Anthem Lyrics

[Verse 1: Tom DeLonge]
Home show, Mom won't know
Run out the back door, he's passed out on the floor
Third time, been caught twice
Forgive our neighbor Bob, I think he humped the dog

[Pre-Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
But good things come to those who wait, 'cause she laid me
And Mom and Dad possess the key, instant slavery
No need explain the plan, no need to even bother
I'll pack my bags, I swear I'll run, wish my friends were twenty-one

[Verse 2: Tom DeLonge]
White lies, bloodshot eyes
Breath of alcohol, stole it from the mall
How's Chris marked with lipstick?
Better call their fathers, sleeping with your daughters

[Pre-Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
But good things come to those who wait, 'cause she laid me
And Mom and Dad possess the key, instant slavery
No need explain the plan, no need to even bother
I'll pack my bags, I swear I'll run, wish my friends were twenty-one

[Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
You don't belong, you left the kids to carry on
You planned their fall, too bad you're wrong
Don't need a Mom-Dad slave drive song
[Post-Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb

[Bridge: Tom DeLonge]
Turn low, the radio
I think I hear my dad yelling at the band

[Pre-Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
But good things come to those who wait, 'cause she laid me
And Mom and Dad possess the key, instant slavery
No need explain the plan, no need to even bother
I'll pack my bags, I swear I'll run, wish my friends were twenty-one

[Chorus: Tom DeLonge]
You don't belong, you left the kids to carry on
You planned their fall, too bad you're wrong
Don't need a mom-dad slave drive song

[Outro: Tom DeLonge]
I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb
I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb, I time bomb

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About

Genius Annotation

“Anthem” is the twelfth and final track from blink-182’s third studio album, Enema Of The State, released in 1999. The song discusses the aftermath of a massive party booked by the thrower’s parents.

The railing against adults continues on “Anthem Part 2,” the first song of the band’s next record, 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did ​​blink-182 say about "Anthem"?
Genius Answer

In a program for one of Blink’s tours around the time of Enema’s release, Tom left a brief annotation for each track. For “Anthem”:

‘Anthem’ is a song I wrote about having a party at your house, your parents coming home and finding out. I did that to my friend one time. I wanted my band to play – in high school – at my friend’s house. His parents left only until midnight, but I still told the whole school that we were playing there. Thousands of people showed up, and then they all had to leave and we had to clean up the place before the parents came back at 12. It was so funny. The whole place chipped in with the clean up, but the cops showed up and his parents found out that way. So he ended up getting in to a lot of trouble. I couldn’t believe that I invited all those people over and his parents were only away until midnight. The stereo was broken…there was a fight, there was blood everywhere. It was so funny.

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