The Story of One Song: Don’t Drag Me Down – Social Distortion

The only political song

“I’m an activist, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and an anti-racist, but the only political song I have ever written is Don’t Drag Me Down.”

The Story of One Song: Don’t Drag Me Down – Social Distortion
From personal experience

“I wrote this song in 1994 after I had to deal with racism throughout the country, even at our concerts. I know how it feels when you are discriminated against – sitting in the back of the restaurant because of tattoos. It’s awful, but people still judge you by how you look. I am reminded daily that commercial ideals are very different from my own. ”

The Story of One Song: Don’t Drag Me Down – Social Distortion
Rewritten story

“Ignorance like a gun in hand / Reach out to the promised land / Your history books are full of lies” – these lines from the song by Mike Ness explains as follows:

“This song is also about lies and its concealment by the government. When I hear the truth about our ancestors, I am ashamed. The school does not mention that our ancestors exterminated an entire Indian race. ”
Russian version

In 2012, Elysium recorded a Russian-language version of “Don’t Drag Me Down,” titled “Let Them Know!” For their mini album, “Cover Day”.
Unfulfilled hopes

Don’t Drag Me Down is an anti-racist song. I wrote it in 1994 in the hope that the next generation of children who will hear it will ask themselves: “What is racism?” It’s amazing that it’s still relevant. ”