I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Or hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Or passing out in all the shows
Cause I got straight edge

I laugh at the thoughts of dropping loose
I laugh at the thoughts of sniffing glue
Cause I got straight edge
I got straight edge

NOFX - Straight Edge Lyrics


Introduction to Straight Edge

A lifestyle. A personal choice. A philosophy. These definitions truly encompass what the term "straight edge" means. In truth, straight edge can be considered a subculture of its own, branching off punk rock music because the core ideals of the punk movement were adopted by the straight-edgers.

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History

The term became popular within the punk scene when Minor Threat addressed the lifestyle in their song, "Straight Edge."

Frontman and lyricist Ian MacKaye for Minor Threat wrote the following lyrics as a way to let the public know he doesn't need to use drugs just because he's part of the punk scene:

"I'm a person just like you

But I've got better things to do

Pass out at the shows

I don't even think about speed

That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge"


The 1981 ode to the clean life professed disgust at psychoactive drug use and other habits that became closely associated with hardcore music because it was so prevalent among the musicians of the times.

"Straight Edge" was meant to portray that by abstaining from all drugs and alcohol, the band had the "edge" up on other musicians who let those influences get the better of them.

In short, adopting the straight edge lifestyle put individuals in control of their own lives; it held them accountable for personal responsibility.

While the term cannot be put into a box and definitively labled, there are a number of characteristics most straight edge people have in common.
Common Characteristics of Straight Edge People

For one, straight edge people usually do not drink or do drugs. Some may be vegetarians or vegans and might even abstain from casual sex with others. A lot of straight edge people will even avoid caffeine and other stimulants because it does not fit with the lifestyle they've chosen for themselves.

Straight edge is a way of life, and those who live by this philosophy have chosen the path for themselves. It's not something people are born into or can arbitrarily become.

When someone makes the personal choice to commit to the straight edge lifestyle, they are saying they don't need drugs, alcohol or other outside influences to run their lives.
Straight Edge or Square?

Bear in mind that just because someone abstains from drug use does not necessarily mean they are straight edge. You can be drug-free, but not adopt the other lifestyle choices common to a straight-edger.

Similarly, you can be a vegetarian but not associated with the straight-edge movement because you haven't made a conscious decision to follow that life-path. People may share certain characteristics with straight-edgers, but unless they have chosen to adapt to that lifestyle they are not straight edge.

Dave Peters from Throwdown puts it nicely (from an interview on Truepunk.com):

"For me personally I've been straight edge for about 12 years and it's kind of ingrained in who I am. [It's] a personal choice... by definition, it's an individual choice."

Straight edge became closely identified with the punk scene as a subculture because straight-edgers shared common characteristics with members of the punk community.

For example, the punk culture was known for its disdain for authority figures, its individualism and care-free attitudes. Straight-edgers adopted these attitudes, but adapted the culture to fit their own beliefs that weren't so readily apparent in the punk movement (i.e., abstaining from illicit substances).
Confusion about the term

Some people may confuse straight edge with religion, but it's not a religion - it is a philosophy. The confusion is understandable though, because in the early days when straight edge first appeared, those who subscribed to this lifestyle believed a clear head would help them focus on their spirituality.

But straight-edgers do not all conform to one religion. There are atheists, agnostics and Christian people who consider themselves straight edge. In the beginning, bands like Shelter and 108 even helped spread a Hare Krishna movement that many straight-edgers adopted for themselves.

You don't have to affiliate with any one particular religion to be straight edge. You just have to consciously follow a path that allows you to take care of yourself and your personal responsibilities without letting outside influences interefere.

While this article cannot hope to cover all the complexities of the straight edge philosophy, it should be known that straight edge people have chosen to embrace this lifestyle for their own reasons.

In short, it's a lifestyle that promotes a positive way of living.

The copyright of the article The Definition of Straight Edge in Punk/Ska Music is owned by Denise Shively. Permission to republish The Definition of Straight Edge in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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