The Handshake (from Stranger Than Fiction) | Discography | The Bad Religion Page - Since 1995
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The Handshake
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Details
Written by: Greg Graffin
Released in: 1994
BPM: 93
Lyrics
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Every time you shake someone's hand
And it feels like your best friend,
Could it be that it's only superficiality?
Without regard to well-being, without an inkling of compromise,
Handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you",
Contracts determine the best friendships.

This is the way of the modern world,
Everyone's vying for patronage,
This is the way of the modern world,
And something has gotta give.

Every time you shake someone's hand,
And you share neither color nor creed,
You gotta overcome the obstacles of history.
There is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry
And these have created the new foundations of society,
There's no harmony, just class and race.

This is the way of the modern world,
Everyone's fighting for dominance,
This is the way of the modern world,
And something has gotta give.

Now I believe in unity, and I am willing to compromise,
But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul.

Every time you shake someone's hand,
It determines where you stand,
And if you won't uphold your side then it's better to
Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake,
Someone's gotta give.

Versions
Version Length Release Catalog ID Country Format Year
Album version
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States MC 2018
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Europe CD 2018
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Europe 12" 2018
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 86994-2 United States CD 2018
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Europe 12" 2013
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 6994-1 Europe 12" 2013
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 6994-1 United States 12" 2010
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States 12" 2009
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction R1 82658 United States 12" 2009
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 82658-2 United States CD 2004
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction n/a Russia MC 1996
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction ESCA 6057 Japan CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Germany MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343-1 Germany 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343-1 Germany 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Germany 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343-1 Germany 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Brazil 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 82658-2 United States CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction CD 82658 Canada CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343 60 Europe CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 82658-4 United States MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Spain MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Canada MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Yugoslavia MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United Kingdom 12" 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Russia CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 82658-2 United States CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343 2 Israel CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction United States CD 1994
Live @ KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, 12/10/1994
2:42 Infected DRA 661489 Europe CD 1995
2:42 Infected DRA 661489 5 Germany CD 1995
2:41 Infected ESCA-6305 Japan CD 1995
2:41 Infected Japan CD 1995
Live Loreley Festival 1996
The Grey Race - Video EP Europe DVD 2003
Not specified
Stranger Than Fiction United States 12" 2018
2.50 Stranger Than Fiction 86994-1GRY United States 12" 2018
Stranger Than Fiction United States 12" 2018
Stranger Than Fiction EPIT-69942 Europe CD 2008
Stranger Than Fiction Russia CD 1997
Stranger Than Fiction DRA SAMP 2262 2 Germany CD 1995
Stranger Than Fiction PRCD 5742-2 United States CD 1995
Stranger Than Fiction 82658-4 United States MC 1994
Stranger Than Fiction United States MC 1994
Stranger Than Fiction MJM337M Poland MC 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction Canada CD 1994
Stranger Than Fiction DRA 477343 2 Germany CD 1994
Stranger Than Fiction MATTCD003 Australia CD 1994
2:50 Stranger Than Fiction 82658-2 United States CD 1994
Stranger Than Fiction Germany MC 1994
Stranger Than Fiction 78 26584 Canada MC 1994
Stranger Than Fiction 82658 United States MC 1994
Stranger Than Fiction 789.076 | 2-477343 Brazil CD 1994
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Song interpretations (7)
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lost in ramble nation
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02/28/2010 at 15:43
AJ
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Location: Global Citizen
11/23/2004 at 06:05
Chris O
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Location: Global Citizen
10/06/2004 at 19:07
John From Stillborn
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07/11/2004 at 17:33
The Devil
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07/11/2004 at 17:32
phd_in_lsd
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Iceman
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Location: Global Citizen
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