Don't Leave Me

Album: Enema Of The State (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this punk breakup tune, blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus begs his girlfriend not to leave him. She seems to have trouble dealing with his track record, as he pleads, "Don't let your future be destroyed by my past." According to bandmate Tom DeLonge, Hoppus didn't actually have a girlfriend at the time, so who he's singing about is a mystery. But he must have felt inspired because it only took him around 10 minutes to write.
  • DeLonge shared his perspective on the song's meaning in a track-by-track commentary. "Sometimes you write a relationship song that really doesn't have that much deep meaning," he said. "I think it's just like that feeling when you're really in love with a girl, you're just thinking 'Please, please, please don't stop liking me.' That's the gist of the song. All the times you put your feelings into liking a girl, and she doesn't like you at all, and she thinks you're a scumbag. So therefore that song's like a prayer to a girl. Always hoping that you won't make the girl throw up forever, always hoping that the girls will love you. We speak for all males, we write songs hoping that girls will like us dirty rotten boys for a long time."
  • Bolstered by the hit singles "What's My Age Again?" and "All The Small Things," Enema Of The State was blink-182's big commercial breakthrough. They also got a lot of exposure when they appeared in the raunchy teen comedy American Pie in July 1999, a month after the album dropped. They recorded the tune "Mutt" for the soundtrack.

Comments: 5

  • Evan from Philadelphia, Pathanks Kaleen that's really informative I appreciate it
  • Chrissy from Westmont, Ili have the mark tom and travis show cd and i love it it rocks!
  • Sarah from Quito, South Americablink 182 rocks...hehehe. im sure every single person gets annoyed with people all they say is that a band rocks, but they really are. they've got some awesome songs, and the fact that the are inspired by The Cure, makes it even better.
  • Arkady from London, EnglandMark: 'This song is about my herpes [an STD], it's called "Don't Leave Me" and it goes like this'
    -Mark, Tom And Travis Show
  • Weng from Los Angeles, CaTom DeLonge: "Mark wrote that song, so I can't really speak about what was going through his mind when he wrote that one. But I can judge on the lyrics. He wrote that song when he didn't even have a girlfriend, so I don't know who he's talking to. Sometimes you write a relationship song that really doesn't have that much deep meaning. I think it's just like that feeling when you're really in love with a girl, you're just thinking 'Please, please, please don't stop liking me.' That's the gist of the song. All the times you put your feelings into liking a girl, and she doesn't like you at all, and she thinks you're a scumbag. So therefore that song's like a prayer to a girl. Always hoping that you won't make the girl throw up forever, always hoping that the girls will love you. We speak for all males, we write songs hoping that girls will like us dirty rotten boys for a long time."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.