"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 and peaked at 6 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Gotta Get Away" was inspired by an early track, "Cogs", written while the band was still named Manic Subsidal.The Offspring's Greatest Hits DVD Extra 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".

The song has two single covers. The first, the cover for the CD single, 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-inch vinyl, 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 the Offpsring's Greatest Hits (2005).

Composition and lyrics "Gotta Get Away" has been described as a punk rock, alternative rock and power pop song. The lyrics refer to the pressure that lead singer Dexter Holland was under to finish the album on time.The Offspring's Greatest Hits "Gotta Get Away" He told Rolling Stone:

Music video 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.The Offspring's official Twitter account, posted and fetched on December 17, 2014. 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 appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD, released in 2005.

Track listings

CD single

Swedish CD maxi and U.K. 7-inch black vinyl

Personnel

The Offspring

Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar Noodles – guitar, backing vocals Greg K. – bass Ron Welty – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.53Australia Alternative (ARIA)8European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)54European Alternative Rock Radio (Music & Media)8Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)6

Year-end charts Chart (1995)PositionUS Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)40

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomAugust 7, 1995Out of Step

References

External links