Minor Threat foi formado em Novembro de 1980. Eles consistiam em 4 membros: Ian MacKaye no vocal, Brian Baker no baixo, Lyle Preslar na guitarra e Jeff Nelson na bateria. No album "Out of Step", Steve Hansgen tocou o baixo e Brian Baker tocou guitarra. Em Setembro de 1981, o Minor Threat se desfez quando Lyle decidiu ir para a faculdade. Durante esse período, Ian e Jeff começaram uma nova banda chamada Skewbald/Grand Union, que tb é muito boa. Esta banda terminou quando o Minor Threat voltou em Abril de 1982. O Minor Threat se desmanchou novamente em 1983. Minor Threat tb mudou o mundo com o movimento Straight Edge que têm afetado milhares de adolescentes por todo o mundo. Straight Edge é um termo criado pelo líder do Minor Threat, Ian MacKaye, mesmo sem a intenção dele de criar um movimento. Para ser Straight Edge você não pode fumar, beber nada alcoólico, não deve ter sexo promíscuo ou usar drogas.
Da esquerda pra direita: Ian MacKaye (vocal) , Jeff Nelson (bateria) , Brian Baker (baixo) , Lyle Preslar (guitarra)
Letras:
Filler
What happened to you?
You're not the same
There's something in your head
Made a violent change
It's in your head
Filler
You call it religion
You're full of shit
Was she really worth it?
She cost you your life
You'll never leave her side
She's gonna be your wife
You call it romance
You're full of shit
Your brain is clay
What's going on?
You picked up a bible
And now you're gone
You call it religion
You're full of shit
Filler
I Don't Wanna Hear It
I don't want to hear it
All you do is talk about you
I don't want to hear it
Because I know that none of it's true
I don't want to hear it
Sick and tired of all your lies
I don't want to hear it
When are you gonna realize...
That I don't wanna hear it
Know you're full of shit
Shut your fucking mouth
I don't care what you say
You keep talking
Talking everday
First you're telling stories
Then you're telling lies
When the fuck are you gonna realize...
That I don't want to hear
Know that you're full of shit
Seeing Red
You see me and you laugh out loud
Taunt me from safe inside your crowd
My looks they must threaten you
To make you act the way you do
Red, I'm seeing red
You see me and you think I'm a jerk
First impressions without a word
You can't believe your eyes at first
But now you know you've seen the worst
Red, I'm seeing red
Straight Edge
I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Then sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need
I've go the straight edge
I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Then sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know that I can cope
I laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch
I've got the straight edge
Small Man, Big Mouth
Compete, compete, do it for the boys
Empty barrels make the most noise
You're always on the move
You've always got something to prove
What the fuck are you fighting for?
Is it because you're five foot four?
You better be happy with what you got
You'll never get anymore
You laugh at a man when he tries
You're trying to make up for your size
To you life is a rivalry
Keep a step ahead of me
Small man, Big Mouth
Screaming at a Wall
I'm gonna knock it down
Anyway that I can
I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna yell
I don't wanna have to use my hands
It's like screaming at a wall
Someday it's gonna fall
You build that wall up around you
And now you can't see out
And now you can't hear my words
No matter how hard I shout
It's like screaming at a wall
Someday it's gonna fall
You're safe inside and you know it
'Cause I can't get to you
And you know I resent it
And my temper grows
You better reinforce those walls
Until you don't have room to stand
'Cause someday those bricks are gonna fall
Someday I'm gonna use my hands
Bottled Violence
Get your bravery from a six pack
Get your bravery from a half-pint
Drink your whiskey, drink your grain
Bottoms up, and you don't feel pain
Go out and fight, fight
Bottled Violence
Lose control of your body
Beat the shit out of somebody
Half-shut eyes don't see who you hit
You don't take any shit
Go out and fight, fight
Bottled Violence
Minor Threat
We're no the first, I hope we're not the last
'Cause I know we're all ready for that adult crash
The time is so little, the time belongs to us
Why is everybody in such a fucking rush?
Make do with what you have
Take what you can get
Pay no mind to us
We're just a minor threat
We're just a minor threat
Early to finish, I was late to start
I might be an adult, but I'm a minor at heart
Go to college, be a man, what's the fucking deal?
It's now how old I am, it's how old I feel
Take your time
Try no to forget
We never will
We're just a minor threat
We're just a minor threat
Stand Up
Something's fucked up
Something's not right
I came to have a good time
You came to fight
But if I do fight
Nothing to fear
'Cause I know
My friends are here
I don't like to fight
I don't like getting hurt
Got my guard up
State of Alert
I don't look for trouble
Trouble finds me
Need my friends
In an emergency
Don't go out alone
Go with a friend
You might need him
In the end
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
And be counted
In My Eyes
You tell me you like the taste
You just need an excuse
You tell me it calms your nerves
You just think it looks cool
You tell me you want to be different
You just change for the same
You tell me it's only natural
You just need the proof
Did you fucking get it?
It's in my eyes
And it doesn't look that way to me
In my eyes
You tell me that nothing matters
You're just fucking scared
You tell me that I'm better
You just hate yourself
You tell me that you like her
You just wish you did
You tell me that I make no difference
Well at least I'm fucking trying
What the fuck have you done?
It's in my eyes
And it doesn't look that way to me
In my eyes
Out of Step (with the world)
(I) Don't smoke
Don't Drink
Don't Fuck
At least I can fucking think
I can't keep up
Can't keep up
Can't keep up
Out of Step with the world
Guilty of Being White
I'm sorry
For something that I didn't do
Lynched somebody
But I don't know who
You blame me for slavery
A hundred years before I was born
Guilty of being white
I'm a convict
Of a racist crime
I've only served
Nineteen years of my time
Guilty of being white
Betray
Maybe it was no one's fault
I know it wasn't mine
But now that you've moved along
I guess I'm next in line
I thought we had the same ideas
But you, you proved me wrong
I've been played the fool before
But never for quite so long
Betray
So what now? Do we shake hands,
And go on our seperate ways?
Or do I open my mind
And bump you into the haze?
No, I'll see you tomorrow
Same channel, same time, same place
I'm not going anywhere
'Cause I quit your fucking race
Betray
Goddammit, we were supposed to stay young
And now it's over, it's finished, it's done
Normal expectations, they were on the run
But now it's over, it's finished, it's done
It Follows
I thought I had left it behind
In another fucking time
When boys were boys, girls were girls
And faces were hard ot find
It followed me
All the stupid thinking
The stupid people thought
The rules that we lived buy
The friends that we bought
The asshole with a strong arm
In the shape of floating friends
The young ladies and their secrets
In the soap that never ends
I thought I had outrun
When I crossed the tracks
I thought I had gotten away
When it tapped me on the back
It followed me
It followed me
Think Again
Everybody's right
Everything I've done is wrong
You know I've tried to keep it short
I know it took too fucking long
Too much has been said
You think it fucked my head?
Think again
Ignorance, it set your standards
Intelligence, that don't work in your brain
You're an adult, so you act like a child
Don't even try to explain
This stupid shit, it's been done
You think you're the only one?
Think again
A hand to your mouth
A performing yawn
I guess you know
What the fuck is going on
You're on top
You're on the ball
You think you've seen it all?
Think again
Before you take another crack
And slap yourself on the back
Before you tell me what you heard
And sum it up in one word
Before you start talking shit
Before you throw another fit
Think again
Look Back and Laugh
I want to tell you a little story
'Cause it makes me warm inside
It's about some friends growing up
And all the things they tried
I'm not talking about staple shit
They went for something more
I guess it was too much dreaming
Too much to hope for
One day something funny happened
But it scared the shit out of me
Their heads went in different directions
And their friendship ceased to be
I'm telling you I want it to work
I don't like being hurt
Something's not right inside
And I can't always put it aside
What can we do, what can we do?
Try
I guess I make it too much shit
Someday we'll look back and laugh
Mr. President, go away
Come back and fuck with us some other day
Mr. Feelings, run and hide
You have no right to what you feel inside
Motherfuckers, quick to kiss
Talk your shit, but don't fuck with this
All I want to know is
Am I holding on? Am I moving on?
What can we do, what can we do?
Try
Sob Story
Life's not been good to you
It's just not fair
You did nothing to deserve it
You did nothing at all
Sit back and watch
It turns from bad to worse
No matter how loud you cry
It always hurts
Boy I'm glad I'm not in your shoes
How could things
Get any worse for you?
You're so fucking alone
How could things
Get any worse for you?
I don't blame you when you piss and moan
Everybody gets
What you should've got
Everybody takes
Your opportunities
Everybody gets
The breaks that belonged to you
Everbody takes
Your just desserts
Life's not been good to you
It's just not fair
I've got some news for you
Nothing is fair
I wish their was a way
To make it all better
I pray for a way
To make you happy
'Cause I'm sick and I'm tired
Of your whining, complaining, pissing and moaning
No Reason
So you hate me
That's the way it goes
What the fuck?
I guess I'll never know
If it makes you feel better,>br> Then I guess it's just as
good
You know I'll never accept it,
'Cause I never thought you could
Sit in the same room
We look the other way
Fuck conversation
We've got nothing to say
I'm sure we both hate to be ignored
Haven't we met someplace before?
What's the problem?
Is it justified?
Or are we dealing
With our fucking pride?
Do you really want to leave it alone?
I don't know what it's worth to you,
It's all I fucking own
Haven't we met before?
Little Friend
There are no words
For what I want to say
No description
For what I feel
It's a non-emotion
It's something gray
Way down
Inside of me
You could call it anger
You could call it fear
You could call it frustration
That's as close as you'll get
Now I'm waiting
For security
There's something racing
Inside of me
I'm waiting, I'm waiting
For a sign
Waiting for something
Got nothing but time
I said I'm waiting
Waiting for a sign
Just me and my little friend
He's deep inside
Salad Days
Wishing for the days
When I first wore this suit
Baby has grown older,
It's no longer cute
Too many voices
They've made me mute
Baby has grown ugly,
It's no longer cute
But I stay on, I stay on
Where do I get off?
On to greener pastures
The core has gotten soft
Look at us today
We've gotten soft and fat
Waiting for the moment,
It's just no coming back
So serious
About the stuff we lack
Dwell upon our memories
But there are no facts