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Why Don't You Get a Job?

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"Why Don't You Get a Job?" is a song by American rock band the Offspring. The song is the 11th track on the Offspring's fifth studio album, Americana (1998), and was released as its second single on March 15, 1999. The song also appears as the eighth track on the band's Greatest Hits album (2005). The single peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries, including reaching number two in the United Kingdom, Australia, Iceland, and Sweden.

"Why Don't You Get a Job?"
Single by the Offspring
from the album Americana
B-side"Beheaded (1999)"
ReleasedMarch 15, 1999 (1999-03-15)
Length2:51
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Dexter Holland
Producer(s)Dave Jerden[1]
The Offspring singles chronology
"Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)"
(1998) 		"Why Don't You Get a Job?"
(1999) 		"The Kids Aren't Alright"
(1999)
Music video
"Why Don't You Get a Job?" on YouTube

The song drew attention from multiple music writers for its similarities to the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", the Beatles' 1968 hit from their self-titled double album (also known as the White Album).[2][3][4]

Music video

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The music video, directed by McG,[5] was shot on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. Lead singer Dexter Holland paraglides down to a suburban street and starts singing acapella while walking down the street, beats are soon added by a girl with a boombox, the rest of the band and a man playing the steelpan. As the video progress, the group walks through several TV and movie set locations, such as Colonial Street and Courthouse Square. More and more people join them as the video progress into an impromptu parade, including a marching band, female contestants walking out on the filming of a dating game show, and both friends with terrible partners discussed in the song. Eventually the crowd walks up to a large red button labelled "Do not push" which Holland presses. This triggers an explosion and the crowd scatters in a panic.

Several cameos are featured: Bob Eubanks hosts the parody dating show, Chris "X-13" Higgins and Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar are the deadbeat boyfriend and his girlfriend mentioned in the third verse, and Guy Cohen, who played the main character in the "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" video, makes an appearance shortly before the video ends. The video appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD, released in 2005.

Track listings

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Australia CD maxi

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:51
2."Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" (Lowriders Remix)3:03
3."Beheaded (1999)"2:39
4.""Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"" (Music Video in the CD-ROM)3:09

Part 2

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:51
2."Why Don't You Get a Job?" (The Baka Boyz Remix)4:24
3."Beheaded (1999)"2:39
4."I Wanna Be Sedated" (Ramones Cover)2:21

Later version

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:51
2."Beheaded (1999)"2:39
3."I Wanna Be Sedated" (Ramones Cover)2:21

Personnel

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The Offspring

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Additional musicians

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  • Gabrial McNair – horn
  • Álvaro Macías – vihuela
  • Phil Jordan – horn
  • Carlos Gómez – guitar
  • Derrick Davis – flute

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Italy (FIMI)[52] Gold 50,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[53] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Gold 400,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 25, 1999 Active rock radio Columbia [55]
Australia March 15, 1999 CD [56]
United States March 23, 1999 Contemporary hit radio [57]
Europe March 30, 1999 CD [17]
United Kingdom April 26, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [58]
Japan June 19, 1999 CD Epic [59]

Cover versions

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Australian country singer John Williamson covered the song as part of the Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge album in 2000

South African singer Snotkop translated the song into Afrikaans as "Kry jou ass by die werk"[60] (radio edit titled "Kry jouself by die werk").

References

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  1. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job? [US]". Allmusic. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  2. ^ Geoff Boucher (April 24, 1999). "Is the Song an Offspring". LA Times. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Teri vanHorn (May 6, 1999). "Offspring Song Has A Familiar Ring, Beatles Fans Say". MTV.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  4. ^ Richard Harrington (January 13, 1999). "Punk With Spunk". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2015. Alt URL
  5. ^ "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 2. January 9, 1999. p. 71.
  6. ^ Argentina Airplay Charts Archive
  7. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7445." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7450." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  13. ^ Danish Charts Archive. 21 May 1999.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 20. May 15, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "The Offspring". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 188. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in French). Les classement single.
  17. ^ a b "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  18. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 24. June 12, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (16.4–23.4. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 16, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Irish Singles Chart.
  21. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 23. June 5, 1999. p. 94. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "Latvian Airplay Top 197 of 1999" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "M-1 TOP 40". M-1.fm. July 18, 1999. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  25. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  26. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Top 40 Singles.
  27. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". VG-lista.
  28. ^ "Lista Przebojów Programu 3" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Scandinavia" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 51. May 15, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  31. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Singles Top 100.
  32. ^ "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Swiss Singles Chart.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  34. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  37. ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  38. ^ "The Offspring Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  40. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999". ARIA. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  42. ^ "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved May 16, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  44. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. January 1, 2000. p. 11. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  45. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  47. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  48. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  49. ^ a b "1999 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  50. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54.
  51. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  52. ^ "Italian single certifications – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  53. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  54. ^ "British single certifications – Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  55. ^ "Adds for January 25 & 26". Gavin Report. No. 2239. January 22, 1999. p. 36.
  56. ^ "Offspring Why Don't You Get a Job Australian CD single (CD5 / 5")". eil.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  57. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1291. March 19, 1999. p. 37.
  58. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 26 April, 1999: Singles". Music Week. April 24, 1999. p. 27.
  59. ^ "オフスプリング" [Offspring]. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  60. ^ "Interview: Snotkop". www.channel24.co.za. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
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