Is YUNGBLUD’s “Parents” Deep or Just Angry? | Lyrics Explained

What YUNGBLUD song should I explain next?

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THE TEAM

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The content of this educational video is covered by fair use. My work is transformative and adds interpretation and analysis to the original work much as happens when I teach poetry in a university classroom. When I explain songs, I rarely use more the lyrics or short clips of the original song or music video and do not hurt the song’s salability or provide a market substitute. All copyright claims will be disputed and appealed. Please see me as your ally as I use a literary perspective to enable fans to understand and enjoy your wonderful and interesting piece of music.

[gwendyb]

YUNGBLUD tells stories, not all of his songs are based off his life

[whiskeyrivers]

the amphetamines line is because he has ADHD. He doesn't do drugs. He is just very hyper... again, ADHD Oh, and he's dating Halsey.

[patrycja]

Dominic might look like he's ready to kill somebody, but actually he's very sweet and funny (and loud 😂)

[julesbudd]

I'm guessing that you don't know a lot about him (which is okay!). He's not your typical musician, and there's a lot more to him.

When doing promo for this song, he actually had fans call a mysterious phone number and every day there would be a new story. The first story explained how his homophobic father put a gun to his head after he was with his friend. The second phone call explained the story of the relationship between the teacher, preacher and the student/male cheerleader. The final phone call explained the story of a boy, though he parents had wanted a girl. One day, his parents put a toaster into his bath, watching "a thousand volts go through the son they wished they never had".

He isn't yelling about how parents suck, he's trying to let people know that you have the choice to be yourself without someone's influence. There's a huge pressure on the younger generation, a lot of us don't have people to look up to and feel stuck. He said that this song is a tribute to individualism.

The first verse is explaining how he struggled with medication given to him as a child with ADHD,
he's not taking drugs. Taking medication diluted his personality, he wasn't himself. The end of that verse- he wants people to know that you can love whoever you want to love, be who you want to be. You don't need to stick in the box that your parents (adults) are putting you in.

In the second verse, he believes that "we are so suppressed in sexual nature, that we taught that if a women wears a dress, and you're a man, then you're almost conditioned to thinking, oh you're wearing a dress, you're going to give me a baby" Though it shouldn't be like that.

Overall, the message is that a lot of people are being forced to think a certain way, and to identify as everyone else around them. This is by the boxes that adults create, and try to keep their children in.

I reccomend listening to any of his songs, but definitely Polygraph Eyes, or I Love You, Will You Marry me. A lot of people like those, and all his songs have a story or deep meaning to them. Sometimes it's good that lyrics are dramatic, not everyone realizes what's going on or why the message is being spread. Let me know if you have any questions or want links to interviews to learn more about him!

[sienakillpatrick]

i’m just gonna say- i don’t think he’s saying that he doesn’t respect older people, just gay he doesn’t respect their older idealistics

[gwendyb]

The thing I don't like about this is that I feel like you didn't do enough research on the artist himself.

[jasmined]

I think "Parents" is about everything wrong with the conservative/Catholic parents/other authority figures and kinda what is wrong with the world

[vernonmillar]

its more the dated mindset rather than age thats the issue

[XX-rvec]

He may look like he would want to kill somebody but actually he just have a lot of energy because of his ADHD. In reality he is kind, sweet and very intelegent person.

[nox]

Why hold the marker if youre not gonna use it this bothers me😂

[Ann-igyi]

0:10-0:20 he does have a song called "Kill Somebody" but I don't think he actually will🤣

[abbiea-c]

a few things that are worth taking into consideration: the drugs in the first verse are in reference to his adhd, not an addiction. those are all made up stories (as far as we know) simply exaggerated to get his point across. yungblud has been really open about the appreciation he has for his parents, it’s more about the hate he’s received from an older generation as an artist and stories fans have told him about their experiences. if anyone does want to know more about his stance on politics in older generations he did a debate on sky news which is worth checking out!

[numetalkitty]

i have lots of respect for yungblud. what he advocates for is honestly wonderful. i love him so much.

[BLOO]

I think you picked a weird YungBlud Song to start with. I think Medication or Polygraph Eyes would be more your style. Big fan of both of you so glad you covered him even though you weren't that into it :)

[daisy..]

I think the reason Yungblud has a lot of younger fans is because he is so extreme. A lot of teens become very emotional and angry. Dominic uses that extreme emotion and anger to get a point acrossed.

[woodlandirises]

This is weird now.... I was literally just listening to SHOULD I BE CONCERNED (no phun intended)

[Nightshade_Faire]

You’re completely misinterpreting the song. It’s not a story from his life it’s a series of stories he wrote to display the old ideals created by previous generations, showing that they’ve made mistakes and they’re just people. It’s showing that we need to fix the mistakes that previous generations have made

[pippajamieson]

Lol firstly let’s just point out Yungblud is amazing...he is not trying to tell his story like with the toaster etc, this song is not saying his parents did this to him, he is trying to get the message across that old people don’t understand our generation, you need to watch his interviews for it to make sense

[marianaroses]

yungblud has really good lyrics and he is really underrated. periodt.

[avanicollle]

i can feel the awkwardness from my mom when i sing this song