☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man named Bob who decides to change his life and stop excessive drinking.
- Bob tries to reinvent himself and take on a new appearance to make a fresh start.
- The question is raised whether Bob will be able to change his habits and become a sober person.
- The lyrics also address the idea of violence and aggression as possible forms of expression for Bob to deal with his inner conflict.
- The song prompts reflection on how difficult it can be to let go of old habits and start a new life.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Bob' by
Rancid is about a man named Bob who has been drinking for 15 years until his liver exploded. Now he wonders what to do without alcohol. The doctor asks him what he was actually thinking about when he was drinking so much. Bob replies that he wasn't actually thinking about anything and that he now has to do something else to pass the time.
Bob decides to shave his head and take on a new look. He now wears 12-hole Doctor Martens boots and has a girlfriend who rides a scooter. Together, they want to leave the city and get away from it all. As they drive around, they hear the passing trucks.
Bob takes a few lines and an extra thermos of coffee to beat people up at a punk rock concert. Bob is exactly the kind of person who knows what to do when the doctor tells him to stop drinking. But will he ever cross the line and become a sober person? Will he kick asses and hit heads? Will he wear his red suspenders? Will he shave his head every day? Will he ever cross the line?
So, the song lyrics 'Bob' by Rancid tells the story of Bob, who after years of excessive drinking is faced with the decision to change his life and quit drinking. It's about him reinventing himself and trying to take a different path. It also raises the question of whether he will succeed in changing his habits and starting a new life.