"Days Go By" is a

pop punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...

song by the American

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band

the Offspring The Offspring is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dexter Holland, Bryan "Dexter" Holland, ...

. It is featured as the third track on the band's ninth studio album of the same name and was released as its first single. The song was premiered on the

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

rock station

KROQ KROQ-FM (106.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Pasadena, California, serving Greater Los Angeles. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format known as "The World Famous KROQ" (pronounced "kay-rock"). The sta ...

on April 27, 2012. "Days Go By" was released to radio on May 1, 2012; the song was written by frontman/lyricist Dexter Holland. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Mainstream Rock chart.

Background

"Days Go By" was one of the first songs the Offspring started working on for the ''Days Go By'' album, and was almost the last to be completed. "We really kept coming back to it over the course of the record", said frontman/lyricist Dexter Holland. It was originally not going to be on the album, depending on how it was doing next to the other songs as the album was being written. "There are versions on YouTube where the guitar riff is different, the verse is different, the chorus is different-so it's a totally different song now, really. It was kind of toward the end f recordingwhen people started listening to it. My friends, my manager started pointing at it, saying, 'That's the one you've got to go with."The Offspring Still Fly as 'Days Go By' Rises on Rock Charts
''Billboard''. Retrieved September 9, 2012.

Lyrics

Speaking of the lyrics, Holland commented, "It's me observing that people have been going through a shitty time in the last few years, including myself. I just wanted to put some hope out there and say that no matter how bad it is, nobody's going to pick you up. You've got to do it yourself and there is hope and you're going to do it."

Reception

"Days Go By" received positive response. Amy Sciarretto of

Loudwire ''Loudwire'' is an American online media magazine that covers news of hard rock and heavy metal artists. It is owned by media and entertainment business Townsquare Media. Since its launch in August 2011, ''Loudwire'' has secured exclusive i ...

described it as "gimmick-free" and "a bit more contemplative, lyrically and comparatively speaking, as

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

ponders the then and the now. Overall, it has the bouncy rock vibe of a

Foo Fighters The Foo Fighters are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana (band), Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, gu ...

tune with the added sprinkle of the Offspring's American punk rock flavor." The song received another positive review from Sylvie Lesas of Evigshed, who called it a "cool song, awesome sonic trip through the sounds of 90s and modern rock that rips and doesn't disappoint." Lesas also described it as a "memorable melody, intense distorted guitars and infectious chorus/verses making this song, thrilling enough to whet your appetite for their upcoming album."

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

The Offspring

* Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar *

Noodles Noodles are a type of food made from unleavened dough which is either rolled flat and cut, stretched, or extruded, into long strips or strings. Noodles are a staple food in many cultures and made into a variety of shapes. The most common noo ...

– guitar *

Greg K. Gregory David Kriesel (born January 20, 1965) known by his stagename Greg K., is an American retired musician and the founding bassist of the rock band the Offspring. He is also the co-founder (along with bandmate Dexter Holland) of the record ...

– bass

Additional musicians

Josh Freese Joshua Ryan Freese (born December 25, 1972) is an American drummer. A member of punk rock band the Vandals since 1989, Freese has also been a member of new wave band Devo since 1996. He was previously a member of hard rock band Guns N' Roses ...

– drums *Jamie Edwards - keyboards

References

External links

* {{authority control The Offspring songs Columbia Records singles 2012 songs 2012 singles Song recordings produced by Bob Rock Songs written by Dexter Holland