Why Don't You Get a Job?

"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)
Length2:49
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 for its close similarity to the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", as multiple music writers pointed out that the melody and rhythm sounded much like the Beatles' 1968 release from their self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album").[2][3][4]

Music video

The music video, directed by McG,[5] was shot on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. Lead signer 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

Australia CD Maxi

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:49
2."Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" (Lowriders Remix)3:01
3."Beheaded (1999)"2:38
4.""Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"" (Music Video in the CD-ROM)3:07

Part 2

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:49
2."Why Don't You Get a Job?" (The Baka Boyz Remix)4:22
3."Beheaded (1999)"2:38
4."I Wanna Be Sedated" (Ramones Cover)2:19

Later version

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?"2:49
2."Beheaded (1999)"2:38
3."I Wanna Be Sedated" (Ramones Cover)2:19

Promo CD

No.TitleLength
1."Why Don't You Get a Job?" (Album version)2:52
2."Callout Hook #1"0:10
3."Callout Hook #2"0:05

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Italy (FIMI)[47] Gold 50,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[48] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[50] Gold 500,000‡

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

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 25, 1999 Active rock radio Columbia [51]
Australia March 15, 1999 CD [52]
United States March 23, 1999 Contemporary hit radio [53]
Europe March 30, 1999 CD [14]
United Kingdom April 26, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [54]
Japan June 19, 1999 CD Epic [55]

Cover versions

South African singer Snotkop translated the song into Afrikaans as "Kry jou ass by die werk"[56] (radio edit titled "Kry jouself by die werk").

References
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