Kids
Bye Bye Birdie Lyrics
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I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I've tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we're on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Why can't they dance like we did
What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
What's the matter with kids today!
The song "Kids" from Bye Bye Birdie is a satirical piece that reflects the frustration and pessimism of older generations about the younger generations. The song is sung by two adult characters, one of whom is Albert Peterson and the other is his mother, Mae Peterson. The song is a commentary on the perceived moral decay and declining values of young people, according to the standards of the older generation. The lyrics highlight that kids are disobedient, disrespectful, and lazy. The song notes that no matter how much older generations try to control or influence the behaviours of the next generation, it seems that the younger generation will always do what they please. Music, dance, and clothes were some of the aspects of younger generations that the older generation found concerning.
The song is a commentary on the generation gap and the difficulties of understanding the different values and cultures that younger generations adopt. The older generation regarded themselves as perfect, responsible, and hardworking, whereas they considered the younger generation to be lazy and undisciplined. The song satirizes this point of view by mocking the older generation's belief that young people are morally and socially inferior. The song also contains a critique of the media's influence on young people, as young people were being influenced by rock and roll music, which the older generation considered to be vulgar and inappropriate.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids!
The collective youth are the subject of this song.
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
I'm disappointed in the youth and their seemingly negative conduct.
Who can understand anything they say?
The way young people communicate is incomprehensible to me.
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Their behavior is without discipline or respect.
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
They are loud, wild, messy, idle, and apathetic.
While we're on the subject:
Continuing the conversation about these youth.
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
No matter how much you try to communicate with them, they won't listen.
But they still just do what they want to do!
Their actions aren't dictated by other's words or expectations.
Why can't they be like we were, Perfect in every way?
Why can't the youth be as perfect as we were at their age? And by 'perfect' I mean compliant with societal norms.
What's the matter with kids today?
What is behind their insolent attitudes and indolent behavior?
I've tried to raise him the best I could
I have put in effort to rear a child who would embody the virtues of the time.
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
They're constantly enjoying themselves, and this is a problem. We never acted this way when we were their age.
And while we're on the subject!
Our critique continues.
They are just impossible to control!
Their own wills are the sole authority in their lives.
With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Their choice in clothing is bad and their fondness of rock music is vulgar.
Why can't they dance like we did? What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
The youth's preference of dancing is also offensive, and I am nostalgically wondering where the good old days have gone.
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RMB479
Lyrics:
Adults! Kids! Adults! Kids! Adults!
Kids,You've had your fun now we've had our fill.
Yeah,You're only here cuz Marge forgot her pill.
Kids, you're all just scadalizing, vandalizing punks.
Channel hopping, Ridlin popping, monkey's, but please don't quit the fanclub!
Kids, I can nag and nag till my hair turns blue.
Kids, you bum my smokes and don't say thank you!
Why can't you be like we are?
Oh what a bunch of brats!
We ought to drown you just like cats!
Adults, you run our lives like your Col. Klink
Adults, you strut around like your farts don't stink.
Adults, your such a drooling, snoring, boozing boring bunch
Surly, meany, three martini lunchers!
I just ate a thumb tack!
Adults, they're always telling us to-- SHUT YOUR TRAPS.
Eh, we're fed up with all of you whippersnaps!
We're trying to get some sleep here, it's almost 6:15.
What's the matter with-
Don't you treat us like-
Can't you just lay off-
We're sick of all of you!
Kids today.
Wait, what do you mean this is the wrong version?
@sammavacaist
Casting Paul Lynde as the father was a stroke of genius.
@jilliank6379
Blair Bart the 1995 one? Barely a remake! The 1963 movie is completely unfaithful to the musical. I for one consider the 1995 one an adaptation of its source material, not remake.
@jilliank6379
Blair Bart dude I just said that
@aminsadeghpour1549
He was the original on Broadway along with Dick Van Dyke.
He also voiced Templeton the rat in the animated version of Charlotte's Web
@PaulLynde1926
omg yes! I love him a lot & he's hilarious! he is such a great guy in this movie
@CraigyFergsBlue
The best thing to happen in show biz for that kind of Broadway musical/movie
@judy4064
"You dare defy your mother?"
"It's my hair!"
"Not until you're 21!"
I love that
@NorybDrol82
Wait wasn't Ann Margaret actually 21 when this was filmed. XD
@breiffen5526
@@NorybDrol82 yeah but her character I think was only like 15
@strafrag1
I don't know how Ann kept a straight face after that line from Paul.