The song received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, with many praising its tone and subject matter. It was a hit on rock radio in the United States, where it peaked at number seven on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2001.
STAY TOGETHER FOR THE KIDS
blink-182 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the shades have been pulled shut
This house is haunted, it's so pathetic
It makes no sense at all
I'm ripe with things to say
The words rot and fall away
What stupid poem could fix this home?
I'd read it every day
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night
Twenty years now lost?
It's not right
Their anger hurts my ears
Been running strong for seven years
Rather than fix the problems, they never solve them
It makes no sense at all
I see them every day
We get along, so why can't they?
If this is what he wants, and it's what she wants
Then why's there so much pain?
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night
Twenty years now lost?
It's not right
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night
Twenty years now lost?
It's not right
It's not right
It's not right
It's not right
"Stay Together for the Kids" is a song by blink-182 that deals with the theme of divorce and how it affects children. It starts off with the singer describing the state of the house, which reminds him of a ghost town. He feels like there are no solutions to his problems, and there's no escape from the situation he's facing. He's ripe with things to say, but the words rot and fall away, indicating his inability to articulate his feelings coherently.
The song goes on to describe the singer's parents' divorce, which has been going on for seven years. They never solve their problems or try to fix their relationship, and their constant fighting and anger hurt the singer's ears. He wonders why they can't get along even though they seem to get along fine with him. The chorus repeats the lines "So here's your holiday, hope you enjoy it this time. You gave it all away, it was mine." The tone is sarcastic, with the singer being angry that his parents are still trying to have a good time while he's the one suffering the consequences of their actions.
The song ends with the singer acknowledging that twenty years are now lost, and it's not right. He alludes to the fact that his parents' divorce has affected him for most of his life, and it's not something he can just get over. The song serves as a melancholic reflection of divorce and the impact it can have on children.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hard to wake up
I find it difficult to start my day
When the shades have been pulled shut
The curtains are always closed in this house
This house is haunted
There's a feeling of sadness and despair in this house
It's so pathetic
The situation here is such a pity
It makes no sense at all
I can't comprehend why things are the way they are
I'm ripe with things to say
I have many things I would like to express
The words rot and fall away
But what I want to say never comes out right
What stupid poem could fix this home
I wish a simple poem could solve everything
I'd read it every day
I'd cling to any solution to fix this situation
Their anger hurts my ears
Their constant fighting is painful to listen to
Been running strong for seven years
Their dysfunctional relationship has lasted for a long time
Rather than fix the problems
They choose to avoid and ignore the issues
They never solve them
Problems continue to persist and nothing changes
I see them everyday
I witness their arguments on a daily basis
We get along, so why can't they?
I wish they could get along as well as we do
If this is what he wants
If this is what my dad desires
And this is what she wants
And this is what my mom wants
Then why is there so much pain?
Why does their relationship cause so much suffering?
It's not right
This situation is unfair and unjust
So here's your holiday
So enjoy this vacation
Hope you enjoy it this time
I hope it's more enjoyable than in the past
You gave it all away
My parents sacrificed everything for this vacation
It was mine
But I feel like I've lost ownership of everything in my life
So when you're dead and gone
When you're no longer here
Will you remember this night
Will you recall this moment in the future?
Twenty years now lost
Twenty years have passed and nothing has changed
It's not right
This situation is unjust and it's hard to accept
It's not right
This situation is unjust and it's hard to accept
It's not right
This situation is unjust and it's hard to accept
It's not right
This situation is unjust and it's hard to accept
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Travis L. Barker, Thomas DeLonge, Mark Hoppus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kristen21023
To all the kids coming here to find solace while their families are falling apart...
It's not your fault and you're not alone.
Find someone you can talk to about it. Seriously.
Do not let embarrassment and shame isolate yourself.
It's easy to cling to a song because it echos your pain.
That's okay, music is therapy.
But there are other forms of therapy and outlets to consider.
I was stubborn and waited too long to get help.
I thought the memories would fade and life would get better on its own.
Trauma will not go away by ignoring it.
Don't hold it in. Someone will listen, even if they can't fully relate.
I wish someone told me that at when I was a teenager.
I'm in my 30s now and still dealing with it.
@laaura79
It's hard to wake up
When the shades have been pulled shut
This house is haunted
It's so pathetic, it makes no sense at all
I'm ripe with things to say
The words rot and fall away
What stupid poem, could fix this home?
I'd read it every day
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night?
Twenty years now lost
It's not right
Their anger hurts my ears
Been running strong for seven years
Rather than fix the problems
They never solve them, it makes no sense at all
I see them everyday
We get along so why can't they?
If this is what he wants
And it's what she wants
Then why is there so much pain?
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night
Twenty years now lost
It's not right
So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away
It was mine
So when you're dead and gone
Will you remember this night
Twenty years now lost
It's not right
It's not right
It's not right
It's not right
:)
@Freekkyyyy
Just wish Mark Travis & Tom Stayed together for the kids :(
@alphabacca2092
Bruh they just made a new album 😐😐
@Heleghen
Tom isn`t back.
@angles7604
That's like having a step dad, it aint gonna be the same.
@turningstranger
+Heleghen good
@kenpruchnickijr8759
Tom will be back.. I hope.
@blueline15
I was 14 when this song came out. My parents were fighting. They finally divorced 3 years later. As a confused teenager, this song made the world feel a bit more normal. Now 35 and happily married. I hope Blink-182 realizes the comfort and outlet their songs provided everyone around my age. This song still gives me goosebumps.
@Phmms90
Congrats, my friend!
@MsHakael
Awesome buddy, greetings!!!!
@aristeodimasacat8018
we are same age my friend