parents

"Parents" by YUNGBLUD is a powerful and confrontational anthem that champions individualism and challenges the authority of older generations. The song's core message is a tribute to self-discovery and a rejection of conformity. YUNGBLUD explains, "You are the best judge of how to become the best you. Don't conform to the outside world's perception of who you should be if it means losing yourself in the process." The lyrics are a raw expression of the frustration and alienation felt by many young people who feel misunderstood and oppressed by the outdated values and hypocrisies of authority figures, not just parents, but also teachers and religious leaders.

The song uses hyperbolic and shocking imagery to critique these authority structures. For example, the narrative of a father threatening his son with a gun over his sexuality serves as a dramatic representation of homophobia and violent intolerance. The protagonist's rebellious actions are not just acts of teenage angst, but symbolic gestures of breaking free from oppressive control. It's a song for the disenfranchised youth, creating a sense of community and solidarity among those who feel like outsiders. The recurring line, "'Cause parents ain't always right," serves as the central thesis, empowering listeners to trust their own judgment and forge their own paths. While the lyrics can be seen as aggressive, the underlying theme is one of survival and finding strength in a shared struggle against a world that doesn't understand them.

The narrative begins with the protagonist situating himself within a "messed up century," immediately establishing a tone of generational discontent. He paints a picture of a rebellious youth through a series of provocative and hyperbolic statements, such as his preference for "raspberry amphetamines" and brushing his teeth with bleach due to a lack of time for conventional self-care. This introduction serves to build a character who lives on the fringes, disdainful of societal norms.

The central conflict is introduced through a stark and violent threat from his father. The father puts a gun to his head, threatening to kill him if he ever kisses a boy. This ultimatum represents the oppressive and prejudiced attitudes of the older generation. The protagonist's reaction is not one of fear or submission, but of audacious defiance. He ties up his father with gaffer tape, locks him in a shed, and then proceeds to the garden to be intimate with his male best friend. This act is a direct and provocative rebellion against the father's homophobic and controlling behavior, symbolizing a complete rejection of his authority and values.

The chorus encapsulates the core message of the song. The singer’s “high hopes are getting low” because the older generation's way of thinking is outdated and rigid. He feels a sense of hopelessness in trying to make them understand his perspective. However, this despair is countered by a message of solidarity and resilience: “I know I'll never be alone, it's alright, we'll survive.” The concluding line, “'Cause parents ain't always right,” becomes a powerful and recurring mantra for disenfranchised youth, asserting their right to self-determination.

The second verse continues to explore themes of parental neglect and psychological abuse with another shocking image: the protagonist imagines putting a toaster in his bath while his parents laugh, viewing him as the son they regret having. They pathologize his identity, claiming “casual affection leads to sexual infection,” illustrating their deep-seated prejudice and ignorance. The difficulty of feeling desire when constantly faced with rejection is a poignant reflection on the emotional toll of such an environment. The verse then broadens its critique to other authority figures, mentioning the hypocrisy of a teacher and a preacher who engage in secret affairs, reinforcing the idea that the moral standards imposed by the establishment are fraudulent. This leads to a feeling of nihilism, as the protagonist has “nothing to believe in” and waits for his breathing to stop, highlighting a profound sense of disillusionment. The pre-chorus repeats a ticking clock sound, creating a sense of impending danger and the feeling of being targeted, as if he's going to get shot, which links back to the father's initial threat.

"Parents" was released on May 24, 2019, as the first single from YUNGBLUD's EP, The Underrated Youth. The song's release was preceded by a cryptic promotional campaign involving a hotline number appearing in various locations, sparking fan theories. The track was co-written by YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison), Justin Tranter, Chris Greatti, Zakk Cervini, and Jonas Jeberg. The production was handled by YUNGBLUD himself, alongside Zakk Cervini and Chris Greatti, who had previously collaborated on the track "11 Minutes".

YUNGBLUD has stated that the song is not necessarily a direct reflection of his own relationship with his parents, who were reportedly quite liberal, but rather about the opposition and restrictive attitudes he encountered from other authority figures outside his home. He describes the song as a "tribute to individualism". The original title for the track was "your parents ain't always right", a phrase he tweeted as early as November 2018. YUNGBLUD also revealed that his record label was hesitant about the song's release, deeming the lyrics "too graphic" and the video concept "too offensive," but he chose to release it anyway, and it resonated deeply with his fanbase.

The song gained renewed popularity on TikTok in early 2021, which led YUNGBLUD to launch a competition for fans to duet an instrumental version. He was so impressed by 19-year-old Chloe Noone from Liverpool that he officially collaborated with her on a re-release of the track.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Parents" are key to its energetic and rebellious feel. The song's tempo is upbeat, driving the track forward with relentless momentum.

Rhyme Scheme: The verses largely follow an AABB couplet structure, which gives them a punchy, nursery-rhyme-like quality that contrasts sharply with the mature and violent subject matter. For instance, "century / amphetamines" (a slant rhyme) and "head / dead", "tape / shed". This simple scheme makes the provocative lines more memorable and impactful.

Rhythm and Meter: The vocal delivery in the verses is highly rhythmic, bordering on rap, with a consistent cadence that rides over the off-beat, reggae-style guitar strumming. This creates a rhythmic tension that builds towards the chorus. The chorus shifts into a more straightforward rock anthem feel with a 4/4 time signature, emphasizing a powerful and unified chant-like quality. The pre-chorus's use of the "tick-tock" sound introduces a rhythmic motif that builds suspense and anxiety before the explosive release of the chorus. The interplay between the syncopated verses and the driving chorus creates a dynamic structure that mirrors the song's themes of tension and release, oppression and rebellion.

"Parents" employs a range of literary and musical techniques to create its aggressive, high-energy, and confrontational style.

• Musical Style: The song is a genre-blurring mix of alternative rock, pop-punk, and hip-hop, characterized by a driving beat and raw energy. The instrumentation is unconventional, with YUNGBLUD noting the drum kit sounds are derived from hitting guitars and the bassline is an acoustic guitar tuned down an octave, creating a unique, somewhat chaotic soundscape. The song is in the key of A minor and utilizes a reggae-inspired offbeat strumming pattern in the verses, contrasting with the more straightforward power chords of the chorus.
• Vocal Delivery: YUNGBLUD's vocal performance is dynamic and expressive, shifting from a rhythmic, almost-rapped delivery in the verses to an explosive, anthemic shout in the chorus. This delivery style enhances the song's emotional arc from simmering discontent to outright rebellion.
• Literary Techniques: The lyrics are built on hyperbole (e.g., "brush my teeth with bleach," "put a toaster in my bath") to dramatize the protagonist's feelings of angst and rebellion. There is a strong use of provocative imagery and a direct, confrontational narrative voice that speaks directly to the experience of misunderstood youth. The song also employs a stark juxtaposition between its bright, euphoric sound and its dark, blistering lyrics, creating a sense of manic defiance.

"Parents" has had a significant cultural impact, cementing YUNGBLUD's status as a voice for a disenfranchised generation. Upon its release, it was lauded as a modern anthem for youth, praised for its sharp dissection of the hypocrisy of elders. While it did not achieve massive mainstream chart success, its influence is measured more by its resonance within youth culture and its role in building YUNGBLUD's dedicated fanbase, known as the Black Hearts Club. The song became a centerpiece of his live shows, known for their high energy and sense of community.

The track's confrontational lyrics and message of individualism resonated strongly on social media, particularly on TikTok. In 2021, the song experienced a viral resurgence on the platform, leading to YUNGBLUD creating a duet competition and ultimately re-releasing the song with a 19-year-old fan, Chloe Noone. This move was praised for breaking barriers between an artist and their fans, perfectly embodying the song's own themes of unity and empowerment. The official music video also drew attention for its explicit anti-gun violence messages, with phrases like "GUNS KILL KIDS" appearing on screen, adding a layer of political activism to the song's rebellious spirit.

"Parents" is rich with symbolism and provocative metaphors that underscore its themes of rebellion and generational conflict.

• Violent Imagery as Rebellion: The act of the father putting a gun to the protagonist's head is a stark symbol of oppressive, life-threatening prejudice, specifically homophobia. The son's response—tying up the father and sleeping with his friend—is a symbolic overthrowing of that tyranny, a declaration of personal freedom in the face of mortal threat.
• The Toaster in the Bath: This dark, suicidal image represents the ultimate feeling of rejection and worthlessness instilled by the parents. Their perceived laughter symbolizes a profound and cruel emotional neglect, seeing their child as a problem they wish they never had.
• Raspberry Amphetamines & Bleach: These are hyperbolic symbols of self-destructive and non-conformist behavior. They represent a rejection of societal norms of health and well-being, replaced by a reckless existence born from feeling alienated from the "messed up century".
• Hypocritical Authority Figures: The teacher and the preacher who engage in secret affairs are symbols of the moral hypocrisy of the establishment. They represent the idea that the very people who enforce strict rules and moral codes on the youth are often guilty of breaking them, thus invalidating their authority.
• The Ticking Clock: The recurring "tick-tock" sound motif symbolizes impending doom and anxiety. It reflects the feeling of being a target, constantly under pressure and threat, which connects to the lyric "get the feeling that I'm gonna get shot".

Several key phrases and motifs recur throughout "Parents," reinforcing its central themes and making it a memorable anthem.

• "'Cause parents ain't always right": This is the song's central thesis and most powerful recurring phrase. It acts as the chorus's defiant conclusion and the core message of empowerment for its young audience. Its repetition turns it into a mantra of self-validation and rebellion against inherited, unquestioned authority.
• "My high hopes are getting low / Because these people are so old": This couplet, which opens the chorus, is repeated to emphasize the feeling of disillusionment with the older generation. It succinctly captures the generational gap and the feeling that trying to connect or conform is a hopeless endeavor.
• The "Tick-Tock" Sound: The pre-chorus features a repeated "tick-tock" sound effect, followed by the lyric "I get the feeling that I'm gonna get shot." This auditory motif creates a palpable sense of paranoia, danger, and urgency. It recurs before the final choruses, heightening the tension and reinforcing the idea that the protagonist feels targeted and is living on borrowed time.
• Solidarity and Survival: The line "I know I'll never be alone, it's alright, we'll survive" is a crucial recurring motif of hope and community. It directly counters the dark and violent imagery elsewhere in the song, offering a message of resilience through peer solidarity. It shifts the focus from an individual's struggle to a collective one, which is central to YUNGBLUD's connection with his fanbase.