"Gotta Get Away" is a song by American rock band The Offspring. It is the fourth track and third single from their breakthrough album, Smash (1994). The song was a modest hit in several countries, but peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Modern Rock charts. "Gotta Get Away" was inspired by an early track, "Cogs", written while the band was still named Manic Subsidal.[2] Although the song was a big hit, it did not reach the heights nor achieve the popularity, success, airplay, or sales of the album's previous singles "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem".
"Gotta Get Away" | ||||
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Single by The Offspring | ||||
from the album Smash | ||||
B-side | "Smash - Live Version" | |||
Released | February 2, 1995 | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | Epitaph | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dexter Holland | |||
Producer(s) | Thom Wilson | |||
The Offspring singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative Cover | ||||
![]() Vinyl Cover | ||||
The song had two single covers. The first, the cover for the CD single,[3] depicts a skeleton in the same style as the previous singles from Smash - "Come Out And Play" and "Self Esteem". The second, the cover for the 7" vinyl,[4] shows the actor from the video standing outside the coliseum, his eyes covered by the song title.
The song also appears as the same numbered track on their Greatest Hits (2005).
The lyrics refer to the pressure that lead singer Dexter Holland was under to finish the album on time.[5]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Gotta Get Away" | 3:56 |
2. | "We Are One" | 4:00 |
3. | "Forever and a Day" | 2:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Gotta Get Away" | 3:56 |
2. | "Smash" (Live version) | 3:01 |
The video starts with a boy entering a coliseum where a mosh pit breaks out while the band plays. It is predominantly in black and white. The video ends with the same boy lying on the floor alone.
The music video for the song was directed by Samuel Bayer and filmed at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Salt Lake City, UT on December 17, 1994.[6]
The music video also appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD, released in 2005.
Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[7] | 53 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] | 36 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] | 28 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] | 21 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 32 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 6 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] | 37 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 33 |
Norway (VG-lista)[15] | 18 |
Scotland (OCC)[16] | 46 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] | 26 |
UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 43 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[19] | 1 |
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[20] | 58 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] | 6 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[22] | 15 |
The Offspring | |
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