What do you think You're Gonna Go Far Kid means?

The Offspring: You're Gonna Go Far Kid Meaning

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Album cover for You're Gonna Go Far Kid album cover

You're Gonna Go Far Kid Lyrics

Show me how to lie
You’re getting better all the time
And turning all against the one
Is an art that’s hard to teach
Another clever word
Sets off an unsuspecting herd
And as you step back into line
A mob jumps to their feet

Now dance,...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    Justin Shields
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    Nov 4th 2016 !⃝

    To me, the song sounds more like it's about someone who's very manipulative. "Show me how to lie. You're getting better all the time". This guy is trying to gain power, and is taking down anyone in his way. Using lies and deceit, he turns everyone against those who are in his way, and no one knows that all along, it's really all just him. The one singing is as someone who can see what's going on. He says "There's something in your way" and then "If you can't get what you want, it's all because of me", implying he's finally going in to stop him, but even he falls prey to this guy's tactics with "Man I never had a chance".

    And "lord of the flies" is a reference to Beelzebub, which is one of Satan's other names, and sounds like the one singing is likening this power-hungry, manipulative person as Lucifer, because he did the same thing when he got 1/3 of God's angels to turn against Him and follow the lord of flies instead.

    And all the while, the singer is saying "Nice work you did. You're gonna go far, kid", meaning that with his tactics and his ability to utilize them, he will go far, because in this world, you get ahead by stomping others down.

    The music video is not always indicative of the message. Many have absolutely nothing to do with it.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Dec 8th 2009 !⃝

    Honesly i feel every interpretation is right but the Lord of The Flies one seems like it could be the one closest to the truth because Lord of The Flies is in the lyrics. But they all match the lyrics.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Jul 11th 2010 !⃝

    You are all wrong. I guess none of you all saw the music video right? Well here it goes. It's about a man who does not have anything. He is a very poor man with a vary laborious job. Until one day a woman appear and gave him a magic guitar. The guitar could force people to dance and be happy or better, but he began to abuse this power for money, fame, and power. The woman who gave him the guitar was happy until he saw him abuse the power she gave him which was meant to do good. Until he became fully greedy and made this extremely rich people dance for their money when the woman appeared again and took away the guitar and forced him to dance. He began to sink into the ground and disappeared (in which I believe it was to say he went to hell). The woman broke the guitar by making it fall apart
    into leaves and disappear. The song is about the misuse of power. Same thing with corrupted leaders, when they are suppose to lead a nation they are corrupted by their power and greed which leads to their downfall.

  4. crumpler
    click a star to vote
    Aug 11th 2023 !⃝

    To me the story is someone who understands that another person is manipulating people to get what they want. And they attempt to replicate , but find they are the victim of their desires.

  5. anonymous
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    Jan 22nd 2023 !⃝

    Reading the lyrics, it kind of sounds to me like the training of a rookie hitman. Maybe for the CIA or something. The guy's being taught how to wear disguises and assassinate people all while covering it up and lying to the public. The chorus is kind of like the government/higher ups complimenting the rookie while also kind of giving away or reminding him he's just a hired stooge for the government.

    That's how I'm interpreting it anyway.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 4th 2022 !⃝

    This is a total description of a narcissistic girlfriend, who lies, manipulates, gaslight and uses people to gain what she wants, even if it includes pushing her significant other in front of a bus, gathering her flying monkeys, etc.

    This perfectly outlines a relationship with a covert narcissist.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 4th 2020 !⃝

    Hit him right between the eyes...
    You done good kid..

    Qanon fodder for sure..

    Went frame by frame in video and imagery is something when you zoom in, especially on the guitar and wallpaper..

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 27th 2019 !⃝

    If you are fimilar with the guy who sells his soul for musical talent, the video should be very clear.

    The symbolism is a dead ringer for that story. The guy gets more money, better clothes, but the devil always comes to collect in the end.

    Not only that but the lyrics validate the connection. Other than the 'lord of the flies' line there is also 'see the lightning in your eyes, running for their lives'' line.

    Luke 18:10 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

    The connection between the guitar player and the devil works with the lyrics and the story I mentioned earlier, tie that together with the title of the song.... Make the deal, and you're gonna go far kid.

    Throw in an illuminati conspiracy and you're set.

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 20th 2017 !⃝

    Song may be about abuse of power but the video is no doubt about how talent in the music industry is exploited and abused for fortune and fame.

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 26th 2014 !⃝

    This song is about the novel Lord of the Flies. At least I think so, although I am OBSSESSED with the book and even traced the song Shake it Off to that song...

    No one even knew it was really only you. This refers to when Jack Merridew and his tribe murdered a boy named simon. It was dark and "No one knew it was only Simon."

    The dance dance dance part is when they dance around a fire before killing simon. All of the violence and deciving parts are about Jack. This song is sung by Ralph making fun of Jack. Its like if you hated Justin Bieber so you sung like
    "Ohh im so cool and awesome."
    he is makng jack sound weak. This is like what he would have sung to jack and his tribe to make fun of them. Clever alibies lord of the flies refers to when jack makes up a clever lie that it was not simon that they killed but "The Beast" in disquize. and Lord of the flies... that's pretty obvious. My guess is that the offspring were just a fan of lord of the flies and never thought that this song would get this popular.

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 17th 2014 !⃝

    It's totally about abusing power, but if there is a book called "Lord of the Flies," then he's obviously referencing that. Don't tell people they're wrong when you, yourself are basing everything on an obviously fictional music video. I've seen plenty music videos that don't explain their songs at all.
    Sincerely,
    The Crimson Fucker

  12. Simonlotf
    click a star to vote
    Sep 2nd 2014 !⃝

    I love lord of the flies and can trace almost every song back to it. This so g is about the tension between Ralph and Jack the two main characters forming. (Show me how to lie) and (turning all against one.) refer to jack stealing all of the kids from Ralph's tribe. (Dance dance dance) this is jack dancing around a fire with a spear before killing simon, a ten year old boy. Ralph is singing this to jack. (No one even knew it was really only you) refers to simon being killed. No one even knew it was really only Simon, because it was dark and they were scared. (Hit em right between the eyes) refers to both jack breaking piggys glasses and roger killing piggy with a rock In the middle of his face. (Clever alibis lord of the flies) ... Really? It's just so obvious. Reread lord of the flies and think about it.

  13. Shadowtalons
    click a star to vote
    Sep 2nd 2014 !⃝

    It seems to me that although from the music video it would seem to be about fame and misusing talent, I think from the lyrics it's a more political abuse of power. "Another clever word sets off an unsuspecting herd and as you step back into line a mob jumps to their feet" apply that phrase to the best known example of someone pulling a crowd to their side: Adolf Hitler. The song is clearly not about him specifically, but that situation of politics and manipulating people. "And now you'll lead the way, show the light of day", "when you walk away, nothing more to say, see the lightning in your eye, see 'em running for their lives" "there's something in your way, and now somebody's gonna pay" all signs point to someone in power manipulating the populous by deceit. It's important to remember the genre of this song. This is punk rock, and that means that this song will likely have a political or social theme. Punk rock songs are not about hit men. They're about how messed up the wold is in general. And "he never had a chance and no one even knew, it was really only you" lays all of the blame when a mob or army attacks an innocent upon the person controlling them, the controversy of which is a big social issue.

  14. anonymous
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    Aug 21st 2014 !⃝

    Its about character assassination.

  15. anonymous
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    Mar 30th 2014 !⃝

    This song uses Lord of the Flies as a reference which means that it probably carries a lot of commonality between the meaning and the book. This song is about any person, best friend, low life, anyone who stands up for the first time against a certain argument, person, or government (good or bad). It is seen in the first stanza, ‘show me how to lie’ ‘turn it all against the one’. The being used to just go along with the flow, lying about their opinion or view but eventually speaks out. However, as we all know in history and even Lord of the Flies, when those words are spoken more people are rallied up and believe in them or their actions. ‘Sets off an unsuspecting herd’ ‘Mob jumps to their feet’.

    The whole dance fucker dance stanza is more of a taunt because the friends of this person were completely fooled by his withheld demeanor that they didn’t believe that he could do something so brash.It was basically a smack in the face. In the second verse it is all about the friend/ opposing force fighting back to stop them from destroying the society or friendship that they once had, but unfortunately it is too late. Like in lord of the flies the kids try hard to bring everyone back and light the signal fire successfully but there is too much riot going on and no one listens to reason. ‘If you can’t get what you want it is all because of me’. However the reality of the situation hits them hard and causes the to do something drastic. ‘Someones in your way and now they're gonna pay’.

    This is the story of the breaking of friendships, the anarchy of the government, Lord of the flies. This is about the basic life of controversy in humans and society. We all try to keep the peace but when something goes awry it al goes into swirling chaos. Though the outcome can always go either way and the cause isn’t always good or bad, controversy always follows this path.

    The music video wasn’t meant to be taken literally but as an example of this force between the opposing opinions/forces. Rich/poor; good/bad; friend/foe; opinions.

  16. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 13th 2014 !⃝

    Guys a song is what you make it, Im pretty sure the
    Offspring would be upset if they heard all of you arguing and about what their song is REALLY about.

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 17th 2013 !⃝

    Really, I think it's about the story of a rising thief. He was taught how to be deceptive and sly by another thief. He was taught how to do it well, and cause everyone to turn on each other without thinking for a second that "It was really only you." Eventually, he got better and better, until he plotted a thievery against the very thief that taught him: "Slowly out of line and getting closer in your sights, play it out I'm wide awake, it's a scene about me" as well as "Trust deceived" and "I never had a chance" show this.

    As for the "Lord of the Flies" thing, this is simply one of the names the rising thief used, probably during the thievery against the leading thief.

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 6th 2013 !⃝

    I think that all of the interpretations are right but here's my opinion. I think this is about a poor man who wants to fit in with the other residents of the city and tries to but fails so he turns to lie and nobody ever had a chance against him once he had learned to lie. Once he heads to the city with his new "power" he wraps everyone around his finger and "hits them right between the eyes" with the lies that he tells. But he is punished for what he did by nature and sent to hell.

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