Dexter Holland is said to have written this song while flying solo around the world. Speaking about its inclusion on "Greatest Hits", he said 'the way the world works now, if you really want people to hear about a greatest hits record, you need that new song
The music video for the song simply featured the band playing in a derelict room, and it received little airtime on MTV. An alternate version was made showing actors looking back on photographs and memories, reflecting the song's subject matter, though this was very rarely shown. It was the second and final video to feature Atom Willard playing the drums.
The original music video starts with Kriesel playing the opening melody with his special, "k-covered" bass, hence to his nickname of Greg K, then Willard comes in, and finally Holland and Noodles. The melody stays about the same throughout the song.
Can't Repeat
The Offspring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I woke the other day
And saw my world has changed
The past is over but tomorrow?s wishful thinking
I can't hold onto what's been done
I can't grab onto what's to come
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries
Memories are bittersweet
The good times we can't repeat
Those days are gone and we can never get them back
Now we must move ahead
Despite our fear and dread
We're all just wishing we could stop, but
Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe your eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries
With all our joys and fears
Wrapped in forgotten years
The past is laughing as today just slips away
Time tears down what we've made
And sets another stage
And I'm just wishing we could stop
Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries
Times move on
In The Offspring's song Can't Repeat, Dexter Holland reflects on the fleeting nature of time and how it affects our memories and outlook on life. As he wakes up one day, he realizes that the world around him has changed and what's already happened cannot be undone, while what's to come is uncertain and out of his control. He then acknowledges that he's stuck in the middle, wishing he could stop time and hold onto what has passed, but it's impossible. Life must go on, and we must come of age and turn the page, regardless of our fears and regrets. The chorus repeats this message, with the line "yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries", encapsulating the cyclical nature of life and how every moment counts.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of nostalgia, as Holland sings about how memories are bittersweet and we long for the good times we can't repeat. He reinforces the idea that we can never go back to the past and relive those moments, making them even more precious and fragile. He then shifts to a more philosophical perspective, stating that our joys and fears are wrapped in forgotten years, meaning that even if we hold onto our memories, they will eventually fade away as time moves on. The bridge section provides a sense of catharsis, as Holland admits that he's just wishing they could stop time altogether, knowing that it's impossible. Nevertheless, the song ends on a hopeful note, with its catchy chorus reminding us that we still have to press on and cope with the next chapter of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke the other day
I had an epiphany recently
And saw my world has changed
My life has evolved in some way
The past is over but tomorrow?s wishful thinking
The past is gone and I can only hope for a better future
I can't hold onto what's been done
I shouldn't dwell on the past
I can't grab onto what's to come
I can't control the future, it's uncertain
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
I wish I could pause time, but alas, I can't
Life goes on
The world doesn't stop for anyone
Come of age
Grow up and mature
Can't hold on
Can't stay in the past
Turn the page
Move on to the next chapter of life
Time rolls on
Time passes by
Wipe these eyes
Stop crying and move forward
Yesterday laughs
The past lives on in our memories
Tomorrow cries
The future is uncertain and may cause anxiety
Memories are bittersweet
Recalling past experiences can be a mix of emotions
The good times we can't repeat
The great moments we've had can't be recreated
Those days are gone and we can never get them back
We can't relive the past, it's gone forever
Now we must move ahead
It's time to keep moving forward in life
Despite our fear and dread
Even if we're scared or apprehensive about the unknown
With all our joys and fears
Our happiness and anxieties shape our journey
Wrapped in forgotten years
Our past experiences are tucked away, but still influence us
The past is laughing as today just slips away
Time is fleeting, and the past seems to have the last laugh
Time tears down what we've made
Time has a way of destroying what we've built
And sets another stage
And opens up new opportunities for growth and change
And I'm just wishing we could stop
I still long for the impossible, but know it's not reasonable
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Keith Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MonkeyDLuffy-pq2mx
LYRICS
… I woke the other day and saw my world has changed
The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking
I can't hold onto what's been done (woah)
I can't grab onto what's to come (woah)
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
… Memories are bittersweet, the good times we can't repeat
Those days are gone and we can never get them back
Now we must move ahead despite our fear and dread (woah, woah)
We're all just wishing we could stop, but
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe your eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
… With all our joys and fears wrapped in forgotten years
The past is laughing as today just slips away
Time tears down what we've made (woah)
And sets another stage (woah)
And I'm just wishing we could stop
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe this eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
Time rolls on
@archmaltsev
Woke the other day
And saw my world has changed.
The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking.
I can't hold onto what's been done,
I can't grab onto what's to come.
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe these eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
Memories are bittersweet,
The good times we can't repeat,
Those days are gone and we can never get them back.
Now we must move ahead,
Despite our fear and dread.
We're all just wishing we could stop, but
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe your eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
With all our joys and fears,
Wrapped in forgotten years,
The past is laughing as today just slips away.
Time tears down what we've made
And sets another stage
And I'm just wishing we could stop.
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe these eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
@canildonviccario3049
[Can't Repeat]
I woke the other day
And saw my world has changed
The past is over but
Tomorrow's wishful thinking
Can't hold on what's being done
Can't grab on what's to come
And I just wish that I could stop but
Life Goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow Cries
The memories are bittersweet
Good times we CAN'T REPEAT
Those days are gone and we can
Never get them back
Now we must move ahead
Despite our fear and dread
We're all just wishing we could stop but
Life Goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe your eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow Cries
With all our joys and fears
Wrapped in forgotten years
The past is laughing as
Today just slips away
Time can't stand what we've made
Cause it's another day
And I'm just wishing we could stop --
Life Goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow Cries
Time rolls on
@MonkeyDLuffy-pq2mx
LYRICS
… I woke the other day and saw my world has changed
The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking
I can't hold onto what's been done (woah)
I can't grab onto what's to come (woah)
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
… Memories are bittersweet, the good times we can't repeat
Those days are gone and we can never get them back
Now we must move ahead despite our fear and dread (woah, woah)
We're all just wishing we could stop, but
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe your eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
… With all our joys and fears wrapped in forgotten years
The past is laughing as today just slips away
Time tears down what we've made (woah)
And sets another stage (woah)
And I'm just wishing we could stop
… Life goes on, come of age
Can't hold on, turn the page
Time rolls on, wipe this eyes
Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries
Time rolls on
@archmaltsev
Woke the other day
And saw my world has changed.
The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking.
I can't hold onto what's been done,
I can't grab onto what's to come.
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe these eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
Memories are bittersweet,
The good times we can't repeat,
Those days are gone and we can never get them back.
Now we must move ahead,
Despite our fear and dread.
We're all just wishing we could stop, but
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe your eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
With all our joys and fears,
Wrapped in forgotten years,
The past is laughing as today just slips away.
Time tears down what we've made
And sets another stage
And I'm just wishing we could stop.
Life goes on,
Come of age,
Can't hold on,
Turn the page.
Time rolls on,
Wipe these eyes.
Yesterday laughs,
Tomorrow cries.
@rarekind6977
Thank you for putting up the lyrics. I caught most of them but it's so much easier hearing a new song when u can see their words while hearing them. And I'm totally serious. Not talking shit in any way.
@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax
@Russian guy - Thank you for the lyrics! 👍👍
@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax
@Shelley Miller - How old are you?
Is this the first time you heard this song?
@yunesvinicius2943
Thx
@dfedorovich5064
Спасибо бро!
@fros3566
THIS SONG IS PERFECT.
@ramiroayllon3287
“Yesterday laughs, tomorrow cries”. This line has been a prophecy, guys.
@oldmate9969
i still remember hearing them for the first time when i was probably 11 or 12, I'm 29 now and still haven't got sick of them. some music is just timeless.