51 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

Time Bomb Lyrics

If you wanna 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
The secrets to a good life is knowing when you're through

Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac
The boy's a time bomb
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac
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 only 21 years old he's runnin' from the bar
His pager's beepin', he's got in deep in
What ever he can move on in you know that kid's a creepin' in

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
The boy's a time bomb

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 herd's deal
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

Time bomb
Song Info
Submitted by
kpizzle On Nov 25, 2001
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

51 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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.

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

i think its about a kid getting involved in organized crime

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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.

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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.

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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?

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

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.

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

I wonder if I still own this CD

@kmk_natasha You should! ;) It's fantastic...

Cover art for Time Bomb lyrics by Rancid

wouldn't it be "he's gettin' deep in" ?

Lyric Correction