Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known
'Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye

I didn't tell her that I loved her, how much I care
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared

Unaware, I just did what I always do
Everyday, the same routine
Before I skate off to school

But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test
I took two to the chest

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I didn't really know this kid
Though I sit by him in class

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was
Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because

We are, we are, the youth of the nation
We are, we are, youth of the nation
We are, we are, the youth of the nation
We are, we are, youth of the nation

Little Suzy, she was only twelve
She was given the world
With every chance to excel

Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
She might act kind of proud
But no respect for herself

She finds love in all the wrong places
The same situations
Just different faces

Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
Too bad he never told her
She deserved much better

Johnny boy always played the fool
He broke all the rules
So you would think he was cool

He was never really one of the guys
No matter how hard he tried
Often thought of suicide

It's kind of hard when you ain't got no friends
He put his life to an end
They might remember him then

You cross the line and there's no turning back
Told the world how he felt
With the sound of a gat

We are, we are, the youth of the nation
We are, we are, youth of the nation
We are, we are, the youth of the nation
We are, we are, youth of the nation

Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim?
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain

That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind

I guess that's the way that the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know

There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists

We are, we are, the youth of the nation
We are, we are, youth of the nation
We are, we are (we are, we are), the youth of the nation
We are, we are (we are, we are), youth of the nation

We are, we are (we are, we are)
The youth of the nation (the youth of a nation)
We are, we are (we are, we are)
Youth of the nation (youth of a nation)
We are, we are (we are, we are)
The youth of the nation (the youth of a nation)
We are, we are (we are, we are)
Youth of the nation (youth of the nation)

(We are) youth of the nation
(We are) youth of the nation
(We are) youth of the nation
(We are)


Lyrics submitted by HoldURBreath, edited by SlashedO, AdamArtz

Youth of the Nation Lyrics as written by Mark Daniels Marcos Curiel

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Youth Of The Nation song meanings
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317 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    i agree that this is a powerful song, but i don't think it's just about school shootings, it's pretty much about everything that the youth of today faces

    pineapplechicon January 18, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Okay, this song is about more than one subject. it's not about one school shooting. It's about every little problem, insecurity, and issue us youth face. So stop saying this song is about one thing (ex.Columbine) it's about tons of things.

    Matt12159on July 06, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is about the only pod song I can stand basically becuz they are not preaching. The song is about something more important than religion. Its about the shitty lives kids have to live from shitty parents to shitty high school. And people are so surprised when a kid shoots up a school, horseshit, it just means they arent paying much attention.

    OwnPersonalDemonon January 30, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this song is about school shootings, but that's not all it's about. little suzy didn't have any respect for herself. johnny, didn't fit in so he killed himself. it's about the tradgedies that youth today face. not just shootings, rape, and suicide. it's a wake up call. personally i love this song because i can relate to it. i know how hard it is not to fit in, and it sucks. nobody i know, has any clue how many times, and how close i've come to committing suicide. it's hard to be an outsider, but you get used to it, eventually. this song is saying that no matter who or what we blame, where we lay the fault, the pain of all these tragedies will still be there.

    medusaon February 26, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    why columbine? there are tons of other school shootings every year, why pick the one that the kids who did it were trying to make a big deal? 4-20 much?

    crypticon January 16, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i hate how people throw bands like P.O.D. in a big "loud scary music" catagory. they don't look at the lyrics and don't appriciate that the band is trying to send a message, like all the great artists out there.

    starry19on January 16, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Vince: School shootings may not happen every few days, but the point is they happen. The further point is, there actually is a reason. High schools are going down the drain. Several days ago a Bully at school grabbed a guys balls, squeezed, and ran around laughing about it. That kid is now afraid of going to school. The parents said they should fight him, (the kid is about a foot and a half shorter) and if he tells the teacher the bully will just get worse.

    Teachers are almost as bad, about 1 in 10 actually care about teaching, the rest are so hardened from the students they ignore everything going on around them. Kids go to school in a constant state of self-defence. Youhave to watch your back the whole time you're in school. Some people may try to attack you, some mock you, some may try to steal from you. Everyone else is watching you to judge you nerd or cool.

    Then the kids go home to parents who thought school was suppose to teach their kids everything. They curse that their kids take 3 hours out of their lives every night. The point is Vince, kids have a world of shit to deal with, and violence is an answer that works for adults.

    Davenon February 10, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    whoever said a band worshipping satan is cool, god doesnt exist and satan doesnt exist its that simple.People arent sane.this world is shitty mostly thanks to religion, which seekd to divide people with labels.the 50's were a good example of religion taking over, no self expression, which is a calling card of christianity. But anyway, schools have become slaughterhouses, a cow goes in one end and a slab of meat goes out the other in record time.They dont care if a kid gets an education, they just want to get em in for their four years and move them along for the next batch to move in.And kids dont have a sense of self,they are like their actions seem like so empty,like they mean nothing,like they have no effect on the world.So whats the big deal with hurting someone else it doesnt mean anything to themselves they are numb to feeling.Their Parents are so busy trying to stabilize their home or busy work extra because they are a single parent,which is true 5 times out ten.They are left with no alternatives in life, they have no future so nothing really matters.Like working at McDonalds is a career choice.The choices are to shut it all out and live with the mediocrity or just to give in to entropy and end it all.Life for a high school kid is monotonous and scary,not knowing exactly whats going to happen to you today but pretty sure its going to happen anyway.You get angry and you get lonely because your not like everyone else and High school was meant for everyone to be the same and to march in step and to conform.that is high school and if you dont conform you get outcasted or looked down upon and life just gets hellish.At this point not just one person is to blame, its society that is too blame, and when you ealize that then you realize that there is no way to change it so you just have live everyday of your life until you die.I think some would rather death come sonner than come later.Thats all there is too it.

    OwnPersonalDemonon February 22, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    now truely trust in him is a psycho christian,blinded to other ways,better ways of life...jesus is the way! Convert the heathens!! Use force!!! Kill the witches,kill the non believers,make them all squeal the lords name!!!! What a nazi...get a clue.hitler....FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND RELIGION.....thank you....

    OwnPersonalDemonon March 11, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    One of the few P.O.D.-songs that is not about God. It's about the trouble many kids experience in school, anywhere on the world. Some are bullied and/or ignored, or just aren't one of the guys (or girls). This leads to anger, depression, and sometimes suicide. As those kids (who form quite a large part) don't have any true friends, they get paranoid, too. And a relationship with a girl or boy they can really forget.

    Having been (and still going) through this, I think I know what I'm talking about. I really like this song, it has great lyrics and it sounds great. P.O.D. makes quite good music, actually (apart from some rubbish like Without Jah Nothin' and Portrait and stuff like that).

    Der_Bulleon November 05, 2004   Link

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