"Wake up kids, we've got the dreamer's disease."
If you grew up in the late '90s, those eight words probably just triggered a very specific mental image: a guy in a bucket hat running through a shopping mall. The song is "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals. It’s one of those tracks that feels like a shot of pure adrenaline mixed with a weirdly cynical aftertaste.
Honestly, it's a miracle the song even exists. Gregg Alexander, the mastermind behind the "band" (which was mostly just him and whoever was in the studio that day), was a guy who had already failed twice in the music industry. He was tired. He was broke. He was arguably a bit jaded by the Hollywood machine. So, he wrote a song that basically told the world to "hold tight" while simultaneously threatening to kick Marilyn Manson’s ass.
What is the Dreamer's Disease anyway?
In the context of the song, "dreamer's disease" isn't a medical diagnosis, though sometimes it feels like one. It’s that chronic, nagging optimism that keeps you chasing something better, even when the world is actively trying to crush you.
Alexander opens the track with a wake-up call to fourteen-year-olds who are already "down on their knees" and "busy still saying please." He’s talking about the way society slowly grinds the weirdness out of kids until they’re just polite cogs in a machine. Having the "dreamer's disease" means you're infected with hope. It’s a bit of a backhanded compliment; it’s a sickness because it makes life harder, but it’s the only thing that keeps you alive.
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The lyrics paint a picture of being "flat broke" but doing it "in style." It's the anthem of the underdog. You’ve got the music in you, and as long as you don't let go, the "world is gonna pull through."
The Weird, Experimental Political Rant
Most people remember the chorus. It’s massive. It’s the kind of melody that makes you want to drive too fast on a highway. But the bridge? That’s where things get truly bizarre.
Gregg Alexander famously included a list of "fakes" at the end of the track:
- Health insurance companies
- The FDA
- Big bankers
- Wall Street
- Beck
- Hanson
- Courtney Love
- Marilyn Manson
It was a total bait-and-switch. Alexander later admitted in interviews—specifically with The Hollywood Reporter—that the celebrity disses were a test. He wanted to see if the media would talk about the "big bankers" and "health insurance rip-offs" or if they’d just focus on him calling Courtney Love a fake.
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Guess what happened?
Everyone talked about the celebrities. Marilyn Manson even threatened to "crack his skull open" because he was offended to be mentioned in the same sentence as Courtney Love. The point Alexander was trying to make—that corporate greed is the real enemy—was buried under tabloid headlines. It’s kind of tragic. It proved his point about the "dreamer's disease" perfectly: the world would rather look at a shiny, fake mansion than talk about why people can't afford medicine.
Why the Song Disappeared (And Then Came Back)
The New Radicals were the ultimate one-hit wonder, but by choice. Right as the song was peaking in 1999, Gregg Alexander quit. He hated the promotion. He hated the "bucket hat" fame. He just wanted to go back to writing songs for other people behind the scenes. And he did—quite successfully—writing hits like "Game of Love" for Santana.
But "You Get What You Give" never really died. It has this weird staying power.
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It became a "theme song" for Beau Biden during his fight with cancer, as mentioned in President Joe Biden’s memoir Promises to Keep. In 2021, for the first time in 22 years, the New Radicals actually reunited to perform the song for Biden's inauguration. It was a surreal moment. Seeing a much older Gregg Alexander (sans bucket hat) singing about the dreamer's disease felt like a full-circle moment for a generation that had grown up and realized that, yeah, the world is kinda falling apart, but we're still here.
How to Keep the Music in You
If you're feeling like your "dreams are dying," there's actually some practical wisdom buried in this 1998 pop-rock gem. The "dreamer's disease song" isn't just about being a naive optimist; it's about resilience.
- Acknowledge the darkness. The song doesn't say everything is great. It says "when the night is falling" and you "cannot find the light." It’s okay to admit you’re lost.
- Identify the "frienemies." Not everyone who smiles at you is your friend. The song warns about people who aren't there when you're down.
- Don't give up your "one dance left." Even when you're at your lowest, there's usually one small thing you can still control. One creative outlet. One "dance."
- Give what you want to get. It's a cliché for a reason. If you want support, give it. If you want honesty, be it.
You can still find the original music video on YouTube, and it’s worth a re-watch just to see the sheer chaos of teenagers taking over a mall. It captures a specific kind of "pre-9/11" energy that feels impossible to recreate today.
The next time you hear that opening piano riff, don't just hum along. Remember that it's a protest song disguised as a pop hit. It's a reminder that being a "dreamer" might be a disease, but it's one worth catching.
For anyone looking to dive deeper into the era's music, look for the New Radicals' only album, Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. It's surprisingly soulful and much more experimental than the radio single suggests. You might just find a few more reasons to hold tight.