"Bastards of Young" is a defining track by The Replacements, featured on their 1985 album Tim. Written by frontman Paul Westerberg, the song is celebrated as an anthem of alienation and generational frustration. Its reputation has grown over decades, commonly cited as both a Generation X touchstone and one of the band's signature songs123.
Lyrics & Themes
- Alienation & Disaffection: The song explores themes of feeling out of place, unrecognized, and wrestling with the uncertainty of young adulthood. Westerberg wrote it while reflecting on his sister’s move to New York to "become someone," paralleling the band’s own search for identity and purpose12.
- Critique of Success & Society: The opening lines—"God, what a mess, on the ladder of success / Where you take one step and miss the whole first rung"—capture the sense of missing out on conventional paths to success24.
- Generational Uncertainty: Lines like "Dreams unfulfilled, graduate unskilled / It beats pickin’ cotton and waitin’ to be forgotten" and the chorus, "Wait on the sons of no one, bastards of young," articulate a collective feeling of being left behind by mainstream society14.
- Family & Longing: Westerberg touches on complicated familial ties: "The ones who love us best are the ones we’ll lay to rest,
And visit their graves on holidays at best.
The ones who love us least are the ones we’ll die to please." - Defiance: The song’s coda—"Take it, it’s yours"—has become a rallying cry for self-empowerment amid perceived neglect35.
Musical Style
- Sound: The song merges punk rawness with melodic power-pop, driven by chugging guitars and shout-along choruses13.
- Influence: Its minimalist, Who-inspired guitar intro and energetic drumming reflect the band’s love of classic rock while channeling their own scruffy energy1.
- Performance: The pounding, emotionally raw delivery is quintessential Replacements—at once vulnerable and swaggering.
Cultural Impact & Reception
- Critical Acclaim: Frequently ranked as The Replacements' best or among their top songs, "Bastards of Young" is lauded as a full-throated generational anthem and a highlight of American rock in the 1980s123.
- Generation X Anthem: The song’s themes of aimlessness and disillusionment gave it particular resonance with the so-called "slacker" generation26.
- Music Video: The minimalist video (a slow zoom on a loudspeaker) was both a statement against music video conventions and an enduring cult favorite.
- Infamous SNL Appearance: The band’s unruly 1986 Saturday Night Live performance—marked by onstage profanity—cemented their reputation as defiant outsiders1.
Notable Lyrics
"God, what a mess, on the ladder of success
Where you take one step and miss the whole first rung
Dreams unfulfilled, graduate unskilled
It beats pickin’ cotton and waiting to be forgotten""Wait on the sons of no one, bastards of young"
"Take it, it’s yours"
Legacy
"Bastards of Young" endures as a fierce, self-aware anthem for those feeling overlooked, frustrated, or out of step with society. It remains a staple for fans of alternative and punk rock, capturing the spirit of The Replacements and their influence on generations of outsiders134.
