way we used to play.
yesterday, it just got worse and worse.
yesterday, the future's been rehearsed.
run, but don't be scared to look behind.
stop, don't wait too long, make up your mind.
the end is almost here,
the sky, the air, so nice and clear,
the sound of your decay,
and the ringing in the air is the sweet debris of yesterday.
yesterday.
yesterday.
Frogger
(nice going, spazz)
I'm tired of this city, all this toil and strife.
trying to cross the boulevard, playing Frogger with my life.
Frogger with my life
I'm tired of this city, all this toil and strife.
trying to cross the boulevard, playing Frogger with my life.
Frogger with my life (with my life),
Frogger with my life.
Bad Religion
see my body, it's nothing to get hung about.
I'm nobody except genetic runaround.
spiritual era's gone, it ain't comin' back.
bad religion, a cabal, that is all that's left.
hey Mr. Mind, stop wasting my time,
with your factory precision.
factory precision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
nad religion, bad religion.
ay!
don't you know the place you live's a piece of shit?
don't you know blind faith in life will conquer it?
don't you know responsibility is ours?
I don't care a think about eternal fires.
listen this time, it's more than a rhyme,
it's your indecision.
your indecision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, bad religion,
bad religion.
Along The Way
I refuse to abuse what is kind to the Muse,
but it's there and it's happening to me along the way.
as we go through the snow, we cannot forget our foes,
but the dinner's always waiting at the table 'long the way, yeah.
what you see, not for me, isn't what you planned to be,
but you'll have what you wanted in the end along the way.
and we'll try as we cry and our brothers pass us by,
to be strong through the ages of our tears along the way, yeah.
now we grow as we show that the morals we must know
will be shapen and mistaken by the falls along the way.
but forget, don't regret, to find love and happiness
unless you're willing to be strong when they are gone along the way.
like Tommy, you are free, and you will not follow me,
until we see each other once more on the path along the way.
New Leaf
when everybody dies around you, from someone
else's gun,
it really makes you stop and think about the years to come.
something good had to happen to the human race.
we all had better stop hoping and set our heads on straight.
you've gotta turn over a new leaf,
'cause that old one's turning on you.
we've gotta turn over a new leaf.
if the future's only hoped for, we are doomed.
today is over, it's already shot, so we can think about ourselves.
they keep on working on our nature, they're saying that can only help.
start throwing out your pockets, keep what you really only need.
save life and earth and water, there can't be any other need.
you've gotta turn over a new leaf,
'cause that old one's turning on you.
you've gotta turn over a new leaf.
if the future's only hoped for, we are doomed.
you've gotta turn over a new leaf,
'cause that old one's turning on you.
we've gotta turn over a new leaf.
and let your love come on through.
you've gotta turn over a new leaf,
'cause that old one's turning on you.
we've gotta turn over a new leaf,
a new, a new, a new.
Bad Religion
see my body, it's nothing to get hung about.
I'm nobody except genetic runaround.
spiritual era's gone, it ain't comin' back.
bad religion, a cabal, that is all that's left.
hey Mr. Mind, stop wasting my time,
with your factory precision.
factory precision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
nad religion, bad religion.
ay!
don't you know the place you live's a piece of shit?
don't you know blind faith in life will conquer it?
don't you know responsibility is ours?
I don't care a think about eternal fires.
listen this time, it's more than a rhyme,
it's your indecision.
your indecision is your
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, too good to take.
indecision, it's not too late.
bad religion, bad religion,
bad religion.
Slaves
don't try to say that I threaten your freedom
we've done without for 20 years, so think if we really need 'em
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
we can blow up things better than in any country except this one.
waiting for it too then you realize it ain't too much fun.
we're in a country, Democracy, supposed to be the best on the globe.
living ? for the high class clones
and
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
and
we're all just slaves for the troop commanders
we're all slaves
Drastic Actions
heard a word, suicide,
not from one, but from thousands that tried.
the lawyer's wife and the teenage brat,
one thing in common, they all wanted out.
and it's plain to see.
it goes for you and it goes for me,
and all the screwed up little girls and boys
all thrown in without a choice.
but I heard him say,
"I want out,
no complaints and no doubts,
just a chance to go on."
I heard a word, suicide,
and not from one, but from thousands that died.
want some attention and a little less regret,
a teenage fluff, little threat.
and there are those, there are those who think
that drastic actions will make them unique.
it's really all the same,
that no one's happy and nobody's to blame.
and the moral to this story is old.
it's quite taboo, seldom told.
the seed is reaped before it's sown,
a bad choice was never resolved.
