The Offspring – The Kids Aren't Alright

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When we were young the future was so bright
The old neighborhood was so alive
And every kid on the whole damn street
Was gonna make it big and not be beat

Now the neighborhood's cracked and torn
The kids are grown up but their lives are worn
How can one little street
Swallow so many lives

Chances thrown
Nothing's free
Longing for what used to be
Still it's hard
Hard to see
Fragile lives, shattered dreams

Jamie had a chance, well she really did
Instead she dropped out and had a couple of kids
Mark still lives at home cause he's got no job
He just plays guitar and smokes a lot of pot

Jay committed suicide
Brandon OD'd and died
What the hell is going on
The cruelest dream, reality

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Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7

Track duration: 03:00

"The Kids Aren't Alright" as written by Bryan Keith Holland

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Kids Aren't Alright song meanings
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98 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think, it's about the hypocrisy of US politicians claiming and your middle-class believing that the kids are alright and no kid will be left behind, plain and simple.
    Flag shouressooteon December 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I reckon this is a song about what it's stating. The street that is mentioned is childhood and the dies naivety leaving it 'cracked and torn'.
    Flag StormyArmstrongon May 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song in many ways has a similar theme to piano man by Billy Joel. Completely different musically, but the message is similar. A great song, and deep. One of my favorite of all time, and definitely the Offspring's best.
    Flagged aehamon March 22, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:This song is blunt with no hidden meaning. When you were six suicide or drugs werent even in your vocabulary so it's just growing up, seeing and hearing shit that is depressing or what have you. "Longing for used to be." <---says it all

    not my fav but like 2# fuck yeah
    btw #1 is gone away.....look into it
    Flag Terminix420on January 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's just life in general. How everyone has this fucking brilliant picture as a kid and then, over time, it just kinda dies and the harsh light of the real world fills that space.
    Flag Boaalon June 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song! Its basically about wasted potential is how I see it.
    Flag jfitz92on June 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:completely only just noticed this but its the same riff as bad religion - shattered faith. no idea which came first but either the line in this song is a reference to them or the title of bad religion song is a reference to this.
    Flag blakleberryon March 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about the lead singer's past and how through life everything was ruined.
    Flag METALFANATIK101on February 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Well, this song's name plays on the title of the song, "The Kids Are Alright" from the Who in the 60's. Which is about a father neglecting his kids and his wife (maybe a divorce). So, I think they Offspring had this in mind when they wrote this song. Parents aren't "parenting" and they're letting their kids get screwed up. I can certainly relate with that. My parents sucked and kicked me out on the street the day after my 18th birthday. Same with my brother, and many of my past friends. It's a wonder that I didn't get addicted to hard drugs like them. This is one messed up society.
    Flag votewithabulleton February 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about a bunch of kids who grew up and turned to shit.

    Yah know? you see these kids who were clean cut when they were young and now they're shit.

    For example Marilyn Manson (no offense to Marilyn lovers cuz I'm one myself) he was the preacher's son or somethin like that and now he claims himself as the Anti-Christ Super star.
    Flag Nadeline*maeon December 11, 2008   Link

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