NOFX – My Orphan Year

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My father had dementia
He lied in bed for months
Once in a while he’d call me
And ask me to fly down
I told him that I’d love to
But I had things to do
And so he died without his son
I heard about it drunk after a show

My mother battled cancer
For over seven years
I nursed her and I held her
When time was running out
The night before she left me
I drank scotch all night
And thanked her for everything she’d done
Raising me alone wasn’t much fun
Dad I can forgive you, but I’ll never forget,
Months I wouldn’t see you and when I did
You’d be out with your friends all night
Alone and only nine
I watched the outer limits
And scared out of my mind
I wonder if you felt the same
The days before you died
I wonder if you even knew
Why I wouldn’t come around
I bet if you had been there,
There wouldn’t be this song

2006 goodbye parents
For once I am sincere
2006 my orphan year

Send "My Orphan Year" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by ImDero

Track duration: 02:59


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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Funny song... I've no doubt I'll feel the same in years to come when my father dies. And ya know what? I have the opportunity to go and try to "fix" things as he is still alive and kicking at this point... Do you think I will? Naaaah! I'll just mope around and feel like shit for a while after it happens (He finally dies).. Where were ya dad??... Pffft had better things to do... lol enjoy being old and lonely... As for mum... :(
    Flag Tricky1979on September 11, 2012   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:fuck .. im still hard to believe this ..

    Fat mike killed his own and only Mom ..
    Flag rippnerson May 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:If anyone has seen the video of Fat Mike dressed as Cokie The Clown at SXSW, I'm sure this song will make more sense than it already does.

    In the video, Mike said he was 35 his dad told him that his mom would force his dad to see him. His dad told him "I was young, I just wanted to party and get laid". His dad lived in an adult only apartment and kids weren't allowed near the pool, so his dad would leave him alone in the apartment to go to the pool "to drink Coors and smoke pot".

    Mike is not cold for not seeing his dad. You can't make a lifetime up to your only kid when you're on your death bed.
    Flag againmikewinson April 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Whatever emotion Fat Mike tries to evoke, he nails it every time. I've never heard a songwriter who can be so profound no matter what they write about. I love his work (and the band's), but how cold do you have to be to ignore your dying father? Did he molest him? Was Mike's family homeless? So what if he wasn't around much. There are a lot of kids that would love their fathers to fuck off forever. I'm not judging but it sounds like he hasn't forgiven him at all. I would have thought that after thirty-odd years and after becoming a mega-rich punk rocker,(an oxymoron if ever there was one) a father, husband and bass player/singer/songwriter with the most respected punk band of all time that he could, oh I don't know, get over it!
    Flag CobaltSixteeon July 20, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's amazing how NOFX makes some songs that are just touching and almost make me cry (Drop the World, Whoops I OD'd, Doornails and now My Orphan Year). Fat Mike is the greatest lyricist ever, he makes funny,sad,and mad, and all types of lyrics.
    Flag GreenCorn41on April 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Only had the new album for 24 hours, but I can safely say this Is without a doubt my favorite song so far.

    The lyrics are pretty self explanatory
    Flag KEELron April 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Definitely one of the most touching songs of NOFX's catalog.
    Flag petetheeliteon April 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:musta sucked
    Flag dutchrudderon April 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is about the passing of both of his parents in 2006. “Once I had a kid I realized that you have to give your child a lot of attention if you want to be a parent, so when my dad asked me to come see him on his death bed I just said no, where were you when I was a kid ?”. “Alternately, I was with my mom for the whole month that she died 24 hours a day.'' Many people have cried the first time they've heard the track. he continues, adding that many people have cried the first time they’ve heard the track. “I know a lot of people who have had similar experiences, so it’s really amazing to be able to evoke that kind of emotion from people.”

    That's what Fat Mike said about the song, that can't be clearer.
    Flag melnofxon April 24, 2009   Link

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