"What a Time to Be Young" by Haiden Henderson captures a latchkey rebellion where stolen liquor and reckless dares fill the space parents left behind. The kids run with lead-filled water guns while the dogs hunt, turning play into something poisoned and desperate. The repeated demand to dance as the end approaches frames youth as a forced performance, grinning through collapse. The craving for attention, even through pain, reveals how the chaos masks a need to be seen before everything falls apart.
WHAT A TIME TO BE YOUNG Lyrics by Haiden Henderson
Shoot the reptile
Roadkill, big smile
Make sure you film it
We could go viral
While you’re watching
Fuck you, watch this
Tell big brother
He can eat shit
Mom and dad are on the road again
Steal their booze and call your closest friends
This is my latchkey rebellion
Open your invite
The kids are running
With lead-filled water guns
Oh, the dogs are hunting
So throw your final punch
The end is coming
Dance, you dummy
Ask me if I’m having fun
Tell me, “What a good time to be young”
To be dumb
To be stupid
I’m so stu–
To be young
To be punk
I want attention
Give me attention, oh
Kick me in the face
A salt-and-pepper spray
You can’t look away
Knock me down, just don’t talk down to me
Mom and dad are on the road again
Steal their booze and call your closest friends
This is my latch key rebellion
Open your invite
The kids are running
With lead-filled water guns
Oh, the dogs are hunting
So throw your final punch
The end is coming
Dance, you dummy
Ask me if I’m having fun
Tell me, “What a good time to be young”
To be dumb
To be stupid
I’m too stupid
I’m clapping, I’m praying
It’s like I did some blow or took some pills
But I don’t know how that feels
And that’s on God, on God
On God, on God
Keep clapping my hands, ah
Keep clapping my hands, ah
The kids are running
With lead-filled water guns
Oh, the dogs are hunting
So throw your final punch
The end is coming
Dance, you dummy
Ask me if I’m having fun
Tell me, “What a good time to be young”
