[Tom DeLonge:]
I’m like a cat in a cage, locked up and battered and bruised
I am the prodigal son, a shameful prodigy too
I am the love of your life, battering ram and confused
I turn each day into night, I stand there waiting for you
There is desire to fight, but I have nothing to prove
But with the crowd and some lights, I start to feel things move
Do you have something to hide? ‘Cause I think that we all do
I am a child inside, back up and give me some room!
[Mark Hoppus:]
I’m just a bastard child, don’t let it go to your head
I’m just a waste of your time, maybe I’m better off dead
You turned us loose in the night, I’m fucking Jekyll and Hyde
We’ll have the time of our lives, although we’re dying inside
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’d rather go it alone
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’m never coming home
[Tom DeLonge:]
Don’t start to panic for me, ’cause I have nothing to lose
I am as bright as the sun, I burn up all that I choose
Up on the side of the field, I see a city with lights
I touch her face and I kneel, she tells me she’s not alive
I am too nervous to run, the kids who scatter and hide
To reach and grab for someone, but end up buried alive
The world is waiting for me, a move that I rarely use
I start to feel my feet, they kick down walls as they move!
[Mark Hoppus:]
I’m just a bastard child, don’t let it go to your head
I’m just a waste of your time, maybe I’m better off dead
You turned us loose in the night, I’m fucking Jekyll and Hyde
We’ll have the time of our lives, although we’re dying inside
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’d rather go it alone
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’m never coming home
I’m just a bastard child, don’t let it go to your head
I’m just a waste of your time, maybe I’m better off dead
You turned us loose in the night, I’m fucking Jekyll and Hyde
We’ll have the time of our lives, although we’re dying inside
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’d rather go it alone
So let me go, go, so let me go, go
Just let me go, go, I’m never coming home
Exploring Inner Turmoil and Identity in “Natives”
Blink-182’s “Natives” stands out as a raw exploration of vulnerability, alienation, and the desire for liberation. The song’s dual vocal approach, featuring Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus, amplifies the sense of internal conflict. Lyrics like “I’m like a cat in a cage, locked up and battered and bruised” and “I’m just a bastard child” evoke feelings of being misunderstood and constrained by both personal demons and societal expectations. The chorus, with its emphatic plea to “let me go,” captures the longing to break free and embrace individuality, even if it means facing the world alone. The references to duality—”I’m fucking Jekyll and Hyde”—further illustrate the struggle between one’s inner chaos and outward persona, making “Natives” a powerful anthem for anyone wrestling with identity and self-acceptance.
Song Credits
- Artists: Blink-182
- Songwriters: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker
- Release Year: 2011
- Label: Interscope Records