Teenage Dirtbag

Who it's for

Inspired by a childhood experience of its writer, the song follows an awkward teenage outsider pining for a girl who seems out of reach.

Feelings it meets

• Unrequited Love
• Coming of Age
• Self-Worth
• Social Conformity

What it is

"Teenage Dirtbag" is the debut single by American rock band Wheatus, from their 2000 self-titled debut album, written by guitarist and vocalist Brendan B. Brown. It is an outsider anthem about feeling like a teenage outcast, with a verse that refers to a girl's boyfriend. Brown drew on a summer 1984 experience on Long Island, when adults assumed he was a bad kid because of the heavy-metal music he liked.

Where to find it

All major streaming services.

Before you start

Heads up: Mild language.

Age: Suggested 13+

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1, Scene 1