The Offspring – You're Gonna Go Far, Kid

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Show me how to lie
You're getting better all the time
And turning all against one
Is an art that's hard to teach

Another clever word
Sets off an unsuspecting herd
And as you step back in the line
A mob jumps to their feet

Now dance fucker, dance
Man, you never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you

And now you steal away
Take him out today
Nice work you did
You're gonna go far kid

With a thousand lies and a good disguise
Hit 'em right between the eyes
Hit 'em right between the eyes
When you walk away, nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes
See 'em running for their lives

Slowly out of line
And drifting closer in your sight
So play it out, I'm wide awake
It's a scene about me

There's someone in your way
And now someone is gonna pay
If you can't get what you want
Well it's all because of me

Now dance fucker, dance
Man, I never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you

Now you lead the way
Show the lie today
Nice work you did
You're gonna go far kid
Trust and see

With a thousand lies and a good disguise
Hit 'em right between the eyes
Hit 'em right between the eyes
When you walk away, nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes
See 'em running for their lives

Now dance fucker dance
He never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you

So dance fucker dance
I never had a chance
It was really only you

With a thousand lies and a good disguise
Hit 'em right between the eyes
Hit 'em right between the eyes
When you walk away
Nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes
See 'em running for their lives

Clever alibis, Lord of the Flies
Hit 'em right between the eyes
Hit 'em right between the eyes
When you walk away
Nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes
See 'em running for their lives

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Lyrics submitted by himynameismark, edited by rapscal_2002, ArielAguayo

Track duration: 02:58


You're Gonna Go Far, Kid song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:Many people are relating it to the novel LOTF, but I really see no correlation. For my English class, however, we had to read a book and then choose a song that we thought reflected the book. I chose this song, and my book was A Clockwork Orange. So basically, my interpretation of the song was the main plot of the book. It's about a criminal, manipulative kid who commits all these crimes and evil doings "with lightning in his eyes", as in he genuinely enjoyed it, as Alex does in Clockwork. Then, he steps back in the line and the mob jump to their feet, just as Alex gets mobbed after he returns from his arrest. Both the book and the song point out the theme of growing up, for example in the song the title "You're gonna go far, kid" I interpreted as a sarcastic remark as to the direction this boy is headed, just as Alex realizes in the end of the novel that he must grow up, and that what he used to enjoy in the past must be left behind in his youth, but since his evil reputation, reforming it will not be easy, "Dance, Fucker, Dance, You never had a chance...".
    Flagged chloeeeeeeon April 29, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:It's basically about lying and manipulating people to get what you want, and saying that by doing that you'll be successful, though I believe it's meant to be taken satirically and not as if the band agrees with doing what it's saying.

    The only reason for the Lord of the Flies reference is that the pig's head on a stick bascially manipulated the children into killing each other. (If you view it as a real thing and not just an object that the children hallucinated was talking)

    Ever since I first heard it I've been refering to it as "The Lawyer Song".
    Flag MyMeaningson February 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The way i see this song, and it's partly because of the music video, it's about someone who was given a gift but used it for the wrong reason. s/he shit em right between the eyes by doing something out of the kindness of his/her heart, then asked for a reward.
    Flagged R0ck0ut619on December 31, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:...you all do realize that this song has nothing to do with the book, Lord of the Flies, right?
    "Lord of the Flies" is a nickname for Satan or Beelzebub. He's basically calling whoever the song is aimed at 'Satan'.
    Although it's neat to see how you can connect the song to the book, I highly doubt the two are actually related.
    Flag PirateRedon November 25, 2012   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:As most of you are posting, I agree that they are making a Lord of the Flies reference. However, just because they mention "Lord of the Flies," doesn't mean that the song is literally about the book itself. It's just a reference to the song's overall meaning, which is about manipulating people to get what you want.

    For example, if you and me are playing football and you make a nice pass to me, I might say, "Nice pass, Peyton Manning," but I don't literally mean that you are Peyton Manning, I'm just comparing you to him. The same is done in this song with the lyric, "Clever alibis, Lord of the Flies." He's just referring the main character of the song as being manipulative like the character from Lord of the Flies, but not saying that he is literally him.
    Flagged goodtimes9on November 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Now I'm probably just skimming this songs meaning, as it were, but I find that overall, this song's about growing up believing that the best way to live is to break the rules. Lying, cheating, violence, etcetera.
    Flag vonzhayon June 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Huge stretch tinfoil hat theory here, but in theory events could have lined up timeline-wise. Offspring would have been in the position to refer to Jack as "kid" at the time..

    Jack White -Vs- Jason Stollsteimer, saturday night fight at Magic Stick?
    Flag elwoood13on June 03, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:Guys...its about Lord of the Flies, the book. And it doesnt say "mow them down like flies" it says "lord of the flies" im not sure if any of you have read the book, but there is a character named Simon, who this song is based off of. He is soft spoken, and when he speaks out, a riot forms and he "steps back into line" but at that points its to late and they all freak. Also, Simon is killed when they kids go crazy dancing, and dont know who simon is and kill him "now dance fucker dance man you never had a chance and no one even knew it was really only you" Simon is also where the Lord of the Flies comes from. He also runs away from conflict, and likes a peaceful approach. "when you walk away nothing more to say"

    So yeah, this song is about Lord of the Flies the book, and if you haven't read it, it's a great read.
    Flag viscen243on May 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:It's "No more alibis, Lord of the Flies" not "Mow em down like flies"
    Flag randomlightningon May 08, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is actually about Lord of the Flies, the 1954 novel by Sir William Golding. THe "Dance dance" part is referencing the killing dance, the "it was really only you" is that they are "The Beast" having become savages. 1000 lies, good disguise, right between eyes (killing the pig....)
    Flagged rejectameric1on April 03, 2012   Link

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