For the bands second album, Hand Over Your Loved Ones, Shannon Harris (from Relish) joined on keyboards. Due to disagreements with the record label, mostly caused by Brendan Brown's wish to self-produce the album, the album received little promotion and did not sell well.
Michael Bellar (keyboards) then joined the band and they re-released their second album (containing two new songs) on their own record label, Montauk Mantis, this time named Suck Fony. In 2005 they released their third studio album, TooSoonMonsoon, once again on their own label.
In 2005, both Mike McCabe (bass) and Michael Bellar (keyboards) left and were replaced by Nicolas diPierro and Gerard Hoffman. Then the following year, diPierro and Pete Brown left and were replaced by Matt Milligan (bass) and Kevin Garcia (drums).
Current lineup:
Brendan Brown (vocals)
Matt Milligan (bass)
Gerald Hoffman (keyboards)
Kevin Garcia (drums)
Johanna Cranitch (backing vocals)
Georgia Haege (backing vocals)
Web-page: http://www.wheatus.com/
Teenage Dirtbag 04:01
Wheatus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have a dream about her
She rings my bell
I got gym class in half an hour
Oh how she rocks
In Keds and tube socks
But she doesn't know who I am
Cause I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby
Yeah I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me, ooh
Her boyfriend's a dick
He brings a gun to school
He'd simply kick my ass if he knew the truth
He lives on my block
And he drives an I-Roc
But he doesn't know who I am
And he doesn't give a damn about me
Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me, ooh
Oh yeah, dirt bag
No she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh yeah, dirt bag
No she doesn't know what she's missin'
Man I feel like mold
It's prom night and I am lonely lo and behold
She's walkin' over to me this must be fake
My lip starts to shake
How does she know who I am?
And why does she give a damn about me?
"I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby
Come with me Friday, don't say maybe
I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby, like you ooh"
Ooh yeah, dirt bag
No she doesn't know what she's missin'
Ooh yeah, dirt bag
No she doesn't know what she's missin'
The lyrics to "Teenage Dirt Bag" by Wheatus describe the infatuation of the singer with a girl named Noel. He dreams about her, admiring her from afar and describing how cool she is in her Keds and tube socks. However, he feels like a social outcast - just a teenage dirt bag - and he knows that she doesn't know who he is or care about him. Her boyfriend, who lives on his block, is a bully, generating a sense of competition for the singer.
Despite all of this, there is a moment of hope on prom night when Noel walks over to him and offers him two tickets to an Iron Maiden concert. The singer is incredulous and wonders why she suddenly cares about him. This moment represents a shift in their relationship, and the singer sees himself as more on her level - both just teenage dirtbags who love Iron Maiden.
The lyrics to "Teenage Dirt Bag" are a relatable portrayal of the awkwardness and insecurity that many teenagers feel, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. Noel represents a seemingly unattainable object of desire, and the singer's feelings of inferiority and inadequacy contrast with her coolness and popularity. However, the final lines of the song suggest that the singer has found acceptance and belonging with Noel, which is a hopeful conclusion for a song that can often be read as quite cynical.
Line by Line Meaning
Her name is Noel
The singer is thinking about a girl named Noel.
I have a dream about her
The singer has fantasies involving Noel.
She rings my bell
Noel has an effect on the singer when she's around him.
I got gym class in half an hour
The artist is in school and has a schedule to keep.
Oh how she rocks, in Keds and tube socks
The artist admires Noel's fashion sense.
But she doesn't know who I am
Noel doesn't know the singer's name or existence.
And she doesn't give a damn about me
Noel doesn't have any feelings or interest for the singer.
Cause I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby
The artist feels unimportant and worthless.
Yeah I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby
The artist believes he is just an insignificant teenage boy.
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me, ooh
The artist loves Iron Maiden's music and wants Noel to listen with him.
Her boyfriend's a dick
Noel's boyfriend is not a good person.
He brings a gun to school
Noel's boyfriend has a dangerous weapon on school premises.
He'd simply kick my ass if he knew the truth
If Noel's boyfriend knew about the singer's interest in Noel, he would physically harm him.
He lives on my block
Noel's boyfriend is a neighbor of the singer.
And he drives an I-Roc
Noel's boyfriend has a cool car.
But he doesn't know who I am
Noel's boyfriend doesn't know the artist's name or existence.
And he doesn't give a damn about me
Noel's boyfriend doesn't have any feelings or interest for the artist.
Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
The singer is aware that he's not as cool as Noel's boyfriend.
Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
The singer believes he is not cool enough to be with Noel.
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me, ooh
The artist still wants Noel to listen to Iron Maiden's music with him.
Oh yeah, dirt bag / No she doesn't know what she's missin'
The artist thinks Noel doesn't know what she's missing by not being with him.
Man I feel like mold / It's prom night and I am lonely lo and behold
The artist is feeling lonely at prom night, a special event where he is supposed to have fun.
She's walkin' over to me this must be fake
Noel approaches the singer, and he doesn't believe it's happening.
My lip starts to shake
The artist becomes nervous and anxious.
How does she know who I am?
The singer is confused about how Noel knows who he is.
And why does she give a damn about me?
The singer is surprised that Noel is interested in him.
"I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby / Come with me Friday, don't say maybe
Noel invites the singer to go to an Iron Maiden concert with her on Friday.
I'm just a teenage dirt bag, baby, like you ooh"
The artist admits he's also a teenage dirtbag, but he believes he and Noel share something in common.
Ooh yeah, dirt bag / No she doesn't know what she's missin' / Ooh yeah, dirt bag
The artist reiterates that Noel doesn't know what she's missing by not being with him.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENDAN BROWN, BRENDAN B. BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind