The 11th song off the Barenaked Ladies' debut studio album, New Kid (On the Block) tells the story of a young man who is a member of a popular boy band, in this case the New Kids on the Block. Despite upbeat instrumentals, the lyrics are fairly dark, dealing with the dehumanizing aspects of being fa...
[Verse 1]
I didn't ask to be famous, but I'm not sore
Cause you can see my face in the window of every store
You can buy my lunch box, and you can wear my clothes
You can remember my name just as plain as the face under your nose
[Chorus 1]
I'm a new kid on the block
Though I may not be Johann Sebastian Bach
So we may not write the songs we sing
But look at Elvis, he sold his soul and you crowned him king
[Verse 2]
I didn't ask to be famous, but I'm not sad (I'm not free)
You see, I've got everything that I always wished I had
I thank my manager and I thank the screaming girls, ooh
I thank my hairdresser for giving me such beautiful curls
[Chorus 2]
Now I'm a new kid on the block
Well I'm twenty-three and they won't let me grow up
I went down to register for the draft
Well I got up to the counter, and the lady there just laughed
[Chorus 3]
She said you're a new kid on the block
Young girls scream and old boys mock
Well you broke my youngest daughter's heart
Well I knew you kids were trouble from the start
[Verse 3]
I didn't ask to be famous, but I'm not sure
That we're as apple pie as you always thought we were
I can stay up all night and I can have a blast
I can breakdance, I can fight, I can kick your sorry ass
[Chorus 4]
I'm a new kid on the block
And 'though I may not be Johann Sebastian Bach
There's no need to be afraid of us
Though it just might be your daughter on our bus (on our bus)
[Outro]
I'm a new kid on the block
And though I may not be Johann Sebastian Bach
There's no need to be afraid of us
Though it just might be your daughter on our bus
New Kid (On the Block) was written by Steven Page & Ed Robertson.
New Kid (On the Block) was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda.
Barenaked Ladies released New Kid (On the Block) on Tue Jul 28 1992.