Army Of One Dividing By Zero Slim Pickens The Offspring

Army of One
Album: Let The Bad Times Roll (2021)

Dividing by Zero
Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell
Album: Days Go By (2012)
by The Offspring

Vocalist Dexter Holland explained to Spinner about Dividing by Zero: "It's the idea that something is coming back to you. When I read those lyrics, it sounds like a military guy on a bombing mission, someone going after Osama, or someone getting tried for fraud. The idea of vengeance in a pure adulterated way. It's an unapologetic eye for an eye. People tend to temper that, but it's about tapping into what that emotion is."

The Offspring close their ninth studio album, Days Go By with this black comedy cut. Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell. Vocalist Dexter Holland explained to Spinner that the idea of this song, "is the world's going to hell so let's have a drink and watch it burn."

The song title references the actor Slim Pickens and his role in Dr. Strangelove as the B-52 pilot Major T.J. "King" Kong. The movie's most famous scene has Pickens on top of a dropped H-bomb, waving his cowboy hat as he rides to his certain death. Said guitarist Noodles to Spinner: "The Slim Pickens reference adds a comedic tone to the song. That movie was hilarious, but it was very dark too. That's what this song is. It's a nihilistic thing, but at the same time we're making fun of the nihilists. It's not bad for 2 minutes and 50 seconds."

This follows "Dividing by Zero," and Days Go By's final two tracks intentionally sound like one song. Holland explained to Spinner: "Those were actually the last two we did for this record. We thought it would be cool to put two short songs together almost as if it were a short punk medley that adds up to one five minute song."

Army Of One
The Offspring
And the world keeps on turning
As we all come undone
While the lost keep on searching
I'm the army of one

We are one but I don't belong
It's hard to feel love, when you've been wronged
But I keep on pushing on toward that light
The daylight's gone, and I am night

Feel that blow with a stinging pain
It's always your eyes, that give it away
If I'm staring down the barrel of a loaded gun
Then I'll spit in your eye, 'cause I'm the army of one

And the world keeps on turning
As we all come undone
While the lost keep on searching
I'm the army of one

We are one with blood and rage
It's hard to feel hope when you're filled with pain
But we keep on running on through the night
Resisting despair with all our might

Carry on, even when you cannot cope
Survival is digging in against all hope
For me, I'll never give up 'til the day I'm done
'Cause I'm burning alive, I'm the army of one

And the world keeps on turning
And we all die alone
Broken hearts keep on searching
I'm the army of one

And the world keeps on turning
As we all come undone
While the lost keep on searching
I'm the army of one

I'm the army of one
I'm the army of one
Written by: Bryan Holland

Take me for a ride
I'm the one you pushed aside
But it's coming back to you
Yeah it's coming back to you, hey!

Run to the sound
Take it back and double down
'Cause it's coming back to you
Yeah it's coming back to you

Well

Well we're pouring gasoline
So dance around the fire that we once believed in

It'll never be the same, now
'Cause there's nothing left for us to be
Give it up the champions of greed
So come around and have another round of me

Dance fucker dance, let the motherfucker burn, hey!

Snake's in the grass while you are living in the past
Say what're you gonna do?
Yeah what're you gonna do, hey!

Earn never learn
When you're cheering while it burns
Yeah we're coming after you
Yeah we're coming after you, hey!

Slim Pickens well he does the right thing
And he rides the bomb to hell
Yeah he rides the bomb to hell

Watch the pulse, it quickens after every little sting
If you're gonna go to hell
Drinking up you might as well

Are you really gonna take it like that?
Riding on the missile with the cowboy hat, and

Well the world is gonna end
So dance around the fire that we once believed in

Wanna tear it down again, now
'Cause there's nothing left for us to be
Give it up the sons of anarchy
So come around and have another round of me

Dance fucker dance, let the motherfucker burn, hey!

Are you really gonna take it like that?
Riding on the missile with the baseball bat, and

Well we're pouring gasoline
So dance around the fire that we once believed in

It'll never be the same
The takers and the liars that we all believed in

Well we're going down in flames
So dance around the fire
We dance around the fire

'Cause it's never left for us to be
Give it up the champions of grief
So come around and have another round of me

Hey, hey!

Dance fucker dance, let the motherfucker burn