I Was Wrong (Social Distortion song)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

I Was Wrong is a song by American punk rock band Social Distortion. It was the lead single from their 1996 album White Light, White Heat, White Trash. Written by Mike Ness and produced by Michael Beinhorn, the song became one of the band’s biggest hits. It reached high positions on US charts (including the Alternative Airplay and Rock charts) and also charted in the UK.

A re-recorded version was released in 2007 and later appeared in the 2008 video game Rock Band 2. In a 2016 interview discussing the album, Ness called the track relatable for its vulnerability, noting that it shows a rock musician admitting, “You know what? You’re right. I was wrong.”

Lyrically, the song explores anger, self-destruction, and a desire to change, told from a first-person perspective. It was released to US rock radio in 1996 and came out on CD and 7-inch vinyl in several regions. The single appeared on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and other Billboard rock/alternative charts, and it became a staple in Social Distortion’s live performances. A promotional music video was produced for the release.