Why Don't You Get a Job?

"Why Don't You Get a Job?" is a song by The Offspring. The song is the 11th track on The Offspring's fifth studio album Americana (1998) and was released as the second single from the album. The song also appears as the eighth track on the band's Greatest Hits album (2005). The single peaked within the top ten of the charts in many 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 30, 1999
Recorded1998
GenrePop punk, ska punk
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)

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, was shot on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. Several TV and movie set locations can be seen throughout the video, including Colonial Street (which was used as Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives) and Courthouse Square from the Back to the Future trilogy. The video features the four members of the band walking through these locations while a steadily growing crowd follows them.

Dexter Holland opens the video by flying into a serene suburban setting on a hang glider. A male fast food worker (played by Dor Ashur) has a milkshake dumped on his face by a group of buxom female customers and then throws himself through a window, and a BMX biker falls off a roof shortly thereafter. Toward the end, Holland triggers an explosion that scatters his followers so that only his fellow band members remain.

Bob Eubanks, the host of the Newlywed Game, makes a cameo appearance. Towards the end of the video, Guy Cohen, who played the main character in the "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" video, makes a short appearance. Chris "X-13" Higgins appears in the video as a lazy boyfriend (as described in the third verse). Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar plays his girlfriend.

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)[42] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Sweden (GLF)[43] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Silver 200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

South African singer Snotkop translated the song into Afrikaans as "Kry Jou Ass By Die Werk".[45]

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gollark: Ah, I see.
gollark: Is that in response to something?
gollark: That sure is a wikipedia page which exists.
gollark: I don't run mail since I fear that I would break something and be unable to recover it because mail is used for password resets and domain purchasing/renewal and whatever.

References
  1. "The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job? [US]". Allmusic. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  2. Geoff Boucher (April 24, 1999). "Is the Song an Offspring". LA Times. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. Teri vanHorn (May 6, 1999). "Offspring Song Has A Familiar Ring, Beatles Fans Say". MTV.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  4. Richard Harrington (January 13, 1999). "Punk With Spunk". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2015. Alt URL
  5. "Australian-charts.com – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. "Austriancharts.at – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. "Ultratop.be – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  8. "Ultratop.be – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7445." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  10. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7450." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 20. May 15, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  12. "Lescharts.com – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  14. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 24. June 12, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  15. "Íslenski Listinn (16.4–23.4. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 16, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 23. June 5, 1999. p. 94. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  19. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. "Charts.nz – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Top 40 Singles.
  21. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". VG-lista.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Singles Top 100.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – The Offspring – Why Don't You Get a Job?". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  26. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  27. "The Offspring Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. "The Offspring Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  29. "The Offspring Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  30. "The Offspring Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  31. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  32. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1999". ARIA. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  33. "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  34. "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  35. "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  36. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 1. January 1, 2000. p. 11. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  37. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  39. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  40. "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  41. "1999 – The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. 138. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  42. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  43. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
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  45. http://www.channel24.co.za/Music/FeaturesInterviews/Interview-Snotkop-20090715 Retrieved January 7, 2014
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