Song Analysis: "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte

CaptainKahuna

Platinum Member
May 19, 2002
2,228
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0
www.billda.com
I have to analyze a song as a poem for English, and I picked "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte. I've pasted the lyrics below. If you want to hear it to music, I'm sure you know where to find it :) What do you guys think it means? Try to aviod the obvious, one sentence answers. Specifically, what do the following parts mean:
===========
Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself
===========
I'm just a Minor Threat so pay no mind
===========

The entire lyrics are below:
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The Anthem

It's a new day
But it all feels old
It's a good life,
That's what I'm told
But every day, it all just feels the same

And my high school
It felt more to me
Like a jail cell,
A penitentiary
My time spent there, it only made me see

That I don't ever wanna be like you
I don't wanna do the things you do
I'm never gonna hear the words you say
And I don't ever wanna,
I don't ever wanna be

You
Don't wanna be just like you
What I'm sayin' is
This is the anthem
Throw all your hands up
You
Don't wanna be you

"Go to college, A university
Get a real job"
That's what they say to me
But I could never live the way they want
I'm gonna get by
And just do my time
Out of step while
They all get in line
I'm just a Minor Threat so pay no mind

Do you really wanna be like them?
Do you really wanna be another trend?
Do you wanna be part of that crowd?
Cause I don't ever wanna
I don't ever wanna be

You
Don't wanna be just like you
What I'm sayin' is
This is the anthem
Throw all your hands up
You
Don't wanna be you

Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself again

You
Don't wanna be just like you
What I'm sayin' is
This is the anthem
Throw all your hands up
Y'all got to feel me, sing if you're with me
You
Don't wanna be just like you (just like you)
This is the anthem
Throw all your hands up
Y'all got to feel me, sing if you're with me

Another youthful anthem (Whoa-oh)
Another youthful anthem (Whoa-oh)
Another youthful anthem (Whoa-oh)
Another youthful anthem (Whoa-oh)
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Thanks for the help guys.

 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
A) Go find an English tutor if you cannot decipher that utter rubbish.
B) See A.
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
another typical generic, anonymous teen-angst song. come on, let's decipher some real lyrics. like tool for instance. maybe some rage against the machine lyrics for some political insight.

 

raptor13

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,719
0
76
Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself

The only thing I've heard this in reference to is urinating while standing up. You finish, give the little guy a good shake so as not to dribble on/in your pants, and you're good to go. You shake once, you're fine. Shake twice, that's cool too. Anymore and you're playing with yourself. So, basically, this part of the song has nothing to do with anything else in the song.

I'm just a Minor Threat so pay no mind

Um... what's not to get? It's about rebelling against the normal. He's going to do his own thing and it's not going to bother you or anyone else so why bother trying to make him conform?




And, as the others said, this song is not at all worthy of of analyzing. I also think it's really funny how there are going to be hundreds and hundreds of kids singing along with this song and jumping up and down in unison at the next Good Charlotte show as they all celebrate their uniqueness. Gotta love the irony! Go ahead there, kids, trade in objectiveness so you can follow the "underground" like a blind sheep! Yay!
rolleye.gif
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
another typical generic, anonymous teen-angst song. come on, let's decipher some real lyrics. like tool for instance. maybe some rage against the machine lyrics for some political insight.
here here!
 

CaptainKahuna

Platinum Member
May 19, 2002
2,228
0
0
www.billda.com
Originally posted by: raptor13
Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself

The only thing I've heard this in reference to is urinating while standing up. You finish, give the little guy a good shake so as not to dribble on/in your pants, and you're good to go. You shake once, you're fine. Shake twice, that's cool too. Anymore and you're playing with yourself. So, basically, this part of the song has nothing to do with anything else in the song.

Great thinking. LOL. Thanks a lot.

 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: gopunk
lot of haters in here

I am a hater of people who use the word hater to describe someone who disagrees with them. It is juvenile.
 

raptor13

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,719
0
76
Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna
Originally posted by: raptor13
Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself

The only thing I've heard this in reference to is urinating while standing up. You finish, give the little guy a good shake so as not to dribble on/in your pants, and you're good to go. You shake once, you're fine. Shake twice, that's cool too. Anymore and you're playing with yourself. So, basically, this part of the song has nothing to do with anything else in the song.

Great thinking. LOL. Thanks a lot.


Believe it or not, I'm totally serious about that part of the song. Honestly, that is the only thing I've EVER heard that "one, two, three" thing applied to. Take it or leave it, you did ask for opinions.

I also, upon reading what I wrote before, realize I came across rather harshly. I didn't mean it like that. I actually really like Good Charlotte and am a ginormous fan of punk music. For instance, I'm right now listening to Taking Back Sunday. I was also one of the hundreds jumping around, yelling along with the songs, and moshing at Warped Tour this year and previous years. However, I also realize that while I may be associated with the punk culture for doing things like that, I'm exactly the same as every other kid who went to Warped, jumped around, and yelled. The point, though, is that I at least realize it.

That's all.
 

xospec1alk

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2002
4,329
0
0
Originally posted by: raptor13
Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna
Originally posted by: raptor13
Shake it once, that's fine
Shake it twice, that's okay
Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself

The only thing I've heard this in reference to is urinating while standing up. You finish, give the little guy a good shake so as not to dribble on/in your pants, and you're good to go. You shake once, you're fine. Shake twice, that's cool too. Anymore and you're playing with yourself. So, basically, this part of the song has nothing to do with anything else in the song.

Great thinking. LOL. Thanks a lot.


Believe it or not, I'm totally serious about that part of the song. Honestly, that is the only thing I've EVER heard that "one, two, three" thing applied to. Take it or leave it, you did ask for opinions.

I also, upon reading what I wrote before, realize I came across rather harshly. I didn't mean it like that. I actually really like Good Charlotte and am a ginormous fan of punk music. For instance, I'm right now listening to Taking Back Sunday. I was also one of the hundreds jumping around, yelling along with the songs, and moshing at Warped Tour this year and previous years. However, I also realize that while I may be associated with the punk culture for doing things like that, I'm exactly the same as every other kid who went to Warped, jumped around, and yelled. The point, though, is that I at least realize it.

That's all.

just wanted to point out that good charlotte is not punk, more pop-punk, and taking back sunday is not exactly punk either....

dont get me wrong taking back sunday is awesome and i hate myself for missing their show at irving a couple months back...but eh...not punk..

This is me with the words on the tip of my tongue
And my eye through the scope
down the barrel of a gun