[Matt Skiba:]
Blame it, blame it on my youth
[Mark Hoppus:]
I wasn’t born with the rich blood
I started out with plenty of nothing at all
I got stuck in the thick mud
The flash flood, punk rock, and the alcohol
I was raised on a rerun
I was bored to death, so I started a band
Cut my teeth on a safety dance
My attention span never stood a chance
It’s too late
Can you forgive me now?
[Matt Skiba:]
You could never kill my high
I’m the ink and you’re the headline (Oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
You can never block my shine
I’ve been lost since 1999 (Oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
(Blame, blame, blame on my youth)
I wasn’t made for the good life
I ended up getting stuck on the side of the road
I tripped and fell on hard times
Tough breaks are the only kind I know
I was left on a door step
I was scared to death with nowhere to go
Cut myself on the neighbors’ fence
That I hopped as the cops tried to take me in
It’s too late
Can you forgive me now?
You could never kill my high
I’m the ink and you’re the headline (Oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
You could never block my shine
I’ve been lost since 1999 (Oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
[Matt Skiba & Mark Hoppus:]
I was raised on the Ritalin
Ever since I was a little kid (Little kid)
No one ever seemed to give a shit (Give a shit)
And I don’t need an excuse
I don’t need an excuse
[Matt Skiba:]
You could never kill my high
I’m the ink and you’re the headline
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
You can never block my shine
I’ve been lost since 1999 (Oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth
Blame it, blame it on my youth
You can never kill my high (Endless summer)
I’m the ink and you’re the headline (Stretching on and on)
Blame it, blame it on my youth (Oh, oh)
Blame it, blame it on my youth (Oh, oh)
[Mark Hoppus:]
Endless summer
Stretching on and on
Reckless Nostalgia and Growing Pains
“Blame It On My Youth” by Blink-182 is a reflective anthem that dives into the band’s signature themes of rebellion, mischief, and the struggles of growing up. The lyrics vividly paint a picture of a turbulent youth, filled with mistakes, tough breaks, and punk rock escapism. Both Matt Skiba and Mark Hoppus trade lines about humble beginnings and the feeling of being lost, channeling a sense of nostalgia for a carefree, if chaotic, adolescence. The repeated refrain, “Blame it on my youth,” becomes a defiant badge of honor—embracing flaws, resilience, and the refusal to dull their shine despite life’s hardships.
Song Credits
Artist: Blink-182
Songwriters: Mark Hoppus, Matt Skiba, Travis Barker
Release Year: 2019
Label: Columbia Records