The Wonder Years is an American pop punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, … Read Full Bio ↴The Wonder Years is an American pop punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, United States that formed in June 2005. Since their conception, they have released six full-length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilations. The group is currently signed to Hopeless Records. Their name originates from a paper that lead vocalist, Dan 'Soupy' Campbell, read written by his after-school education teacher titled "The Wonder Years"

Current members

Matt Brasch – guitar, backing vocals
Dan "Soupy" Campbell – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Casey Cavaliere – guitar, backing vocals
Mike Kennedy – drums, percussion
Josh Martin – bass guitar, backing vocals
Nick Steinborn – guitars, keyboards, piano, backing vocals

Studio albums

2007: Get Stoked on It!
2010: The Upsides
2011: Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
2013: The Greatest Generation
2015: No Closer to Heaven
2018: Sister Cities
2022: The Hum Goes On Forever

Compilations

2013: Sleeping on Trash: A Collection of Songs Recorded 2005-2010

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
The Wonder Years Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got this job that equates swallowing shit where I puree food for dementia patients, and the commute is an hour each way. I'm so sick of taking the train. I guess that I'm a hypochondriac, cause I'm always sick, or at least I think I am. I wish the Tylenol would kick in cause I'm so sick of feeling the same. We know that everything is going to be okay. All we need is Kerouac and a glass of sweet tea, or burritos and New Found Glory. I'm just trying to get through the week. Hey, do you think that you could loan me ten bucks so that I could buy the new season of Scrubs? I'm short on cash this week and I'd pay you back on Thursday. I've got these friends that hate their fucking lives. I guess that's what inactivity does to the mind. So, I stay busy day and night. I don't have time to complain. Everything, everything, everything is going to be okay.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" by The Wonder Years explore the mundane struggles and anxieties of everyday life. The song centers around a narrator who works a job that they dislike and has to commute for a long time each day. They also admit to being a hypochondriac, always feeling sick or fearing illness. The singer wishes for relief from this monotony and the constant worry, expressing a desire for a simple escape through things like Kerouac's writing, sweet tea or burritos, and New Found Glory's music.

The song also touches on themes of friendship and the effects of inactivity on mental health. The singer mentions friends who hate their lives, possibly due to being stuck in a similar routine. However, rather than complaining or falling into the same trap, the singer stays busy around the clock to avoid that fate. The repeated refrain of "everything is going to be okay" serves as a reminder that despite the struggles and hardships, there is hope for the future.

Overall, "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" is a relatable and introspective reflection on the difficulties of navigating modern life. The lyrics offer a sense of camaraderie for those going through similar struggles and encourage perseverance and optimism.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got this job that equates swallowing shit where I puree food for dementia patients, and the commute is an hour each way.
My job is awful and unpleasant, and the commute is long and tiring.

I'm so sick of taking the train.
I'm tired of my daily commute and wish I could find a better way to get to work.

I guess that I'm a hypochondriac, cause I'm always sick, or at least I think I am.
I may be a hypochondriac because I often feel sick, or I may just be overly worried about my health.

I wish the Tylenol would kick in cause I'm so sick of feeling the same.
I hope the Tylenol I took starts working soon because I'm tired of feeling the same symptoms.

We know that everything is going to be okay.
Despite our problems, we believe that everything will work out in the end.

All we need is Kerouac and a glass of sweet tea, or burritos and New Found Glory.
We can find comfort in simple pleasures such as reading Kerouac or enjoying food and music.

I'm just trying to get through the week.
I'm focused on making it to the end of the work week and taking a break.

Hey, do you think that you could loan me ten bucks so that I could buy the new season of Scrubs? I'm short on cash this week and I'd pay you back on Thursday.
I need to borrow some money to afford something I want, but I promise to pay it back soon.

I've got these friends that hate their fucking lives. I guess that's what inactivity does to the mind.
I know people who are unhappy with their lives due to a lack of activity or purpose.

So, I stay busy day and night. I don't have time to complain.
I keep myself busy to avoid dwelling on negative thoughts or complaining about my situation.

Everything, everything, everything is going to be okay.
We repeat this phrase to reinforce our belief that things will ultimately work out in our favor.

Contributed by Mason D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Nic Evely

5y↑5

Lyrics:
I've got this job that equates swallowing shit where I puree food for dementia patients, and the commute is an hour each way. I'm so sick of taking the train

I guess that I'm a hypochondriac, cause I'm always sick, or at least I think I am. I wish the Tylenol would kick in cause I'm so sick of feeling the same

[Chorus]
And we know that everything is going to be okay. All we need is Kerouac and a glass of sweet tea, or burritos and New Found Glory. I'm just trying to get through the week

Hey, do you think that you could loan me ten bucks so that I could buy the new season of Scrubs? I'm short on cash this week and I'd pay you back on Thursday

I've got these friends that hate their fucking lives. I guess that's what inactivity does to the mind. So, I stay busy day and night. I don't have time to complain

[Chorus]
And we know that everything is going to be okay. All we need is Kerouac and a glass of sweet tea, or burritos and New Found Glory. I'm just trying to get through the week

Everything is going to be okay. All we need is something to get through the day

(We know that everything, everything, everything is going to be okay) x 5

All comments from YouTube:

xxhardforcorexx

9y↑37

"I don't have time to complain." That's just not true, Dan.

Andrew Bryson

4y↑13

I know that nobody is looking at this thread anymore but the amount of people arguing whether emmure or the wonder years came first and didn’t realize it was named after a 2004 chappelle skit is crazy lol

Deadman

2y↑2

Ayo deadass lmao

Squeege85

14y↑2

The more I listen to this band. The more I like! Glad I discovered them!

Nic Evely

5y↑5

breadsandwich

3y↑2

this was the first wonder years song i ever heard.. memories♥

Flannel Maniac

2y↑4

anyone else feeling nostalgic for that classic TWY synth?

Julian Mandzy

I was at their show in Pittsburgh this yr and asked them to play a song from this album but they didn't RIP

Emmy C.

9y↑18

The Wonder Years were never not-fantastc

Josh Bambrough

4y↑3

I'm just trying to get through the day dan....but I still love this music brings back a l ol t of good memories s

T P

10y↑12

This song is way underrated

Keith Flynn

13y↑3

both emmure and the wonder years are good. i just think the wonder years are better right now... im into more positive music now a days ..... dont get me wrong i still love me some cannibal corpse but the wonder years is the shit no matter what anyone says. PERIOD

Cody Chalmers

12y↑3

Why cant everyone just enjoy the music? If you dont like the style or the band, don't click on the video.

SpoofMuffin

11y↑5

You have a misconception of hardcore. You're probably referring to metalcore or anything in that realm. Hardcore doesn't mean gurgles and guitars in drop "A" tuning. NFG could technically be considered "hardcore". But genres are stupid. If you don't like the music don't listen to it.

Jake Love

14y↑1

Hahaha, I love Emmure, and this band.

imHXCw00t

13y

i listen to alot of metal and hardcore/posicore as well. But I love the wonder years. Just a bunch of hardcore dudes that play pop punk

Carl Gaebe

13y

i actually like the emmure song too..it's the only song by them that i'll actually listen to

Muffindacabage

Still a killer song, just some burritos and new found glory, we just trying to get through the week

JamesMarsh_Music

13y

Did the sound at :12 make anyone else think a fly was flying by their ear? I had to rewind it to make sure it was actually there xp

Will Whitehead

12y↑3

come on guys, hardcore and pop punk are awesome. most pop punk bands have roots in hardcore anyway. it's all good stuff!

PWS859

5y↑2

A simpler time

Alex Monro

13y↑3

@WhenDaylightDims Mate I enjoy Terror as much as the next hardcore moshbro but pop punk still kicks ass.

Tyler Baumgarth

12y↑2

Woah there keyboard warrior why do you care so much about hardcore kids. 9/10 hardcore kids like pop punk deal with itx

Bud Koogle

12y

they actually came out the same year.

Jess Valera

13y

@mofro902 actually the emmure one came out first, but theyre both great songs!

matt kurpiel

12y↑1

Haha hate to break it to you but pop punk and hardcore aren't much different. All of my favorite bands are from both of those genres, how about you get a constructive hobby besides wasting your time on music you don't even like.