[8] The song lyrics tell the stories of several people from a town and the problems they faced growing up (unplanned pregnancy, unemployment, drug addiction, and suicide).

Dexter Holland wrote the song after visiting his home town, Garden Grove, California, and discovering many of his old acquaintances had found problems in life.

In his words, "The neighborhood looks like Happy Days, but it's really Twin Peaks," while guitarist Noodles said that the song pointed out the subversion of the idea that "you grow up hoping you and your friends have a bright future.

In the center of the room, there are scenes of various persons, including an appearance by Bif Naked, doing stereotypical things and moves; occasionally band members show up.

The music video, directed by Yariv Gaber, released a month before the CD single,[10] received heavy airplay on MTV.

The second, alternative cover shows a young child reaching for a gun, with ominous blood near to it (the drawing that appears with the song in the Americana booklet).