It was first released on September 2, 2000, through MCA Records as the lead single from the band's live album The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)

The song's lyrics, credited to bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge, are about losing their original drummer Scott Raynor to alcohol abuse.

Musically, the song is led by a distinctive bass line, accompanied by melodic guitar riffs and straightforward rock drums.

Its music video—a number-one hit on MTV—was directed by Marcos Siega, and parodies the group's past clips with dwarfs in place of the band members.

Though officially unconfirmed, "Man Overboard" is generally believed to be written about the group's original drummer Scott Raynor,[1] who performed and recorded with the trio between 1992 and 1998.

In the interim years, the band recorded independent albums and toured frequently, attracting a following at the peak of punk rock's mainstream popularity.

Raynor, interviewed by journalist Joe Shooman for an unofficial band biography, admitted that his behavior in this era was "irresponsible [...] I was drinking way too much."

In one instance, Raynor broke both of his heels in an episode while inebriated, and was forced to record the band's major-label debut, Dude Ranch (1997), while on crutches.

[6] Eventually, DeLonge and Hoppus phoned Raynor, issuing an ultimatum that he agree to attend an in-patient rehabilitation facility, or be removed from the band.

[10] The song opens with a distinctive solo ostinato on bass guitar performed by Hoppus, preceding a refrain that repeats the phrase "so sorry it's over.

"[15] Throughout the song, Hoppus alludes to the loss of a friend to alcoholism, recalling their tendency to down "shots without a chaser," and decrying them as "out of line, and rarely sober.

"[16] Trewn writes that Hoppus switches between "remorseful affection and cold bitterness" toward the song's subject, suggesting that while he commiserates with this friend, DeLonge is more outwardly disdainful.

[17] The band first met Siega coming up in the punk rock scene,[9] and their similar ethos led them to hire him in the past for the music videos for "All the Small Things" and "What's My Age Again?".

In the "Man Overboard" clip, the trio—sleeping in a tour van speeding overnight—each have nightmares that take place in their past music videos ("What's My Age Again?"

[20][21] It became MTV's most-played clip for the week ending October 22, surpassing videos by acts such as the Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera.

[31] The song debuted online, streaming exclusively on MTV.com, the website for L.A.-based radio station KROQ-FM and the band's official site on September 2, 2000.

An uncredited Billboard writer, reviewing the single, complimented the song's "infectious" guitar riff and Barker's "aggressive" percussion, suggesting its potential to crossover between multiple radio formats.

There's not a single section that couldn't function as the song's center, with one of Hoppus' all-time best bass lines reigning most identifiable as a chorus.