Emo

Album: Dude Ranch (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Emo" is about a girl that is constantly being cheated on ("Why stay when you're not the only one?") and is still staying with her boyfriend. She tells herself to give him another chance, but the singer knows he is still going to treat her bad ("And I don't care, he is such a dick, he treats you like you are a stupid whore"). >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Gabe - Borger, TX

Comments: 8

  • Fake Your Death from EnglandSo basically the girl in question is actually a cuck.
  • AnonymousTheir voices sound strained as heck, probably spent awhile in the studio. Ouch
  • Matt from Houston, TxYeah,emo's are giving cutters like me a bad name.They try too hard to make a scene and tell everyone about it.Call me a poser but I have only told one person about it.And I didn't even tell him why.
  • Jess from Brisbane, AustraliaBlink-182 made this song but they didn't have a title for it, and they thought it sounded like an emo song so whenever they were going to play it, they said, "Let's play that emo-sounding one." Emo back then had nothing to do with morons whining and slicing and dicing their wrists, or dressing all in black and crying while writing poetry.
  • Erik from Nonya, Paactually emo was an underground thing for some time before it was popularized. i think it's funny that blink-182 was using it in a derogatory manner to make fun of the genre. emo kind of took pop punk and made it suck.
  • Jess from Brisbane, AustraliaRemember 'emo' means 'emotional'. Emo as a stereotype - you know, the black clothing, hair, make-up, etc., self-harm, depression, etc. - is more a 21st century thing. This was released in 1997 so I doubt it had anything to do with the emo stereotype.
  • Moebert from Burgdorf, GermanyI think the song is nemd "Emo", because they never had a name for it and always referred to it as "The emo sounding one". So in the end they called it like this.
    Think they said it in one of thier DVDs
  • Lucy from Kootingal, AustraliaI think it's also about the girl being unsatisfied with where the relationship is going. The guy just wants a "hook-up buddy" or somewhat, but the girl would rather prefer something more serious. The lyrics "Why stay when you're not the only one" have contradicting effect to; "Why leave when you claim it is love". These lyrics express to me that in no real relationship where love is involved can either partner be unfaithful or cheat. Therefore what the girl classifies as "love", is a misinterpretation, considering she is being cheated on.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.