If she wants to dance and drink all night
Well theres no one that can stop her
Shes going until the house lights come up or her stomach spills on to the floor
This night is gonna end when we're damn well ready for it to be over
Worked all week long now the music is playing on our time

Yeah we do what we do to get by
And then we need a release

You're gonna mix up with the wrong guys
You'll get mixed up on the wrong drugs
Sometimes our pride it takes us places you didn't really plan on going
When people see the track marks on her arms she knows what they're thinking
She keeps on working for that minimum
As if a high school education gave you any other options
You know
They don't know nothing about redemption
They don't know nothing about recovery
Some people just aren't the type for marriage and family

No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to be a junkie
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to sleep alone
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to be a junkie
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to sleep alone

Shes out of sync with the style
She don't know where the actions happening
You know that down town club scene aint nothing like it used to be
You reach a point where theres not a lie in the world that you could use to make the boys believe you're still in your twenties
They keep getting younger don't they baby
Shes not waiting for someone to come over and ask for the privilege
She can still hear that rebel yell just as loud as it was in 1983
You know there ain't no johnny coming home to share a bed with her
And she doesn't care

No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to be a junkie
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to sleep alone
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to be a junkie
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to sleep alone
No mother ever dreams that her daughters gonna grow up to be a junkie

And if she had to live it all over again
you know she wouldn't change anything for the world



Lyrics submitted by CowardOfTheYear

Track duration: 04:14


Thrash Unreal song meanings
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72 Comments

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  • +4
    Song Meaning:I feel like this song is about what society expects out of a woman, the expectations of the scene on women (since it's predominantly male-oriented), and a general expectation women have out of themselves.

    I know that the writers of this song are not aware of what women expect out of themselves, but as a woman who used to be a punk rocker, I was torn between acceptance by men and still being thought of as a woman.

    The scene has a chew-you-up and spit you out nature. Now that she's fucked, no one cares about her. And she's not society's definition of a lady, "No mother ever dreams that her daughter's going to grow up to be a junkie/sleep alone." Society defines a woman as the man she is with, as the family she creates. She doesn't create a family? There must be something wrong with her. She takes on traditionally male traits? (Junkie, Single, Scene Life) She is considered abnormal or evil.

    The irony is that if a song were written about a male with the traits of partying hard, sleeping with young women, staying single, and drinking and drugging, it would be celebrated. Several people have talked about this idea of the woman in a negative light.

    See: Courtney Love, Amy Winehouse.

    These women are demonized for their rebel ways and addiction problems.

    See: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix.

    Will forever be loved and considered heros.

    Flag crashbangboomon July 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Fantastic song, though I think it's tremendously sad. It reminds me of the girl from the Descendents' "Bikeage," all grown up. SHE may not "change anything for the world," but you wonder who she's hurt? (Hence the "no mother ever dreams ..." lines.) My biological father was a junkie who eventually died of an overdose (in his 50s), and it's impossible to overstate how many people he hurt with his addiction and irresponsibility.
    Flag Sanveanon April 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:An unreal song which I'm listening to right now. The hard vocals perfectly match the fierce instruments. The lyrics are pretty explanatory and remind me of my ex-girlfriend so much.
    Flag River Wolfon September 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love it how people scream sellouts at Against Me!, but forget the fact that The Clash was signed to Columbia Records, and The Sex Pistols are signed to Warner Bros.
    Flag Kira182on October 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am still loving the fact that people who DON'T like this band because, they supposedly sold out or, are comparing to other bands that supposedly "suck" STILL are looking up the lyrics. Fucking awesome............................................ morons.
    Flag xrockfistxon August 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this was my introduction to against me!,pretty mint introduction
    Flag dellvkhon April 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have no idea why, but before i go out to a club/party/pub.. i love listening to this song!
    the lead singer of this band has a really sexy voice ;)
    Flag d47on March 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:How can anyone really hate on someone wanting what they do to go further? anyone would want that.
    No one really sells out, and if you say that anyways I still don't see how thats bad? Anyone can like any type of music or anmy song.. whatever who really cares? So the song touches more people... OMG THATS TERRIBLE! -_-
    Flag Kpuffon January 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"They don't know nothing about redemption
    They don't know nothing about recovery"

    These lines are key. You'll never know what living is until you've seen the best and worst of life. You'll never know what clean feels like until you've gotten your hands dirty. This song makes me feel a little better when I know I'm fucking up. I might be a mess right now, but I've seen life at its most bare and honest, pretty or not. I don't want to make it sound like Against Me is advocating this, but that's how I take it.
    Flag paperhangeron November 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song reminds me of a girl i'm practically in love with.
    but shes living a horible life style.
    I was sitting in lunch the other day and we had these styrofoam throw away trays and theres like 5 or 6 different things they can say, and she got the one that said "dont do drugs." and she was like.... theyre telling me not to do drugs? and started laughing hysterically.
    I see shes slowly ruining her life and even the guys she dates reflects on that, but no matter how hard i try i cant stop her.
    I know shes gonna grow up to be real bad if i dont do something.
    Flag CaptainPaton November 11, 2008   Link

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