The railing against adults continues on “Anthem Part 2,” the first song of the band’s next record, 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.
In a program for one of Blink’s tours around the time of Enema’s release, Tom left a brief annotation for each track. For “Anthem”:
"‘Anthem’ is a song I wrote about having a party at your house, your parents coming home and finding out. I did that to my friend one time. I wanted my band to play – in high school – at my friend’s house. His parents left only until midnight, but I still told the whole school that we were playing there. Thousands of people showed up, and then they all had to leave and we had to clean up the place before the parents came back at 12. It was so funny. The whole place chipped in with the clean up, but the cops showed up and his parents found out that way. So he ended up getting in to a lot of trouble. I couldn’t believe that I invited all those people over and his parents were only away until midnight. The stereo was broken…there was a fight, there was blood everywhere. It was so funny.'"
Anthem
blink 182 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run out the back door
He's passed out on the floor
Third time, been caught twice
Forgive our neighbor Bob
I think he humped the dog
But good things come to those who wait
And mom and dad posses the key
Instant slavery
No need to explain the plan
No need to even bother
I'll pack my bags I swear I'll run
Wish my friends were 21
White lies, bloodshot eyes
Breath of alcohol, stole it from the mall
How's Chris marked with lipstick
Better call their fathers, sleeping with your daughters
But good things come to those who wait
'Cause she laid me
And mom and dad posses the key
Instant slavery
No need to explain the plan
No need to even bother
I'll pack my bags I swear I'll run
Wish my friends were 21
You don't belong
You left the kids to carry on
You planned their fall
To bad you're wrong
Don't need a mom dad slave drive song
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
Turn low the radio
I think I hear my dad
Yelling at the band
But good things come to those who wait
'Cause she laid me
And mom and dad posses the key
Instant slavery
No need to explain the plan
No need to even bother
I'll pack my bags I swear I'll run
Wish my friends were 21
You don't belong
You left the kids to carry on
You planned their fall
To bad you're wrong
Don't need a mom dad slave drive song
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
I time bomb
"Anthem" by Blink 182 tells the story of a rebellious adolescent who wants to run away from home and escape the confines of his parents' rules. He engages in questionable activities such as stealing alcohol, and even implies that his neighbor may have had sex with a dog. Despite his behavior, the singer believes that good things come to those who wait and that he will eventually be rewarded for his actions.
The song is a commentary on the struggles of teenage life, and the desire to break free from authority and societal expectations. The lyrics illustrate the confusion and angst felt during this time period, where individuals may feel trapped between childhood and adulthood. The idea of "instant slavery" refers to the expectations placed upon young people to follow a specific path in life and conform to societal norms.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, with the singer declaring that he will pack his bags and leave home. He wishes that his friends were older, so that they could join him in his escape. The bridge of the song shifts to a commentary on the singer's parents, whom he perceives as being too controlling and driving him to rebel.
Line by Line Meaning
Home show, mom won't know
The singer is sneaking out to a concert and hopes his mom won't find out.
Run out the back door
He doesn't want to be seen leaving the house, so he sneaks out the back.
He's passed out on the floor
Someone at the concert has gotten so drunk they are passed out.
Third time, been caught twice
He has snuck out to concerts before and got caught twice.
Forgive our neighbor Bob
The artist asks for forgiveness for their neighbor Bob who may have committed a questionable act.
I think he humped the dog
The singer believes that Bob had sexual relations with their dog.
But good things come to those who wait
Good things happen to those who are patient.
'Cause she laid me
The artist had sex with someone, which he equates to a 'good thing.'
And mom and dad possess the key
His parents are the gatekeepers who control his freedom.
Instant slavery
The artist feels controlled by his parents' rules.
No need to explain the plan
There's no need to explain the plan of sneaking out because it's been done before.
No need to even bother
The artist has given up trying to explain his actions to his parents.
I'll pack my bags I swear I'll run
The singer is ready to leave his parents' control behind and run away.
Wish my friends were 21
The singer wishes he and his friends were older to have more freedom.
White lies, bloodshot eyes
The singer is telling small lies and is drunk, with bloodshot eyes.
Breath of alcohol, stole it from the mall
The artist stole alcohol from a mall and has been drinking.
How's Chris marked with lipstick
The artist notices a friend has lipstick on and wonders what happened.
Better call their fathers, sleeping with your daughters
The singer jokes that he should call the fathers of his friends who have lipstick marks because they may have slept with his friends' daughters.
You don't belong
The singer is dismissing the idea that his parents have any control over him.
You left the kids to carry on
The artist feels abandoned by his parents and left to make his own way without guidance.
You planned their fall
The artist believes that his parents are actively trying to hurt him and have orchestrated his failure.
To bad you're wrong
The artist knows that his parents' actions are not his downfall and that he will succeed despite their interference.
Don't need a mom dad slave drive song
The singer doesn't want his parents' overbearing control over his life.
I time bomb
The artist is feeling angry and explosive.
Turn low the radio
The singer is turning down the radio to hear his dad yelling at the band.
I think I hear my dad
The singer hears his dad and knows he's in trouble.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOM DELONGE, MARK HOPPUS, TRAVIS BARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind