Along with fellow California punk bands Green Day and Rancid, The Offspring have been credited with reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid-1990s. To date, The Offspring has released eight studio albums, one compilation, four EPs and three DVDs. They have sold over 34 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling punk rock acts of all time. Each album since the release of their 1994 album Smash has sold over a million units.
Since the release of Smash, which is the best-selling independent label album of all time, The Offspring has achieved commercial success over five albums, with singles such as "Come Out and Play", and "Self Esteem". The band’s next three albums, Ixnay on the Hombre, Americana and Conspiracy of One, were also successful, with Ixnay on the Hombre and Conspiracy of One reaching platinum certification, and Americana achieving multi-platinum status. Longtime drummer Ron Welty left The Offspring in early 2003, and was replaced by Atom Willard. Later that year, the band released their next album, Splinter, to moderate sales and fairly warm reviews. In 2005, The Offspring released a greatest hits album and toured in support of the compilation. Their eighth studio album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, was released on June 17, 2008 with the hit singles "You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid" and "Hammerhead."
Days Go By is the band’s ninth studio album and is due to be released on June 26, 2012. The Days Go By Songfacts reports that the title track was released as the first single and was premiered on KROQ on April 27, 2012.
2. Offspring was a short-lived English pop duo of the early 1970s, consisting of Mike Brayn and John Howard, who met at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, United Kingdom. They released just one single, 'Windfall' (1972). Their planned studio album was never completed.
This Is Not Utopia
The Offspring Lyrics
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Lies a life that's left behind
And though I try
It's something I just can't unsee
It's burned into my mind
And I wake up in the morning
News keeps flashing on my eyes
These dying streets are bruised and beaten
Riot flags are waving
Poor and weak, we extend this streak
These lives we could be saving
Life is cheap, I sit and weep
'Cause there's just no mistaking
Oh, this is not utopia
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
The roots, the roots, the rules don't matter anymore
This is not utopia
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
You and you and you don't matter anymore
Better angels of our nature
Well, they've gone away to hide
Brutality, I can't unsee
These pictures are just burned into my mind
It's commotion in slow motion
It's humanity denied
A violent race, punch in the face
With all this hate, how can we all survive?
Oh, and if the change is coming
What makes it take so long?
And if the change is coming
Why sing the same old song?
This is not utopia
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
The roots, the roots, the rules don't matter anymore
This is not utopia
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
You and you and you don't matter anymore
This is not utopia
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
And you and you and you don't matter anymore
(This not utopia)
Now how long must we wait
Until love conquers hate
And heal these hearts?
'Cause it all starts
Right here
The Offspring's song This Is Not Utopia is a commentary on the current state of the world. The song begins with the singer lamenting about the things they have seen that they cannot unsee, and the news that keeps flashing before their eyes. They talk about the dying streets that are bruised and beaten, the riot flags that are waving, and the lives that are being lost needlessly. The singer reflects on the fact that life is cheap, and they can't help but weep because there's just no mistaking that this is not utopia.
The song explores the roots of America and the hysteria that seems to be taking over. The singer questions why the better angels of our nature have gone away to hide and why brutality is becoming more and more prevalent. They talk about the violent race and how it seems that hate is overpowering love in the world. The chorus of the song is a bleak reminder that this is not utopia, and the roots of America and hysteria have taken over.
Overall, the song appears to be a call to action. The singer is urging listeners to pay attention and take action to change the current state of the world. They question why change is taking so long and ask what we can do to heal these hearts. The song reminds us that it all starts right here.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a shot without a warning
Life changes suddenly, without giving us a heads up
Lies a life that's left behind
The past we leave behind continues to impact us
And though I try
Despite our efforts
It's something I just can't unsee
Tragic things we witness stay with us forever
It's burned into my mind
These memories are strong and painful
And I wake up in the morning
Every day begins with discomfort and uncertainty
News keeps flashing on my eyes
The news is hard to ignore and constantly present
These dying streets are bruised and beaten
Urban areas are marred by neglect and violence
Riot flags are waving
People are desperate for change and will protest loudly
Poor and weak, we extend this streak
Those who suffer most are perpetually facing hardship
These lives we could be saving
There is the potential to make life better for everyone
Life is cheap, I sit and weep
The value of life is not always appreciated, leading to sadness
'Cause there's just no mistaking
The problems are blatant and need to be urgently addressed
Oh, this is not utopia
The current state of the world is far from perfect
The roots, the roots, the roots of America
Historical factors have contributed to the problems we face today
The roots, the roots, the roots of hysteria
Panic and unease are among the lingering effects of the past
The roots, the roots, the rules don't matter anymore
The systems that were supposed to regulate things have lost their power
You and you and you don't matter anymore
Individuals are feeling more and more irrelevant
Better angels of our nature
Our innate goodness and kindness
Well, they've gone away to hide
It feels like we've lost sight of the good within us
Brutality, I can't unsee
Violence is pervasive and leaves a deep impression
These pictures are just burned into my mind
The horrible things we've seen will haunt us for a long time
It's commotion in slow motion
The trauma unfolds sluggishly, but still steadily
It's humanity denied
Our fellow humans are being dehumanized
A violent race, punch in the face
The competition and aggression is intense, and leaves people hurt
With all this hate, how can we all survive?
The divisive and hateful atmosphere makes life difficult for us all
Oh, and if the change is coming
There is hope and promise for a better future
What makes it take so long?
Why isn't that change happening more quickly?
Why sing the same old song?
Why aren't we making more of a concerted effort to change things?
Now how long must we wait
When will things start to improve?
Until love conquers hate
It will take a concerted effort of compassion to overcome the hate and division
And heal these hearts?
Can we repair the damage that's been done so far?
'Cause it all starts
There needs to be a beginning to this healing process, and it can start with us
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
Written by: Bryan Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind