Kick Him When He's Down
The Offspring Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

'Hey, you're a riddle',
I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone

Little men try but don't get a lot done
Living in sin doesn't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

[Chorus]
When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

Hey, everybody's supposed to be the same
So how come they're so lame?
It's like taking a fall
Keep on running back into that wall

Awake in a dream, get up and go to work
But I'm feeling like such a jerk
Like I said before
Little men come when everything goes

[Chorus]

'Hey, you're a riddle' I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone
Little men try but don't get a lot done

Living in sin doesn't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague




Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

Overall Meaning

The Offspring's song Kick Him When He's Down, talks about frustration with society's expectations and conformity. The lyrics, "Hey, you're a riddle, I say as I move aside, but you won't leave it alone" express irritation with people who try to give their opinions and advice, despite not being asked for it. The lyrics continue, "Little men try but don't get a lot done" and "Living in sin doesn't move me either way", which could be interpreted as the idea that people are living their lives without a clear direction or purpose. The feeling of vagueness is further emphasized when it is said, "Like I said before, little men come when anything goes."


The chorus of the song, "When the rain comes I sit home and pray, make it all numb, I wish it all away, all I really need is just somewhere to hide away, kick him when he's down" implies a lack of control and a desire to escape from the pressures of life. The repetition of "kick him when he's down" can be seen as a punishment for not conforming to societal norms. The lyrics, "beat me all the way I'll take it all night, hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright" could be interpreted as an attempt to accept this punishment and endure it, despite the difficulty.


Overall, the song speaks to the frustration of those who feel trapped by societal expectations and feel the need to conform. The lyrics express a desire for escape and a feeling of being trapped by the pressures of life.



Line by Line Meaning

Hey, you're a riddle
I am acknowledging the fact that you are complicated and hard to understand


I say as I move aside
I am dismissing your attempts to give me advice


(Like I really need your advice)
I am being sarcastic and implying that I don't actually need or want their advice


But you won't leave it alone
Despite my attempts to ignore their advice, they keep pestering me


Little men try but don't get a lot done
People who are weak and powerless often struggle to accomplish anything significant


Living in sin doesn't move me either way
Engaging in immoral behavior doesn't affect me or my judgment


I get a feeling you're so vague
I suspect that you are being unclear or evasive in your communication with me


Like I said before
I am repeating a point that I have previously made


Little men come when anything goes
People who are weak and powerless often take advantage of chaotic or uncertain situations


When the rain comes I sit home and pray
In times of hardship or distress, I rely on prayer as a coping mechanism


Make it all numb
I wish I could numb myself to the pain and difficulty of life


I wish it all away
I wish that my problems and challenges would just disappear


All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
All I want is a safe and secure place where I can escape from the world


Kick him when he's down
People take pleasure in attacking or ridiculing someone who is already vulnerable or weak


Here alone I'll put up and fight
Even though I am alone and unsupported, I will still fight and resist my attackers


Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Even if my attackers continue to harm me, I will endure it for as long as necessary


Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright
I am reassuring myself and those around me that I can handle whatever comes my way


Hey, everybody's supposed to be the same
There is an expectation that everyone should conform and be alike


So how come they're so lame?
But in reality, most people are uninteresting, boring, or unimpressive


It's like taking a fall
Trying and failing is painful and frustrating


Keep on running back into that wall
Despite the pain and frustration, people often continue to repeat the same mistakes or patterns of behavior


Awake in a dream, get up and go to work
I feel disengaged or disconnected from my daily routine and responsibilities


But I'm feeling like such a jerk
I am experiencing a sense of self-doubt or self-criticism


Like I said before
I am repeating a point that I have previously made


Little men come when everything goes
People who are weak and powerless often emerge during times of crisis or instability




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEXTER HOLLAND, GREG KRIESEL, KEVIN WASSERMAN, RON WELTY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@yunix2396

Lyrics:
Hey, you're a riddle',
I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone

Little men try but don't get a lot done
Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

Hey, everybody's supposed to be the same
So how come they're so lame?
It's like taking a fall
Keep on running back into that wall

Awake in a dream, get up and go to work
But I'm feeling like such a jerk
Like I said before
Little men come when everything goes

When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

'Hey, you're a riddle' I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone
Little men try but don't get a lot done

Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes



@crazyrider7699

"Kick Him When He's Down"

Hey, you're a riddle I say as I move aside
Like I really need your advice
But you won't leave it alone
Little men try but don't get a lot done
Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
LIttle men come when anything goes

[Chorus:]
When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
(Kick him when he's down)
Here alone I'll put up and fight
(Kick him when he's down)
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
(Kick him when he's down)
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

Hey, everybody's supposed to be the same
So how come they're so lame?
It's like taking a fall
Keep on running back into that wall
Awake in a dream, get up and go to work
But I'm feeling like such a jerk
Like I said before
Little men come when everything goes

[Chorus]

Hey, you're a riddle I say as I move aside
Like I really need your advice
But you won't leave it alone
Little men try but don't get a lot done
Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

[Chorus w/ adlibs]



All comments from YouTube:

@requiem5179

This is the track!!!! I love every song on this album but man this one got hit on repeat a lot.

@akaner8425

Best Offspring album IMO

@ZonerD_loner96

I agree!! This one kicks rear

@maynam3dedale

I agree !!!

@Syst3m04

Tell my friends the same. Everyone always goes with Smash (which I do like), but this is my fav, and self titled is extremely underrated

@kichigan1

This is the only Offs album I have not taken the time to listen to. But if you say so, I will absolutely check it out.

@user-rw7ov1yh7d

​@@Syst3m04 self titled is rlly good but raw if compare with ignition

1 More Replies...

@simonecostantini892

Underrated album.

@yunix2396

Lyrics:
Hey, you're a riddle',
I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone

Little men try but don't get a lot done
Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

Hey, everybody's supposed to be the same
So how come they're so lame?
It's like taking a fall
Keep on running back into that wall

Awake in a dream, get up and go to work
But I'm feeling like such a jerk
Like I said before
Little men come when everything goes

When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright

'Hey, you're a riddle' I say as I move aside
(Like I really need your advice)
But you won't leave it alone
Little men try but don't get a lot done

Living in sin don't move me either way
I get a feeling you're so vague
Like I said before
Little men come when anything goes

@francisco.6151

Thank you very much for the lyrics 😊😊

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