28 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Change The World Lyrics
I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun
I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one
And everyone's so blind
They're not to help mankind
Reach into your bag of tricks and pull another one
You don't want to change the world
Like you say
You're in it for yourself
No one else
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Now when the day is set, they'll line up all the same
And those that need the most will never get or gain
The ones you call your friends are failing you again
Reach into your bag of tricks and make it go away
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Now when the day is set they'll line up all the same
And since you ain't what you say
Then just go away
'Cause some don't lie
Some don't lie
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
I said you don't wanna change the world like you say
In it for yourself, no one else
You're ready, saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
You're ready, saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
And since you ain't what you say
Then just go away
'Cause some don't lie
Some don't lie
I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one
And everyone's so blind
They're not to help mankind
You don't want to change the world
Like you say
You're in it for yourself
No one else
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
And those that need the most will never get or gain
The ones you call your friends are failing you again
Reach into your bag of tricks and make it go away
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Now when the day is set they'll line up all the same
Then just go away
'Cause some don't lie
Some don't lie
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
Go on now, they won't tell
Go on now, save yourself
In it for yourself, no one else
You're gonna change the world
You're ready, saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Then just go away
'Cause some don't lie
Some don't lie
Song Info
Submitted by
melme_68 On Jan 18, 2002
More The Offspring
You're Gonna Go Far, Kid
Self Esteem
Gone Away
The Kids Aren't Alright
Kristy, Are You Doing OK?
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Hey guys!! Great responses.....Most songs have many meanings to the writer...this one has ONE......It is about Brett Gurewitz and the bands perspective on the way he did them wrong during the controversial split from Epitaph Records to signing with Sony Records....Article from 1997--------- Dexter Holland said he began reading reports and hearing rumors that Epitaph's owner, punk musician Brett Gurewitz, was being courted by major-label princes seeking to buy a share of the company. The Offspring had refused even to talk to the majors, Holland said. We felt really betrayed, like we couldn't trust him anymore. We thought we'd be sold off like a [expletive] commodity. It was so far from where we started with this guy," in what the Offspring had regarded as a "brotherhood of Epitaph."
If the band was going to be treated as a commodity instead of a blood brother, Holland said, it would choose its own buyer; hence its decision last year to leave Epitaph for Columbia Records, which offered lucrative advance bonuses and royalty rates....Dexter said: "At the time,Epitaph was worth 40 million and 30 million of it was from our SMASH record,so if Brett was going to consider outside business deals,we thought we should be there to be part of the discussion.But we werent."
Back to present day......This song was directly written, lyrically anyway as a "this is who you REALLY are--a kind of FUCK YOU!! to brett gurewitz",who of course was thought of as a punk svengali so to speak since he was the owner/operator of Epitaph,founding member of Bad Religion and discoverer and signer of Rancid,Offspring,and Pennywise...You dont want to change the world Like you say You're in it for yourself No one else You're ready Saving yourself You're gonna change the world You're ready Saving yourself You're gonna change the world.....is a direct reference to their feelings that Gurewitz was a phony.They were going to dedicate the song to him,but were threatened with a lawsuit if they did.....So,instead they called their album Ixnay On The Hombre,which of course translates to---FUCK THE MAN....many songs on this album are lyrically about the feud and bitter media split with Gurewitz.
@BraxtonLyric Thanks for the explanation, but I don't get the "Some don't lie" lyric. It just sounds totally contradictory in the context of this overall meaning. O_o
@BraxtonLyric Thanks for the explanation, but I don't get the "Some don't lie" lyric. It just sounds totally contradictory in the context of this overall meaning. O_o
damn...why havent more people responded to this song...its such a great song. blinkbomber, im surprised you havent said anything yet. tisk tisk. anywho, the song is great from the little doodle that is played at the end of smash to the excellently written lyrics..awesome song, nothing more, nothing less. end of discussion
I find it comforting that some of you never come back to the site...
That being said, this song doesn't strike me as being about politics at all.
I think it's more about people that say they're trying to help people but have a personal agenda. It's about <i>that</i> kind of person, be they politicians, evangelists, whatever.
who cares if they re-use some riffs? they're a great band.
I really think this song is about politics and all their b.s. schemes in trying to get into a position of power. This is pretty well shown through the lines: "You dont wanna change the world like u say" "I see the salesmen stare into the sun, i watch as they fell off one by one"
once again, cerealheadus is totally right, this song rocks soooo much and no one says anything! come on... i got a question though. in Genocide, off smash, they play the same sequence of notes like, during this intro and in genocide's chorus. It's awesome, but why use the same one over again? were they working on it or did they just like or what??
Well, GloryGuy, its because its the best sequence of notes. Ever.
EVER!
yep ever
I agree with magicman, this song does not apply soley to politicians, but to pretty much anyone in a position of power from which they can affect change on the world, and it is from this seat that while they claim they are going to do one thing to make the world a better place, in reality they are just trying to keep things comfortable for themselces.
Oh, and as for the same note sequence as Genocide, EVER. 'nuff said.