The Story Of My Old Man

Album: The Young And The Hopeless (2002)
Play Video
  • I don't know too much,
    Too much of my old man.
    I know he walked right out the door
    And we never saw him again.
    Last I heard he was at the bar doing himself in. I know I got that same disease,
    I guess I got that from him.
    This is the story of my old man,
    Just like his father before him.
    I'm telling you do anything you can,
    So you don't end up just like them, like them. Monday he woke up and hated life,
    Drank until Wednesday and left his wife. Thursday through Saturday lost everything,
    Woke up on Sunday miserable again.

    I remember baseball games
    And working on the car.
    He told me that he loved me
    And that I would go far.
    Showed me how to work hard
    And stick up for my-self,
    I wish he wasn't too hard to listen to himself.

    This is the story of my old man,
    Just like his father before him.
    I'm telling you do anything you can,
    So you don't end up just like them, like them. Monday he woke up and hated life, drank until Wednesday and left his wife.
    Thursday through Saturday lost everything,
    Woke up on Sunday miserable again...again...again.
    Someday he'll wish that he made things right(made things right),
    Long for his family and miss his wife(miss his wife),
    Remember the days he had everything(everything),
    Now he's alone and miserable again. Writer/s: BENJI MADDEN, JOEL MADDEN
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Nathan from Oxford EnglandTheir father leaving the family really did leave a void and inspired Joel and Benji's songwriting only to reunite in the late 00's and on good terms until his death in 2019.
  • Kelsey from Rustburg, VaThis song is based off of Benji and Joel's issues with their father. that's a fact. Anyway... I LUV BENJI!! And Good Charlotte rox!!
  • Jacob from Chicago, Ilits a good song it is like the srort of my dad's father who got up and left so i can relate but no mater what its always sad
  • Brittany from Townsville, AustraliaThat strange my dad and I, we joke about things almost all the time. Yeah I find this song sorta sad but I like it. like others it's a great song writen by twins. (FUNNY :)(: ).
  • Tiffany from Lake Forest, CaHaha! My dad called me the otehr day and told me I was a loser, I told him at least im not in Lynwood getting high off crack with my two daughters in the passenger seat looking over to me, telling me, "dont look at me, what daddy is doing is bad." I will never forget that. Im not a loser Im doing better than you. Im not on drugs, my kids dont have to see that. I asked him, "Im not a dr. or something because I was never given those means to be that. What makes me a loser? NOT being in a shelter NOT asking my kids to pee in a cup beacuse they love me?"

    He has not talked to me since. I will never become like them. I hate the ways I was tought. My kids will never see that life so help me god.
  • Breanna from Antioch, Tnthis song sorta relates to my life. my dad didnt leave us ,my parents got divourced, but he does drink and the rest is basically like my biography.
  • Breanna from Lexington, NcI still live with my father, but my cousin's dad abandoned them and this song completely relates to her life. GC, i wanna thank u, cuz u helped her thru everything, and for helping me get over him leaving.
  • John from Sydney, AustraliaIt certainly is a sad song. I have never experienced any of that bad stuff with family or anything like that but it still somehow strikes a chord. I am constantly amazed by how well Good Charlotte (or, as you have said, Benji and Joel) manage to sum up so many things in their songs. This song talks about hereditry traits (and the difficulties in avoiding them), the love of a father for a son no matter what's going on in his life (even if it isn't strong enough to keep him at home) and the regret felt by people when they stuff up theirs lives.
    This song's great.
  • Charlotte from Chicago, Ilits such a sad song
  • Charlotte from Chicago, Ili so totally agree with rach! Benji & Joel are both great songwriters & singers they inspire me soooooooo much! i hope that 1 day the songs i write will be as good as their's!
  • Rach from Norfolk, EnglandBenji and Joel didn't know whether to put this song on the album. It is really personnal and they didn't want people to take the mick out of their personnal feelings. I think that they made the right descision putting it on the alum as other people who have had a father walk out on them can relate to a song.
    It is a beautiful song and the twins should be proud of it!
  • Grace from Ventura, Cai can completly relate to this song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.