Roller Coaster

Album: Take Off Your Pants And Jacket (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a shy guy who wants to ask out this one girl but is worried about what she will say. It gives an idea of what Mark Hoppus from blink-182 went through in high school with one of the popular girls: "Breathing deeply, walking backwards, finding strength to call and ask her. Roller Coaster, favorite ride, let me kiss you one last time." It's experiencing butterflies, and wishing to be with her one last time before graduation. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Harry - England
  • Hoppus: "I used to date this girl, and I couldn't tell anyone about it. The whole situation sucked, so I wrote a song about it." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tim - Pittsburgh, PA
  • If Hoppus hadn't worked up the nerve to ask the girl out, it might have been another "Story Of A Lonely Guy" - a song his bandmate Tom DeLonge wrote for the album.
  • Bolstered by the hit singles "The Rock Show," "Stay Together for the Kids," and "First Date," Take Off Your Pants And Jacket - Blink's fourth studio album - was their first release to top the US albums chart. It also marked the first time a punk album reached the summit.

    They didn't reach the top again until 2016 with their seventh album, California. At that time, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio replaced Tom DeLonge as guitarist and co-lead vocalist.

Comments: 3

  • Jonathan from Paoli, InI thought this song was about a group of kids who die on a roller coaster.
  • John from Mansfield, TxIn The Now Cancelled CBS Sitcom"Still Standing",Bill and Judy Miller(Mark Addy and Jami Gertz)agreed to chaperone their Daughter(Renee Olmstead)and her friends to a Blink 182 Concert.
    Judy decides to flash the band only to wind up flashing her breasts on the Jumbotron Screens
    and embarassing her daughter BFT!!
  • Kyle from Cardiff, WalesTypical sexy blink 182 XD
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.