If you want to make the move then you better come in
It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin
Living and dying and the stories that are true
Secrets to a good life is knowing when you're through

Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb

He's back in the hole where they got him living
Like a rat but he's smarter than that nine lives
Like a cat take him to the youth authority home
First thing you learn is that you got to make it in this world alone

Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb

Now he's gotten out he's gotten free he's gotta go, gotta car
He's twenty one years old he's runnin' from the bar
His pager's beepin' he's got in deep in
Whatever he can move on in you know that kid's a creepin'

Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac
The boy's a time bomb

Yeah, the boy's a time bomb

In tears come from the razor that's been tattooed below
His eye his mother cries she knows that he is strong enough to die
He's rollin' in the Cadillac it's midnight sunroof is down
Three shots rung out the hero's dead the new king is crowned

Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah
The boy's a time bomb, oh, time bomb


Lyrics submitted by Kpizzle

Time Bomb Lyrics as written by Lars Frederiksen Timothy Armstrong

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Time Bomb song meanings
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51 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    i agree with whoever said it's about a guy who got involved in organized crime.

    sXeNiGhTMaREsXeon June 13, 2003   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    This sounds like the story of a smart boy who grew up in a broken home in a bad neighbourhood surrounded by violence and crime.

    "Like a cat take him to the youth authority home" - he gets sent to some juvenile home, or youth jail, but this just hardens him against the world. Teaches him he can't trust anyone and believes he has to make it in the world alone because of the trauma he's been through.

    When he get's out, his smarts and determination only get him so far - get him a suit and Cadillac, but it's from dealing or organised crime. So it's not long before he's shot and killed.

    Time bomb - growing up alone, not trusting anyone, leads to a hard and short life.

    raphael106on June 22, 2022   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is talking about spotting kids that will freak out and do something stupid. And the beginning is talking about this kid is has nothing to live for. And the last paragraph right before the chorus talks about he just comitted his first murder. And he will continue down this road until he gets caught by the proper authorities.

    Hadeson May 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think its about a kid getting involved in organized crime

    sinkinboaton June 01, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the first couple of times i heard this song i thought it was about growing up, because it was all about "avoiding the time bomb" and trying to stay young. and the "black coat, white shoes, black hat, caddilac" made me think of getting old, having a job, all that stuff. But now i have been persueded to think otherwise, and i have changed my mind.

    e moneyon July 04, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is about a kid who hustles. from the time hes a kid he gets into trouble, so it seems inevitable that shit won't end well. as he grows up he continues to hustle and make money however he can, until the day he dies.

    niko102on October 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I bought this and out come the wolves right when it came out. Loved it, but I was consumed by pearl jam and thats all I ever listen to, Pearl Jam that is. But it's weird aside from pearl jam, this is the only cd besides pearl jam that I listen to. Does anyone know if the two bands have any connections, Ive heard rumors?

    vedson November 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I read somewhere that it was about the kinda kids who listen to the ska-esque music that this song is played in, particularly a friend of theirs, who I think was murdered.

    But i can't remember where I read that.

    mordechaion June 29, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I wonder if I still own this CD

    kmk_natashaon August 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    er best songggg i love rancid..this just prooves their goodness

    Pretty in Punkon May 05, 2002   Link

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