Shortly after forming they enlisted Milo Aukerman and made what started out a surf band into a full fledged punk unit. Descendents have diverged from their punk peers, perhaps because of the Beach Boys influences, and sang about topics that touched many young punks' lives like parents, food, girls and being rejected.
This band separated due to Milo actually going to college (he attended the University of California, San Diego) just like the title of their debut. This and other constraints have made them famous for their long hiatuses, which are sometimes a decade span in length. The band has now spread out across their country of origin and their future is somewhat uncertain.
Lead singer Milo Aukerman currently resides in Newark, Delaware. He was a biochemist for the internationally known DuPont Chemical company, which is based out of Delaware. However, whenever the end of Descendents seemed to be approaching, Milo popped up again and the band released a new record. Aukerman then later returned to his academic duties in teaching biochemistry. He then quit his academic life to pursue a career in music fulltime.
Mass Nerder
Descendents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't got no tattoo
Don't got no nose ring
Don't wanna be like you
See I got these glasses, so I'll never be cool
Always get my ass kicked when I get to school
Don't got no attitude
I know I won't get laid
If I won't be like you
Don't got no biceps
Don't got no pecs
But I'll read you under the table
With my thick specs!
See I got these glasses, so they kick my ass
But I'll kick their asses when I get to class
I got these glasses, so I can't wear shades
But I'll kick their asses – I'll get good grades
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna get good grades!
I can't get with the times…
Can't spout the party line…
Don't know what the scene's about
Don't tell me to mellow out!
Don't got no goatee
No fucking safety pin
No I ain't no junkie
Don't got no heroin
Don't got no stylish notion
Don't wanna live by the ocean
Just wanna be myself
All you posers go to Hell!
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna kick their asses in class
Gonna get good grades
Asses in class
Asses in class
Asses in class
We must read
"Mass Nerder" by Descendents is all about being an outsider who does not conform to society's expectations. The singer lists several physical attributes that popular people seem to have such as a goatee, tattoo, and nose ring, but he does not want to be like them. He also acknowledges that he is not cool and always gets his ass kicked in school. He does not have an attitude or muscular body but possesses intelligence in the form of thick specs. Despite his lack of physical attributes, he wants to be himself and not a poser. The chorus of the song sums up the message by emphasizing how he will succeed by getting good grades and kick their asses in class.
The lyrics of the song are a testament to the band's punk rock roots and embody the idea of not fitting into the norm. The song represents and relates to the experiences of many people who feel like outcasts and not accepted because they do not fit into the predetermined shape of society. The song celebrates individuality and encourages people to embrace their uniqueness, no matter how different they may be. It is a call to action for people to stop conforming to society's expectations and be themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't got no goatee
I do not have a goatee beard
Don't got no tattoo
I do not have a tattoo
Don't got no nose ring
I do not pierce my nose
Don't wanna be like you
I do not want to be like you
See I got these glasses, so I'll never be cool
Wearing glasses is not considered cool, and I wear glasses.
Always get my ass kicked when I get to school
I am bullied and beaten up when I go to school.
Don't worry about an image
I am not concerned about maintaining an image.
Don't got no attitude
I do not have an attitude.
I know I won't get laid
I am aware that I won't be popular with the opposite sex.
If I won't be like you
If I do not conform to your way of being.
Don't got no biceps
I do not have muscular arms.
Don't got no pecs
I do not have well-developed chest muscles.
But I'll read you under the table
I can read and outsmart you easily.
With my thick specs!
Due to my thick-lensed glasses.
See I got these glasses, so they kick my ass
I am bullied and beaten up due to my glasses.
But I'll kick their asses when I get to class
However, I will excel academically.
I got these glasses, so I can't wear shades
I wear glasses, so I can't wear sunglasses.
But I'll kick their asses – I'll get good grades
Nevertheless, I will earn good grades.
Gonna kick their asses in class
I will outperform my bullies in school.
Gonna get good grades!
I aim to excel academically.
I can't get with the times…
I do not fit in with the current trends.
Can't spout the party line…
I cannot advocate for the popular opinion.
Don't know what the scene's about
I do not understand the current cultural scene.
Don't tell me to mellow out!
I refuse to adapt to suit other's expectations.
No fucking safety pin
I do not attach safety pins to my clothes for aesthetic purposes.
No I ain't no junkie
I do not use drugs recreationally.
Don't got no heroin
I do not have or use heroin.
Don't got no stylish notion
I do not conform to or have any particular fashion sense.
Don't wanna live by the ocean
I have no desire to live by the sea or beach.
Just wanna be myself
I want to remain true to myself, regardless of external pressures.
All you posers go to Hell!
I do not respect fake or posing people.
Asses in class
The act of outperforming one's peers academically.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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