“Coming For You” by The Offspring
The Offspring’s “Coming for You” is an interesting song, which we can say is dual-themed, at least to some extent. It starts off with The Offspring giving a shoutout to themselves, in a humorous sort of way. Or more the point, they had reached a place in their career trajectory where maybe they were not as inspired to make music as passionately as they had been in times past.
Dexter Holland attributed this phenomenon to something like full-length albums, i.e. serious musical projects, becoming increasingly less popular. But either way now, as evident, they were now back at it.
However, in terms of the rest of the song, including the title and second verse, what it appears the vocalist is speaking to is some type of elite versus proletariat type of scenario. So the “they” Dexter is warning of would be the former. And who they are “coming for”, as the title indicates, is in fact “you”.
And the only elaboration he gives of this situation is one which is based on the subtheme which permeates throughout the “Let the Bad Times Roll” project, which is depression.
For in the second verse, Holland implies that the hopelessness of the masses is being caused by the economic powers that be. And while our dreams are being deaded, they are rather “cheering up above”. Maybe, going a bit out on a limb for a second, what inspired him to express such a view is the age old ‘rich getting richer…’ adage – a reality which is still very true to this day.
Is “Coming For You” a resistance song?
It may also be upon the above idea, i.e. some sort of mass depression attributable to the powers that be, upon which a previous track on this album’s playlist, “Army of One“, is based. But as for “Coming for You”, it’s not a resistance song.
Rather if anything, it’s a song of enlightenment. And what the listener is intended to be made aware of is something like you can sleep if you want to. But while you’re playing docile, those in control of the world are figuring out ever increasing ways to exploit you.
Summary
The Offspring designed this song apparently to serve one sole purpose. To act as a wakeup call that “they”, i.e. the powers that be, are indeed “coming for you”. Simply put, they want you the reader to open your eyes!
