Why Don't You Get a Job?

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"Why Don't You Get A Job?"

Single by The Offspring
Released	1999
Format	CD
Genre	Ska
Label	Columbia Records
The Offspring singles chronology
Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) (1998)	Why Don't You Get A Job? (1999)	She's Got Issues (1999)

"Why Don't You Get A Job?" was the second single from The Offspring's Americana. Its melody and lyrics are strongly structured off of The Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", with possible influence from Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia." This rather upbeat and jovial ska music meshes with the resentful and angry lyrics to create a mocking tone of false friendliness.

The song tells the story of two similar mooches (one of either gender) who are driving their significant others crazy because they enjoy spending money recklessly, but refuse to get a job themselves to pay the bills.

There is a slight change in drum beat, but not rhythm, when the second verse starts, adding to the overall catchiness of the song.

This fits well with the concept of the album -- unpleasant realities of American life. In this case, spoiled, lazy people who are used to avoiding work are not only doing a disservice to their own life, but those who support such selfishness are also to blame for putting up with it.

At the end of the music video the wigger from Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), played by Guy Cohen, makes a short appearance.

Also, Chris "X-13" Higgins appears shortly in the video as a lazy boyfriend.