Top 50 Papa Roach Songs
Papa Roach was one of the most explosive bands of the 2000s. They came out of California in 1993 but really made it big with their 2000 album Infest. But was this just a case of the place at the right time?
Table of Contents
Early in Papa Roach’s career, they blended elements of Groove Metal, Alternative Rock, and Rap into what is now known as Nu Metal. But, rather than hopping on board a trend, they were one of the bands leading the way.
This band is still performing and has recently released their eleventh studio album. In close to three decades, they’ve managed to make huge hits and also evolve their sound towards something harder and heavier. So, what are the Top 50 Papa Roach songs ever? Let’s figure it out by looking at the best-loved Papa Roach songs.
Who Is Papa Roach?
The band Papa Roach was named after the step-grandfather, “Papa” Roatch, of vocalist Jacoby Shaddix. Shaddix formed the band in 1993 with school friends, including drummer Dave Buckner, guitarists Jerry Horton and Anne Mikolajcik, bassist Will James, and trombonist Ben Luther.
Not long after, Mikolajcik and Luther left the band, and James was replaced by Tobin Esperance. Buckner was the drummer for the classic 2000s line-up but was replaced by Tony Palermo from 2007 onward. While known as one of the original Nu Metal bands, Bruckner’s departure caused the band to reshape their sound into something harder and heavier.
Throughout their history, Papa Roach has dabbled in Punk Rock, Alternative, Rap Metal, Pop-Rock, Hip-Hop, and just about everything else. They released their most recent album, Ego Trip, in April 2022 and are still going strong.
Top 50 Papa Roach Songs
1 Last Resort (2000)
“Last Resort” is the debut major label single from Papa Roach. It was released on their Infest album in 2000, although it’s an older song going back to 1997.
This is also one of the songs the band is best remembered for. And, that’s no surprise. It hit the top of the Modern Rock charts and has sold over three million units worldwide. It was also used on the soundtrack to the wrestling movie Ready to Rumble in 2000.
This song is full of energy…
It’s underpinned by a strong beat and heavy bass accents. Horton’s guitar is hard and perfectly distorted, whether playing arpeggios or power chords. Shaddix raps for most of the song, although he sort of sings the chorus and screams part of the final lyrics.
This is a hard-edged song was inspired by the attempted suicide of a friend of the band. It’s meant to represent a cry for help, and that makes it very relatable for youth everywhere.
2 Between Angels and Insects (2000)
Another great song from Infest is the epic “Between Angels and Insects.” This song is even heavier than “Last Resort,” although it doesn’t have as many catchy hooks to make it as memorable. But I think it’s one of the band’s best.
It has a slamming beat, and the bass is loud and pounding here, creating a ton of rhythm. The guitar starts playing the song’s main melody, which is later echoed in the vocals and by the bass in the outro. Then, it mostly chugs along heavily.
Shaddix sings a bit but mostly raps on this track which has a strong anti-materialist theme. He tells you to forget about money and possessions and focus on what you really need in life.
3 She Loves Me Not (2002)
After Infest put this band on the musical map, they had to follow it up with something new. In 2002, they put out Lovehatetragedy, but this record, despite going Gold in the US, Canada, and the UK, didn’t have the same impact. But, what it did have was one of the top 10 Papa Roach songs of all time – “She Loves Me Not.”
While there is a lot less rapping on this album, this track still features Shaddix rap-singing his verses and actually singing the chorus. And he has a great voice that fits the music perfectly. The band plays heavy and tight over a kind of heavy Hip-Hop beat, giving the song a great groove. This is a song about a relationship that’s not going great. Well, I guess life’s just not fair.
4 Getting Away With Murder (2004)
With their next album, 2004’s Getting Away With Murder, Papa Roach gambled on a new sound, and that gamble paid off. This was their fourth album to date and the first not to include any rapping at all. The band was already trying to distance themselves from Rap Metal, and the title track helped them do just that.
“Getting Away With Murder” pushes the band in a darker direction. You still have a slamming, tom-heavy beat and heavy bass care of Bruckner and Esperance. But, the guitar is used more to create a dark soundscape than just playing heavy chords.
Shaddix sings most of the song except for some creepy whispered parts. And his lyrics are all about getting away with terrible things, which can be taken on a personal level or the larger geopolitical stage.
5 Scars (2004)
The other track from 2004’s Getting Away With Murder that deserves mention here is “Scars.” This song is different from what the band had done in the past. It’s almost a Rock ballad! But, of course, it’s still done in the style of Papa Roach.
Shaddix sings passionately in this song and screams a bit, too, showing he has a great range. The rhythm section is heavy and tight as ever, but Horton’s guitar is a bit sweeter. After all, this is a song about all the hurt caused by a troubled relationship. So, there’s a lot more sensitivity here than we’re used to from Papa Roach.
6 …To Be Loved (2006)
This heavy-edged band kept rolling along, and in 2006, put out yet another album, The Paramour Sessions. This was Papa Roach’s fifth record, and it continued in the same direction as the last. Away from Nu Metal and towards Hard Rock. The first track, “…To Be Loved,” opens this record with a bang.
This is a fast song with a Hardcore feel. It rocks straight ahead without ever putting on the brakes. The drums and bass are as in-synch as ever, and the guitar races along at breakneck speed. Shaddix sings (and never raps) with conviction, telling you all he wants is to be loved. And also, party really, really hard. The chorus here is great. There’s no way you’re going to listen and not start singing along.
7 Forever (2006)
The Paramour Sessions also produced a second single, “Forever,” which made it to #2 on the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts in 2006. When this song starts, you almost wouldn’t recognize this as a Papa Roach song. The verse is slow and quiet and has a sort of Alternative Rock sound to it. But then the chorus erupts, and you know who it is.
The contrast between the quiet verse and the heavy, slamming chorus gives the song tons of texture. It emphasizes the emotions in the song, and that’s why they did it. This is a sad song about leaving a relationship, even though the feelings behind it will last forever.
8 Lifeline (2009)
In 2007, longtime drummer Dave Bruckner left the band. He was replaced by Tony Palermo, who remains Papa Roach’s drummer to the present day. Bruckner’s leaving, and a general feeling in the band, led them to re-create their sound. So, the resulting new album in 2009 was aptly named Metamorphosis.
“Lifeline” was the biggest track to come for this album. This is another track that isn’t immediately recognizable as a Papa Roach song – until the chorus hits. That chorus is big and ballsy, with a heavy beat and thudding bass. You just have to sing along.
The verses are softer and more Alternative Rock than you might be used to. But, overall, this song is big, bouncy, and positive, which makes it a major fan favorite.
9 Burn (2010)
In 2010, Papa Roach announced the release of their next album. But, this time, things would be different. Time for Annihilation was recorded on their tour with Shinedown and features most of the songs on this top 10 list. Plus, five brand new tracks they also recorded live. The result is a highly energetic record with some newer, updated versions of Papa Roach’s best songs.
“Burn” is the first track from this album, and it has huge energy. This track brings things back to the original Papa Roach sound. The verses are very nearly rapped, but the pre-chorus is sung, and the chorus is chanted like an anthem. The drums and bass are tight and heavy, with both hard Rock and Hip-Hop influences. And the guitar work is some of Horton’s best.
10 No Matter What (2010)
The other new track from 2010’s Time for Annihilation that deserves a place in the Top 50 songs by Papa Roach is “No Matter What.” Why? Because it’s one of the nicest Papa Roach songs ever.
The tune has some jangly, strummed guitar and wandering bass over a regular Rock beat. But, as with most Papa Roach songs, the chorus heats up and hits hard. And after the chorus, there’s an intense beat and a cool guitar solo from Horton. Shaddix gives one of his best vocal performances here, singing what can only be described as a passionate and dedicated love song.
11Warriors (2019)
12Falling Apart (2015)
13Born for Greatness (2017)
14Not the Only One (2019)
15Time and Time Again (2002)
16Come Around (2019)
17Take Me (2012)
18Change or Die (2006)
19Decompression Period (2004)
20Give Me Back My Life (2012)
21Kick in the Teeth (2010)
22Before I Die (2012)
23One Track Mind (2012)
24Hollywood Whore (2008)
25Broken Home (2000)
26Tightrope (2015)
27Breathe You In (2012)
28Renegade Music (2019)
29None of the Above (2017)
30The Ending (2009)
31The World Around You (2006)
32The Fire (2012)
33Gravity (Acoustic) (2018)
34As Far as I Remember (2015)
35One More Time (2017)
36To Be Loved (2010)
37State of Emergency (2009)
38Give Me a Reason (2004)
39Face Everything and Rise (Live) (2015)
40Blood (Empty Promises) (2009)
41Last Resort (Live) (2007)
42Between Angels and Insects (Live) (2007)
43Getting Away with Murder (Live) (2007)
44Forever (Acoustic) (2007)
45My Medication (2017)
46Face Everything and Rise (2015)
47Help (2017)
48Blood Brothers (2004)
49Gravity (2018)
50Elevate (2019)
Need More Hard Rock Music Tinged With Rap?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Top 10 Evanescence Songs, the Best $UICIDEBOY$ Songs of All Time, the Top 10 Insane Clown Posse Songs, the Top 10 Offspring Songs, the Best Blue October Songs of All Time, and 10 Essential Molly Hatchet Songs for more hard-hitting song selections.
The Top 50 Papa Roach Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
Papa Roach is a band that has been around for an incredible 30 years. They’ve worked through personnel changes and, more importantly, huge changes in the music scene.
They started as a Nu Metal/Rap Metal band, practically spearheading the genre. But they soon changed courses. Singer Jacoby Shaddix just got tired of rapping and wanted to sing. However, they kept a lot of their heavy, Hard Rock and Hip-Hop influences in their sound.
Even today, this band is still touring and putting out records. So you never know if we’ll have to add a new song to this list of the best Papa Roach songs. But, for now, these are the top tracks that define Papa Roach as one of the best Heavy Rock bands of the 90s.
Until next time, happy listening.
ncG1vNJzZminnJnBqrnEpqysoZNjsLC5jqmYqZldp7yir8dmqqiml6h8