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.
Elders
The Offspring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some perfect mold we were supposed to be
But now we're growing up and I see it's just not that way
Now I feel like someone's lied to me
'Cause I've been true, made good for you
And now I feel used, I'm asking you
How does it feel, how does it feel
Tell me now, elders, what were your reasons for
Making it seem like you were so much more?
You wanna feel good because of our accomplishments
Why the fuck don't you just do it yourself man
I've tried, man, I've tried
While you just lied, so now just tell me
How does it feel, how does it feel
How does it feel, how does it feel to be like you?
'Cause I've been true, made good for you
And now I feel used, I'm asking you
How does it feel, how does it feel
How does it feel, how does it feel to be like you?
Look at all the families now who don't talk and don't trust
Because of the way that things have been done
When will you finally learn to leave out the bullshit
And just be straight with us?
The Offspring's "Elders" is a reflection on the expectations imposed on young people by adults, and how those expectations shape our sense of identity. The song addresses the frustration of trying to live up to an idealized version of ourselves that we believe is expected of us. It is a realization that this ideal, this "perfect mold," is a construct that has been created and reinforced by the generations that came before us.
The singer of the song, having done everything he was supposed to do, feels used and betrayed by the elders who set these standards. He calls them out for wanting to bask in the glow of the younger generation's achievements, while not doing anything themselves. He demands to know how it feels to be like them, to have played their part in perpetuating this cycle of unrealistic expectations and disappointment.
The chorus repeats the question "how does it feel to be like you?" as a way of challenging the elders to examine their own values and beliefs. The final verse highlights the consequences of this dynamic, as families become estranged and distrustful because of the imposition of these unrealistic standards. The singer implores the elders to learn to be honest with the younger generation and avoid the "bullshit" that perpetuates this cycle of disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
When we were younger, there always seemed like some
As young people, we believed we were supposed to conform to a perfect mold that existed.
Some perfect mold we were supposed to be
We thought we had to fit into a certain standard to be accepted and successful.
But now we're growing up and I see it's just not that way
As we matured, we realized that this belief was not true and that individuality is essential.
Now I feel like someone's lied to me
We are left feeling disillusioned, realizing that we were misled about what was necessary to achieve success.
'Cause I've been true, made good for you
We have been honest and worked hard for the approval and recognition of the elders.
And now I feel used, I'm asking you
However, it appears that this effort has gone to waste and that we have not received the expected return. We are questioning the worth of trying so hard.
How does it feel, how does it feel
We want to know how it feels to be in the elder's shoes and have someone work hard for us only to be disappointed.
Tell me now, elders, what were your reasons for
We are requesting that the older generation explain their motivations for perpetuating this falsehood.
Making it seem like you were so much more?
We want them to clarify why they presented the idea that conforming is the path to success or superiority.
You wanna feel good because of our accomplishments
It seems like the elders want to take credit for our achievements and feel better about themselves because of them.
Why the fuck don't you just do it yourself man
We are calling out the elders for not taking action to feel better about themselves without using someone else's successes to do so.
I've tried, man, I've tried
We have put in the effort, but the results have not met our expectations.
While you just lied, so now just tell me
We also believe that the older generation was not truthful in their guidance of what it takes to be successful.
Look at all the families now who don't talk and don't trust
We see the negative consequences, such as broken families, of people striving to meet this non-existent standard.
Because of the way that things have been done
The reason for this division and strife is the belief that conformity is the only path to success.
When will you finally learn to leave out the bullshit
We implore the elder generation to stop giving false instructions for success and instead give honest guidance.
And just be straight with us?
We want elder generations to communicate with honesty, and give more important advice for the discord caused by the dogmatic belief in conformity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dexter Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nate M
Their best song from their first album in my opinion.
Peter
I like how this album is always fast, from start to finish.
Sometimes it is fun when an album goes all out like that, without any "breathing room", unless maybe you count the intro for "I'll Be Waiting".
Italo Santos
the best song from the very first album.
Джон До
How they can make this in 1989??? This is amazing🤘👍
Michael Hobgood
i like almost all of their songs i like their new stuff perfer their old but all still good
Miguelito Jodedor
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be like you
Gustavo Fabian
That Hardcore-Punk kick and snare rythm with that Hi-Hat sound so fucking hard to sustain trough the song...
Rober tito
great song
Brayden Black
straight up banger
vohzd
WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER!
What a skate-hymn