The Kids Aren’t All Right By The Offspring "The Kids Aren't Alright" is the third single from The Offspring's album Americana edited in 1998. The lyrics are inspired by a visit Dexter Holland made to his old neighbourhood, Garden Grove in Orange County, California. Seeing that most of his friends met tragedy (car accident, nervous breakdown), he wrote the song of the ruined life of his friends. The four kids—Jamie, Mark, Jay, and Brandon—all had the potential to have extraordinary lives but each of them ended up throwing it away in a different fashion (Jamie "had a chance well she really did, instead she dropped out and had a couple of kids", Mark "still lives at home because he's got no job, just plays guitar and smokes a lot of pot”, "Jay committed suicide, Brandon Odd and died). This fits well with the concept of the album: unpleasant realities of American life. In this case, children are promised they are growing up to a future of unlimited potential, but in reality, most of that potential is never realized. When we were young the future was so bright The old neighborhood was so alive And every kid on the whole damn street Was gonna make it big and not be beat Now the neighborhood's cracked and torn The kids are grown up but their lives are worn How can one little street Swallow so many lives Chances thrown Nothing's free Longing for what used to be Still it's hard Hard to see Fragile lives, shattered dreams Jamie had a chance, well she really did Instead she dropped out and had a couple of kids Mark still lives at home cause he's got no job He just plays guitar and smokes a lot of pot Jay committed suicide Brandon OD'd and died What the hell is going on The cruelest dream, reality Source: Paroles Mania .