The Anthem

Album: The Young And The Hopeless (2002)
Charted: 10 43
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is about kids in school who are not popular. The song is meant to give them confidence.
  • A month before this was released, it was used in the football video game Madden 2003. The game sold over 5 million copies and provided the exposure the song needed to become a hit. With songs becoming more difficult to get on radio and MTV, many artists began using non-traditional methods to get their songs heard. This proved that a video game can break a song.
  • The band is led by Joel and Benji Madden, who are twins.
  • Good Charlotte performed this at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. After they played it, host Chris Rock said "Good Charlotte? More like mediocre Green Day."
  • In a 2012 interview with Alter the Press, Joel remembered the song's origin and its surprising success: "'The Anthem' was a special song. When I was 19, the first time we went out to LA I met one of my heroes, John Feldmann [producer], who is a really dear friend of mine and still is today. I remember the first time we met, he took me surfing. A movie was interested and had called asking that they needed a song. We were hanging with John at the time and said we should just do it. We went and wrote 'The Anthem' – me, Benj and John. It turned out the movie didn't even want it but we really liked the song and the fact we wrote with John made it extra special. We only went into the studio with one song and that was 'The Anthem.'

    "I honestly didn't think 'The Anthem' would even be a big song. It's weird how that even happened. I don't know, man, I really like that song and one of my favorite's to play live. It's one song I never really thought about or imagined to be a big hit. I don't even know if I actually grasped it was a big hit. I know that live it goes off live and is a fan favorite, but I don't know how much of a hit it is. I'm not one to know. We've never had a number one single but hits in a really weird way but I don't think we had number songs that had dominated the charts. I know we have recognizable songs, and we still feel lucky, but 'The Anthem' is a weird one, man. It's a special song. It's one of those songs that every time I hear it, it takes me back to a special time in my life."
  • Billy Martin on the album's theme: "A lot of the songs are about us when we were in high school, dealing with family problems, self issues, and depression. You get stressed out, and you feel like the whole world is falling apart. When you're in high school, if some kid makes fun of your shorts, you think it's the biggest thing in the world, and it drives you crazy. But for the most part, as soon as you get out of high school, you realize it's not that big of a deal. There are so many more important things in this world. The CD is supposed to just be a record to prove to you that we felt the same way you did in high school, and look where we are now! You just gotta hold on and make it through."
  • Joel described this to Sorted magazine as "a song about not living the way that you're supposed to live. Like I guess that in America everybody kinda looks at, to be successful you gotta go to college, get a job, a house, two cars, a wife and some kids. That's the American Dream or whatever. It's like, well, I could never go to college or whatever. I'm kinda proud of being looked down on because we've made something happen. We didn't have the most opportunities growing up." Billy added: "To us, it's a song saying that whatever goal you have, try and reach it."

Comments: 53

  • Matthew from Berlin, GermanyThe "Shake it" part of the song is a reference to a silly thing silly guys say when a guy is going to the bathroom to pee. "Remember, if you shake it (meaning shaking the urine off) more than twice you're just playing with yourself."
  • Jennifer from Moline, IlWow all of gc's song have such great meanings!! I luv every song of theirs and am a true fan till the end!!
  • Kelsey from Rustburg, VaOk... First of all... If u dont like GC then dont frickin listen to their songs and dont frickin post on a page meant for people who LIKE them!! Second... STFU THEY ARE AWESOME!! Third... LOL me and my friends were sitting on the track at school and said that it reminded us of prisoners in a jail yard. Then we heard this song and found out that it fit us perfectly. Fourth... Play this at a school dance and dedicate it to all the people you cant stand and see how pissed they get!! Fifth... GC is very successful. They even went to Africa to help give the people fresh drinking water and food. If you're trashing a caring band like than then you're a real piece of work... Hope you critics burn in hell... And if you're taking sides with Chris then you're a real dip sh*t... Sixth... I LUV BENJI MADDEN!!
  • Jacob from Chicago, Ilthis is great song i think its one of good charlittes best and i makes me feel like me and my friends are on top of the world and nothing can stop us
  • Max from T Town, Mithe whole shake once and twice thing. its like, remeber "if u shake it more then twice ur playing with yourself"? its about masterbation.
  • AnonymousI LOVE THIS SONG!!!!! every word aplies to my life becuase im the freak who is always trying to be myself and myself is wierd. also it says how people try to change me to make me like them or what they want me to be it bugs me and they just waste energy
  • Chris from Newcastle Upon Tyne, United KingdomFor me this song has two meanings, the first is not doing what you're parents want you to do, because it's not for you. If they want you to go to university, but you hate the idea, then do you're own thing. 'I can never live the way they want.'
    The second is don't be afraid to be different. If a jock/popular kid/whatever you want to call then, you know who I'm talking about you laughs at you for something about you, eg what you're wearing, don't get in line, continue with it, and that they are the joke. If they give you stick, stand up to them. I think the thing being mocked be the jocks is the music a guys listen to, and he's telling them he likes it whether they do or not. 'I don't wanna be like you' jocks have this misconception that everyone wants to be like them, with that line GC are correcting them.
  • Brittany from Townsville, Australia"shake it once thats fine, shake it twice thats ok, shake it three times, you're playin with yourselves again" <-- Why would you put this in like we dont wanna know this part or does it mean something else like dance, I dunno but it's really stupid but I still love this song just not that bit coz it's really stupid, Oh well I rather their song Wounded(HIDDEN TRACK), Emotionless, The day that I die, Movin' on, Misery and little things and Riot Girl and heaps of other songs by Good Charlotte. I rather Good Charlotte's First and Second albums coz they are the bomb, the greatest and the best.
  • Rita from South Pas., Israelthe song is good, the band sucks
  • Bethanii from Okc, Oku guys need to grow up. listen to the lyrics. it is telling people to be different dont be like everyone else. what could be bad about that?? srsly. gahh. Good Charlotte is amazing. go trash music on another site.
  • Brett from Sydney, Australiaisnt it obvious wat "shake it once thats fine, shake it twice thats ok, shake it three times, you're playin with yourselves again" means?. well it should be if ur a guy anyway...
  • Matthew from Milford, MaThis song is playable on Elite Beat Agents, as the last song before the finale. "You bet kid!" "IT'S A FIRE-BREATHING GOLEM!!!!"
  • Zoe from Philadelphia, PaUm, the whole "shake it once..." lyric... are you guys sure it's a hidden meaning about the record company?
  • Shannon from Bakersfield , CaAre you serios?Confidance?Pfft.Well if he's trying to do that at least write some better lyrics.Stupid hilary duff lover.
    The only song i really like is the river.It's serious and meaningful.The rest of the crap this guy writes it just crap.
  • Shelby from The Other Side , United StatesI've come here for no argument, Jess, just to say that I'm an extremely unpopular kid and this doesn't make me feel ANY better. Bleh. =[
  • ? from Here, Wiwhen they say 'shake it once that's fine, shake it's twice that's alright, shake it three times, your playing with yourself again' they are talking about how the record company told them they wanted 'another loser anthem' for this album and insisted they made one. they threw in this line to say the record company is 'playing with itself again'

    personally, i love GC. people assume that all fans of GC don't know about any streetpunk or whatever, but i do. People who are here to make fun of them really should just not even bother coming here. i came here to talk with GC fans. you came here to... waste your time? what good does it do you to bug us?

    GC rocks, always will. They write songs that people can relate to. Sure, i like blue collar special and the unseen and all that, but ligten up a bit. it's just music.
  • Sherine from Guwahati, IndiaCurse on good charlotte.you will die a painful death.
  • Kaleen from Oakland, Miwhen they say "Shake it once that's fine
    Shake it twice that's okay
    Shake it three time you're playin with yourself again" what are they talking about?
  • Mandie from Port Royal, Pathis song shows being yourself in life is all that matters
  • Izzy from Buffalo, Nythis song sounds like a rich, popular kid saying that he'd rather spend his time skateboarding, and doing actually fun stuff instead of doing what his parents want him to do. i mean it says 'go to collage-a university, thats what they said to me,' i mean, why would cool kids say that? it sounds like cool kids whining about their parents nagging them. still a good song. lol
  • Beans from Philadelphia, PaI like good charlotte even though this song is old alot of people i know still enjoy it and being an un-popular kid in my school i would rather not be like everyone else and this song makes me feel good because i know i am not alone. good charlotte is one of the best bands ever and if you are going to trash them, trash them on a different website!!
  • Matt from Millbrae, CaNathan, Nirvana IS that good. That's why 12 years after they ended, we're still talking about their effect on music. This song is four years old, and already it's off the radio, probably for good (thank god). The great bands get played, 10, 20, 30, 40 years after they make their last release.
  • Ken from Taegu, Korea - SouthI too don't like Good Charlotte because of the fact that they're not talented. However, what's with everyone and their b*tching? Good Charlotte is a band that entertains kids, is that really a bad thing?
  • Diana from Bogota, South AmericaI think good charlotte is the best. If you listen carefully to some song you will see that not all of them talk about their live at school, some of them talk about their personal life and how they help people with problems (hold on). Listen to them always traing to understand the meaning of it's songs because they have nice messages that you can use.
  • Skyler from Santa Rosa, Cayou people are all crazy.Like the people who hate gc that posted on here.why the hell would you do that.if you hate them then good for you but dont start bichtin about it to every one.Dont get me wrong though,i agree with chris rock that these guys are a mediocre form of green day but there still okay.But they definently arent the "greastest band"
  • Kayla from Parkersburg, Wvthis song is awesome i love Good Charlotte
  • Skye from Jefferson City, UtThis is a really good song! I love the video! I am smarter than everyone!!!!!!!!! I will take over the world! Mwa ha ha no one can stop me!!!!!
  • Maria from Nowhere, Otheri like this song a lot, except the chorus "this is the anthem, throw all your hands up...!" what was he on?!?
    my fav line is the one at the end of the song "another loser anthem! another loser anthem!"
    its about not caring about being like everyone else and being fine with being a little different...
    cristin, to some people who may have little confidence it does matter if they're not popular and they wanna fit in. this song is tryin to tell them that they shouldnt do that, they should be just who they are and shouldnt try to be like everyone else.
  • Alex from Loveland!!!!!, CoThis song is definately my athem. . . lol. i have memerized every song on the Young and the Hopeless.
  • Jack from Birmingham, Miyou canâ??t say that "being different" is what punk rock is all about, because youâ??re trying to claim something that isnâ??t even true. Not to say this is what punk rock is all about either, but basically it started as a movement for anarchy, and then later moved toward a struggle for the lower class. I donâ??t see how all the sudden punk rock is about rich people who want to rise in unity against other rich people. No offense, people, but given all that punk has been involved in over the years, you can't just say it's about one thing. Even today it fights for many different causes and ideas.
  • Cristin from Boston, MaIs it just me or should success not be about getting revenge on those who were "more popular" than you were in high school. that's what i call bad sportsmanship. high school is a measly 4 years in a 79 year life-span and no one cares who was popular after high school anyway. you move on. they've GOT TO have better material to write on than this. if not, i think that's a pretty strong testament to their lack of songwriting ability.
  • Natalie from LondonMy god, some of you are really bloody ignorant.

    First of all, maybe GC sing about this sort of stuff because they FEEL STRONGLY about it? Their music certainly uplifted my spirits. They are singing about their personal experiences, and it's really touching. They have gone through things other people have gone through. Anyways, if you don't like them, nobody cares. Go away if you don't like them.
  • Jade from Londonerm George Green Day & Good Charlotte dnt suck by the way, i believe n letin evry1 hav their own opinion's but cum on, why even leave a msge sayin that! U can't expect 2 rite a msge sayin GC suck on a GC msge board & nt gt any crap bk!!! DER!!!
  • Jess from LiverpoolWhy does anything Good Charlotte, always turn into an argument? If you don't like Good Charlotte, you came here for an argument and that is one of the saddest things ever.
  • Cameron from Seward,pa, Payou know i just noticed all there hit songs are about them wining...shows you how much people wine these days....wake up and quit persistenly listening to this were not insulting you were just trying to show you better music and ive noticed alot of people have called people 40 year old weirdos for saying led zeppelin is a great band..well guess wut im 13 and i know that led zeppelin beats any band from elvis to todays music!!
  • Casie from Denver, CoIm a huge fan of Green Day. Like since the begining and now their really famous. cool. lol i like GC now so im in for them,they kick ass. Well I love this song. Oh Rabi. oh ur Jewish like me!! lol i think,well yea,Benji and Joel are twins. The Madden twins. Yea at begining I thought they were just bro's but then I firgured it out by lookin at old pics. later... *Peace Out*
  • Nathan from Defiance, OhYou people honestly believe Nirvana and Good Charlotte is that good? Are you all thirteenteen or someting? You gotta listen to music older than yourself before you can declare any band the "greatest band ever".
  • Nathan from Defiance, OhThis song is about kids who are not popular right? Not popular? Thats like half of the damn school! Just wait a few years, and you won't have to worry about it. The kids who were popular in my high school have probably reached their ultimate peak in their life, its all downhill for them any way. If you are uncool don't worry about, and don't conteplate listening to this, cool or not.
  • Marissa from Denver, CoYou silly kids, you....
  • Amanda from Brighton, CoWith the release of this song, Good Charlotte became a household name. From there they released many hit songs. This song is about kids who get made fun of and who dont fit in at school. This is named the anthem because it is meant to unite all the kids who never fit in well.
  • Sabrina from Montreal, CanadaI love Good Charlotte! They are so cool!I hope they continue making cd 4 a very long time!
  • Oz from Blackpool, Englandi was singign along dure in the pacifire to lol. i love good charlotte casue i can relate to all there lyrics, there music is strong and uplifting. you cant always beat nirvana but there songs are not all the same. true, they have released a lot of songs that are quite simular but there still grate! there down to earth, know exactly what its like to be poor and at each end of both lives. give then a brake. and dont critasize what you dont know. the anthum is grate shake it once thats fine shake it twice thats ok... its a fun sing along rock song. you criticts dont know what its like to be different thats what real punk is all about!!!
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaThis song makes my ears bleed.
  • Rach from Norfolk, EnglandThis song was written for those kids who were trapped. They were being pushed towards doing things that they don't want to do. Like follow in the footsteps of their parents. The song says that this is your life, do let people tell you what to do, make your own descisions and follow your dreams, don't be scared by new things.
    Its a classic and it rocks!
    GC are a great abnd, they write honest and true music, it might sound similar to other bands, but can anyone name a band that don't sound a bit like someone else?
  • Renee from Saint John, CanadaOh Dear God.
    Good Charlotte ... Ugh ... These songs are not original, they sing about the exact same thing in every song. Take for example The Anthem; does it not seem to be the same whiney message sent out by The Motivation Proclomation or maybe Lifestyles Of The Rich & The Famous. There is not much to these boys "music" it's make one song and haul out a thesaurus for the rest of the record.
  • Matt from Millbrae, CaI agree with Luke. Good Charlotte has no more talent than a struggling teenage garage band. Their songs are all about the same thing! Bands today like Simple Plan and GC think they can get away with using mainly power chords like Nirvana did. Bad new boys, Nirvana was the only band that could get away with that...mainly because they are one of the best bands of all time. Write some new lyrics and get some new guitar riffs Good Charlotte. Chris Rock is right.
  • Mike from Arvada, CoThis song was use in The Pacifier. I was like the only one that knew the words so i was singing along...pretty stupid, ya?
  • Lindsay from Kennesaw, Gathe Anthem is the basics about high school and how many ppl don't think we(punks,rockers,etc.) strong. Little Things is perfect because its revenge against the popular kids and how ppl care about money and fame and once you have that it doesn't matter who you are....they will "love" you anyway....want your autograph,want to be your best friend and well, just be fake. its the truth & that's what alot of this society is based on.am i the only one that thinks this?!? please tell me that that's not the only reason y u ppl like/hate something...because of looks or popularity. it doesn't affect me and it shouldn't effect you..
    enough said. .. .
  • Luke from Martin, TnGod I hate this band. Meant to give them confidence? They write songs to sell records. And not even creative songs: they just spout what other punk bands for the past 20 years have said, without metaphors, changed to apply to high school wannabe rebels instead of something important. I'm all for independance, but please, go out and buy a Dead Kennedys album before you start calling this band anything but horrible.
  • Tyler from Buffalo, NyThe song explains how theirs more to live Than goin to college and getting a high paying job.And that for some people thats not the lifestyle thats right for them...and just be independent"i dont ever wanna be like you,i dont wanna do the things you do"
  • Kristen from Campbellville, CanadaTony Hawk Underground allowed a lot of indie punk to be heard. I know rise against and blue collar special are some of my fav bands now cuz of playing that came. Not to mention Grand Theft Auto the newest one that featured Blindside's Swallow off of there newest release about a burning fire. Okay blindside are christian punk/screamo ya and there not indie but you get the point new music is now really being showed through video games.
  • Nick from Christchurchwhy is noone respecting their first album its much better.
  • Rabi from Zionsville, InJoel and Benji are twins? Wow, i feel stupid for nor knowing that.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.