Self Esteem
The Offspring Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

La, la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la

I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practiced all the things I would say
But she came over, I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
Now I know I'm being used
That's okay, man, 'cause I like the abuse
I know she's playin' with me
That's okay 'cause I got no self esteem

Oh, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah

We make plans to go out at night
I wait 'til two, then I turn out the light
This rejection's got me so low
If she keeps it up, I just might tell her so

Oh, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah

When she's saying, oh, that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh, that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah

Now I'll relate this little bit
It happens more than I'd like to admit
Late at night, she knocks on my door
She's drunk again and looking to score
Now I know I should say no
But it's kind of hard when she's ready to go
I may be dumb, but I'm not a dweeb
I'm just a sucker with no self esteem

Oh, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah

When she's saying, oh, that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh, that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer




The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah

Overall Meaning

The Offspring's "Self Esteem" is a song about a man who repeatedly goes back to a woman who treats him poorly because he lacks self-esteem. The song speaks of the man's constant rejection and abuse, yet he cannot resist the woman's allure. He sings about how he practices what to say when he is finally going to stand up for himself, but when the moment finally arrives, he caves in as soon as she approaches him. He knows that she is using him, but he is willing to accept it "because he likes the abuse."


The lyrics of the song reveal the man's insecurities and his inability to stand up for himself. He is aware that the more he suffers, the more he shows he cares, but the reality is that he is just a "sucker with no self-esteem." The chorus emphasizes the cycle of abuse and the man's inability to break free from it.


Ultimately, the song is a commentary on the importance of self-worth and self-respect in relationships. The singer's lack of self-esteem is the root cause of his misery, and he is unable to break free from the cycle of abuse without it.


Line by Line Meaning

La, la, la-la-la
N/A


I wrote her off for the tenth time today
I rejected her many times before


And practiced all the things I would say
I rehearsed what I would say if she came back


But she came over, I lost my nerve
But she came back and I got nervous


I took her back and made her dessert
I forgave her and made her a sweet treat


Now I know I'm being used
Now I realize she's taking advantage of me


That's okay, man, 'cause I like the abuse
But it's okay because I enjoy the suffering


I know she's playin' with me
I know she's toying with me emotionally


That's okay 'cause I got no self esteem
But it's okay because I have no confidence or self-respect


Oh, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
N/A


We make plans to go out at night
We plan to go out at night


I wait 'til two, then I turn out the light
I wait until late, then give up on the plans


This rejection's got me so low
This constant rejection has made me feel terrible


If she keeps it up, I just might tell her so
If she continues, I might confront her about it


When she's saying, oh, that she wants only me
When she claims she only wants me


Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
I wonder why she sleeps with my friends


When she's saying, oh, that I'm like a disease
When she compares me to a disease


Then I wonder how much more I can spend
I wonder how much more I can give her


Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
I suppose I should stand up for myself


But I really think it's better this way
But I think it's better to keep things as they are


The more you suffer
The more you go through pain or hardship


The more it shows you really care
The more it demonstrates your love and devotion


Right? Yeah
Affirming the previous thought


Now I'll relate this little bit
Now, I'll share a little story


It happens more than I'd like to admit
It happens more often than I'd like to acknowledge


Late at night, she knocks on my door
Late at night, she comes to my door


She's drunk again and looking to score
She's drunk and seeking sex


Now I know I should say no
I know I should turn her down


But it's kind of hard when she's ready to go
But it's challenging to say no to her when she's willing


I may be dumb, but I'm not a dweeb
I may not be smart, but I'm not a loser


I'm just a sucker with no self esteem
I'm just someone easily taken advantage of due to lack of confidence


Oh, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
N/A




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Keith Holland

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

@johndoe-xu1on

I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practiced all the things I would say
But she came over, I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert

Now I know I'm being used
That's okay, man, 'cause I like the abuse
I know she's playing with me
That's okay 'cause I got no self-esteem

We make plans to go out at night
I wait 'til 2 then I turn out the light
This rejection's got me so low
If she keeps it up I just might tell her so

When she's saying that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah

Now I'll relate this little bit
That happens more than I'd like to admit
Late at night she knocks on my door
She's drunk again and looking to score

Now I know I should say "No"
But it's kind of hard when she's ready to go
I may be dumb but I'm not a dweeb
I'm just a sucker with no self-esteem

When she's saying that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah



@Necev

I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practiced all the things I would say
But she came over I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
Now I know I'm being used
That's okay man 'cause I like the abuse
Now I know she's playing with me
That's okay 'cause I've got no self-esteem
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
We make plans to go out at night
I wait 'til 2 then I turn out the light
This rejection's got me so low
If she keeps it up I just might tell her so
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
When she's saying, oh that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care, right? Yeah
Now I'll relay this little bit
Happens more than I'd like to admit
Late at night, she knocks on my door
Drunk again and looking to score
Now I know I should say no but
It's kind of hard when she's ready to go
I may be dumb but I'm not a dweeb
I'm just a sucker with no self-esteem
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah oh yeah, yeah
When she's saying, oh that she want's only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right?
Yeah yeah yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@impulsecdog4979

This was my dad’s favorite song. I remember driving around with him and blaring this song. He passed away in 2007. RIP Pop, still blaring it

@ashleybray1758

I used to drive around with my much younger sister blasting this shit! AWESOME!!! She loved it by the way!!

@f0sic735

that’s the beauty of music my brother.

@jacktaylor9960

rip

@RanierForeal

literally have the same memory with my Dad, passed in 2017, Rest In Peace to your Pop 🙏

@hasanwazir3161

Dude, your pops had awesome taste! 👊

88 More Replies...

@chrisbarr2622

One of the greatest songs ever. That opening "la la la la la la la la" pumps me up every time.

@blakebarberi4828

Yes this and Can't Stop by the Chilli Peppers. Two of my all time favorites.🤘🤘

@animationgirlie2227

Meee too!!

@mac888spectral7

I'll relay this little bit....

It happens more when I'm taking a shit...

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