I've seen a lot of things in five years
I struggle just to hold back the tears
But everyfuckingwhere I go
I see the pathos that I know
Will spell the termination of us all

Someone's got to tell me, do you see
That everything around you has a hidden tragedy?
Seeds of happiness have never found a place to grow
And our generation doesn't know

When, when will you try
To change the logarithmic pace of kissing things goodbye?
When, when will you know
That human life is so short, death is oh so slow?

I've tried to make things make sense but I can't
I'm happy just to watch them all and laugh
And if you think you've got it made
Just revel in your selfish ways
Because when the world stops turning so will you


Lyrics submitted by oofus

When? Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin

Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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When? song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment
    This song is about the asshole ignorrance of the human race. It says that we are going to slaughter ourselves because we are so fucking selfish, If you've think you've got it made, don't be so selfish,cuz when the world stops turning so will YOU. There are so many people that just act on pursueing their own narcissistic gain no matter how many people they have to fuck over to get the goddamn thing. It's just like how Iraq had "weapons of mass of destruction,'' yet they have conviently found none. The asshole president just whiped away over ten thousand innocent civilians with the goddamn daisy cutter bomb in the first year of the fucking war. And it was all because the bastard had a vendetta against Saddam. Something else is like how all those rich bitches have every thing they want. They never use their money to help others. They just use their money for themselves to destroy the lives of others. There's an incalculable number of examples of how people are so selfish. It pisses me off that so many people are like this and their overwhelming stupidity of striving only to make themselves happy overrides their ability to care to make others feel better. Christianity says that happiness is different than joy and that 'god' gives you joy. I'm agnostic so I don't get what the hell that means. Joy is the same as happiness. Not to offend any religious people but I feel god gives you no joy or happiness and also, who pursues their own selfishness more than christians? As far as I can see, no one. I may be wrong though since not all christians are like that. But otherwise, I think he's just saying not be selfish because it's just going to end up destroying you and the rest of society because your end will come someday. I want conclude by saying to all the other agnostics, atheists and nihilists never stop believing in and always stand united in the revolution because someday SOON it WILL prevail. Come hell or high water these motherfuckers that dominate society, rule the system, ostracize you, that fuck your life up...they're reign of terror is coming an end. Because when the world stops turning they will too. They're not just going to go to 'heaven.' They can say they're all righteous and then just fuck you, but they're NOT going to get away with all the shit they do to you. In the words of Friedrich Nietschze," But thus I counsel you my friends, distrust all whom the impuse to punish is powerful." These selfish motherfuckers who punish and fuck us for no good goddamn reason will pay. Revolution is Evolution. VIVA LA REVOLUTION.-agostic soldier
    agnostic soldieron June 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I always thought he said "So, rebel in your selfish ways, and when the world stops turning SO WILL YOU!" Hmm. Great song either way.
    gofuckyourselfon March 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    well someone sure does know what their talking about
    pinkfadeon October 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The part where he says "I've seen a lot of things in 5 years." Is most likely referring to the fact that Bad Religion broke up in 1983 and technically reunited in '85 for "Back to the Known" but they got back together for good in '88 when this album came out. I used the line "If you think you've got it made just revel in your selfish ways cause when the world stops turning so will you." in an English paper last year. I actually won an award from my local newspaper for the essay.
    Minikamion November 20, 2013   Link

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