We're All To Blame

Album: Chuck (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Sum 41 channel their inner System Of A Down on this song, where they get uncharacteristically political, decrying a Western culture that mongers war (like in Iraq) and turns a blind eye to suffering. Lead singer Deryck Whibley told MTV: "It's about the state of the world, and how it's come to be like this. Directly or indirectly, everyone is somehow to blame one way or another. Whether you have direct involvement or you just choose to be ignorant, we all have some kind of involvement."
  • The band expanded their horizons in May 2004 when they traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo with the War Child Canada relief organization. Most of their third album was written when they got there, but after arriving, Whibley got the idea for a song called "We're All To Blame." Then just a few days into the trip, gunfire broke out near their hotel and they were rushed to safety by a UN peacekeeper named Chuck Pelletier. Whibley lost his train of thought, but when the band flew back to Toronto, he remembered what he wanted to write about. With help from his bandmates, he completed the song and they tacked it on to the album, which they named Chuck in honor of Pelletier. The song was released as the first single from the album.
  • In the video, the band appear on the '80s TV show Solid Gold, complete with era-appropriate attire and video effects like cubes and star wipes. It was directed by Marc Klasfeld, who also did their "Fat Lip" video.

Comments: 3

  • Chuck from Kewaskum, WiI think this song could also be saying we (most of humanity) are all to blame for all of the war and negative thing going on around the world... like inocent people dieing and stuff like that.
  • Angela from Sacramento, CaThe music video is a parody of some old television show called Solid Gold. It has the band playing on stage with the solid gold dancers dancing around them and cheesy star transitions throughout the video.
  • Miki from Vrbas, Gathis is one of the best sum 41 songs,it looks just like they have grown up!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?