The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I could not fit in
I was the one who got caught
I was the one who got realized
I was the one who got dropped
Shut out banished and locked away
The knife that did me in I was carry to this day
Rejected
Crossing the bridges in the land of the forgotten
Rejected
Distrust existed that I never saw
Deep seated trust I was a victim of
Rejected...
Unspoken among the more privileged or the so called
I was not good enough not good enough at all
At first out of loneliness I tried to conform
But all that bullshit just left me alone
I was the one who got caught
I was the one who got realized
I was the one who got dropped
Shut out banished and locked away
The knife that did me in I was carry to this day
Rejected
Crossing the bridges in the land of the forgotten
Rejected
Distrust existed that I never saw
Deep seated trust I was a victim of
Rejected...
Unspoken among the more privileged or the so called
I was not good enough not good enough at all
At first out of loneliness I tried to conform
But all that bullshit just left me alone
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This song means to me that b/c punks look like trouble means they or means that we are discriminated against b/c we think differently
i agree with you on that one LEFTOVERxCrack, people think how you look is who you are, but its really not like that at all...for instance preps look conceitd and mostly they are but some arent, some of them are nice, just b/cuz punks look tough and hardcore doesnt mean they are mean, but its really not like that at all...anyway great song
i feel what both of you are sayen. and i can relate to this song b/c i know (as a fellow punk) i have been rejected b/c i am the unknown. and i even tried to "fit in" once. it didnt work. so i made some friends that were like me. and its all good now. but i still get a lil deppressed and mad when i remember being rejected b/c, as the line "The knife that did me in I carry to this day " says,it always will be with you and it will never go away. katie
yea that song describes alot of me, ive allways been an outcast and once i did try to conform once also.
An autobiographical song about being turned down for major label record contracts.
Nope. It's about social rejection, obviously. This is easily my favorite Freeman-sung Rancid song, I totally prefer his 40-a-day growling to Lars 'Rod Stewart' Fredricksen (or however its spelt)
Well it doesn't seem like this is about being rejected because he's punk specifically. Rather I think he's talking about being from a lower socio-economic class, or otherwise having a personality that doesn't fit in with the world of the upper class, or with those with white-collar aspirations who mimic the mannerisms of the upper class (with strict dress codes, speech rules, behaviour codes, etc). Punks are one example of a group of people who often have personalities and general behaviours and lifestyles that make it almost impossible for them to fit into any social niche that will give them any sort of economic success or mainstream acceptance. There are many other types of people who also have this problem and who find themselves perpetually marginalised despite their desires and efforts to conform... They just can't, they always retain an appearance of being "sketchy" or "ghetto" or something of the sort that causes more successful people to distrust them.
Um, in other words... It's about not fitting in. :)
The "distrust" and being "unspoken among the priviledged (ie ignored?)" and being just "not good enough" makes me think that he can't move up in the (mainstream) world. The part where he says he was the one who got caught, dropped, etc makes it sound like he's being negatively singled-out in a workplace (ie caught doing something wrong, fired), or possibly that he just can't behave in a way that doesn't get him in trouble.
First off. I totally agree with orange on this. At first I didn't look at it like that at all, but now that I take a step back and look at it. I can see exactly what you mean.
Secondly. Nephos. Dude. You have no right to be calling them idiots because they specified what kind of rejection. Look at the comment box. 'What does this song mean to YOU?' They're totally entitled to their opion and should be able to express it with a jackass calling them idiots. Think before you speak dude.
Idiots. The song isn't about being a punk. It's about rejection in general. They don't talk about their "punk" style or anything. The song is called "Rejected," not "Rejected Because We're Punks."
Just like someone can be rejected for being crippled or having a big head or funny voice or not being very smart, people will reject others for being different in ways that may seem to be overlooked, but apparently are not. "Distrust existed that I never saw, Deep-seeded distrust I was a victim of."
As I said, nothing to do with being a punk. It could be applied to anyone that is rejected for being different.