They’ve answered their own questions with a resounding yes through a packed itinerary of shows and a handful of recordings that are among the rawest musical experiences of the new decade. Combining reckless improvisational energy with the combined skills of four deadly sharp musicians, OFF! have dug down through a decades’ worth of accumulated stylistic garbage, and rediscovered the stripped down core of noise, speed, and rock & roll that punk seemed to have lost forever.
I Don't Belong
OFF! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Privileged friends
You lure me in
But I can't be your friend
Hit on Miss Liberty
Under the cherry tree
Drunk on hypocrisy
I'm standing in the shadows
I don't belong
Cocktail party
Pin the tail on the donkey
Icing on my face
But I don't like the taste
Right wing mentality
God and democracy
Red carpet royalty
I'm standing in the shadows
And I'm pissing in the punchbowl
I don't belong
The lyrics in OFF!'s song "I Don't Belong" describe the feeling of being an outsider in a situation or group of people that are supposed to be your peers. The lyrics address a sense of discomfort and misplacement with a group of people who come from a higher social caste and hold right-wing values that the singer does not share. The singer describes these people as hypocritical, luring them in but ultimately leaving them feeling excluded and rejected.
The first two lines of the song describe the singer's experience with people who are privileged and come from a high social caste. The next two lines describe how these people make the singer feel. The singer then describes an encounter with someone whose values they deeply disagree with, referred to as "Miss Liberty." The person is said to be "drunk on hypocrisy," indicating that they're not living up to their values or ideals.
The chorus of the song repeatedly declares that the singer does not belong in this group of people. They describe a party environment where the singer participates in games such as "Pin the tail on the donkey" and gets icing on their face, but they don't enjoy it. The last verse of the song describes the right-wing mentality of these people, which includes God and democracy, and their love of royalty and red carpets. The final lines of the song reiterate that the singer doesn't belong with these people and is content to stand in the shadows and "piss in the punchbowl."
Line by Line Meaning
Your high social caste
You come from a privileged background
Privileged friends
The people you associate with also come from a privileged background
You lure me in
You try to make me feel included in your social circle
But I can't be your friend
I can't emotionally connect with people who haven't struggled like I have
Hit on Miss Liberty
You're willing to objectify even the symbols of freedom and democracy
Under the cherry tree
In a seemingly idyllic setting
Drunk on hypocrisy
You're so invested in your own privilege that you don't recognize your own hypocrisy
I'm standing in the shadows
I'm watching but not participating in your world
And I'm pissing in the punchbowl
I'm subversively undermining the social norms
I don't belong
I don't feel like I fit in with your worldview
Cocktail party
A gathering of people who are primarily interested in maintaining their social status
Pin the tail on the donkey
A game that represents the superficiality of social interactions
Icing on my face
A symbol of the frivolity of the social gathering
But I don't like the taste
I'm disillusioned with the shallowness of the social scene
Right wing mentality
A political ideology that often prioritizes individualism over collective good
God and democracy
The rhetoric of patriotism and democracy, which can often be used to justify injustice
Red carpet royalty
People who are famous primarily for their social status, rather than their accomplishments
I don't belong
I don't fit in with the values and priorities of this culture
Contributed by Samuel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anon Nymous
Thank you, Keith Morris for restoring my faith in punk rock! This is SO f'in great! Straight ahead, no filler, no BS punk-fuckin-rock. Loud, fast, and ANGRY, like punks supposed to be.
Matthew Atwood
One minute long. Long as it needs to be. Beautiful.
4ureyesonlee
This is so refreshing to hear, takes me back to when punk rock sliced through the hypocrisy.
TheMrEMeat
This is how I feel as an aging punk citizen. God love the kids that continue our ideals but seriously. The eye rolls I get when hanging out at the young places and it's I'm one of you. I just unfortunately had time take its toll.
mark Ragus
The fact you are there means you belong! Let them find out!
sloshvictim
This just restored my faith in new music. Thanks Keith!!!
ggguuunnndddaaammm
i dont know why but there's something about this video thats cinematically (if you will) amazing, that has me addicted to it. plus this band is badass
Abergaz
I REALLY like this band!!
votejello
this is kick ass. i don't know what else to say. this is how it should be done.
Daniel de la Rosa
They're so great live! Keith is a vet.