"Knowledge" is a song by American band

Operation Ivy Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests, coming after '' Tumbler-Snapper'' and before '' Upshot–Knothole''. The two explosions were staged in late 1952 at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Proving Ground in the Marshall Is ...

. It was written by lead vocalist

Jesse Michaels Jesse Michaels (born 1969) is an American songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, artist, and author from Berkeley, California. His lyrics deal with politics, racism, and general social issues. He is most well known as the vocalist for the ska punk ba ...

and appeared on the album ''

Energy In physics, energy (from Ancient Greek: ἐνέργεια, ''enérgeia'', “activity”) is the quantitative property that is transferred to a body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of work and in the form of hea ...

.'' During the opening of the song at Operation Ivy's last show at Gilman St. (which was released on the "Lint Rides Again" bootleg), Michaels opens the song by saying that "this song is called 'Knowledge', and it's about growing up."

Popularity and covers

* The song is one of the most popular songs by Operation Ivy, and has been covered by many artists, including a notable cover by fellow Berkeley musical trio

Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a ...

on their EP '' Slappy'' (also featured on the compilation album '' 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours''). When Green Day performs the song live, fans are invited to come on-stage and play instruments. On the Green Day version there is a hidden message when played backwards at the beginning which says "I'm a very stupid person" *

The Aquabats The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1994. Throughout many fluctuations in the group's line-up, singer the MC Bat Commander and bassist Crash McLarson have remained the band's two constant fixtur ...

recorded a cover for the Operation Ivy tribute album '' Take Warning: Songs of Operation Ivy''. *

The Menzingers The Menzingers are an American punk rock band from Scranton, Pennsylvania, formed in 2006. The band consists of Greg Barnett (vocals, guitar), Tom May (vocals, guitar), Eric Keen (bass) and Joe Godino (drums). To date, the band has released sev ...

covered the song, as well as Rancid's Roots Radicals on December 27, 2012 during a secret show at The Asbury Lanes. * A

Millencolin Millencolin is a Swedish punk rock band that was formed on 12 October 1992 by Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, and Erik Ohlsson (musician), Erik Ohlsson in Örebro, Sweden. In early 1993, drummer Fredrik Larzon joined the band. The name Mil ...

cover of the song is available on their compilation ''

The Melancholy Collection ''The Melancholy Collection'' is a compilation album by Swedish punk rock band Millencolin, released on 29 July 1999 by Burning Heart Records. The album combines the band's first two EPs, B-sides from their singles, and other rare and unrelea ...

''. * Even in Blackouts recorded a version of the song for their album '' Myths & Imaginary Magicians''. * Evergreen Terrace recorded a version of the song for their cover album ''

Writer's Block Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Mike Rose found that this creative stall is not a result of commitment problems or th ...

''. * The Static Locals have also covered Knowledge, it was also the first thing they have ever recorded. * Although they have never officially covered it, Rancid, the later band of Operation Ivy guitarist

Tim Armstrong Timothy Ross Armstrong (born November 25, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer. Known for his distinctive voice, he is the singer/guitarist for the punk rock band Rancid and hip hop/punk rock supergroup Transplants. ...

and bassist

Matt Freeman Matthew "McCall" Freeman (born Roger Matthew Freeman; April 23, 1966) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his bass work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade. ...

, often play this song live. *

Machine Gun Kelly George Kelly Barnes (July 18, 1895 – July 18, 1954), better known by his pseudonym "Machine Gun Kelly", was an American gangster from Memphis, Tennessee, active during the Prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thomp ...

used a lyric from Knowledge on his song "All I Know," released on his 2020 album ''

Tickets To My Downfall ''Tickets to My Downfall'' is the fifth studio album by American musician Machine Gun Kelly. A departure from his established rap sound, the album is a more guitar-driven pop-punk album. It was released through Bad Boy Records and Interscope Reco ...

.'' Jesse Michaels confirmed on his Instagram that the members of Operation Ivy had licensed the lyric to Machine Gun Kelly.

Personnel

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...

s, background vocals *

- lyrics, lead vocals *

Dave Mello David Mello is an American musician known primarily for his work as drummer for the hardcore ska punk band Operation Ivy. Prior to Operation Ivy, Mello played in various bands local to the Berkeley and Albany areas such as Rabbi Conspiracy a ...

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair of matching drumsticks ...

, background vocals * Matt McCall -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gu ...

, background vocals

References

Hardcore punk songs 1989 songs Operation Ivy (band) Green Day songs Ska punk songs {{Punk-song-stub