It was late 1998 when a tall, bucket-hat-wearing guy named Gregg Alexander danced around a shopping mall and accidentally changed pop history. You know the song. It starts with that insistent drum beat and a shouted countdown. You Get What You Give by New Radicals—often misremembered as the we only get what we give song—is one of those rare tracks that feels like it’s being played for the first time every single time it hits the radio. It has this frantic, desperate energy. It’s a protest song disguised as a summer bop.
Honestly, it shouldn't have worked. The New Radicals weren't really a band; they were basically just Gregg Alexander and whoever he felt like hiring that week. But the track exploded. It became a global top-ten hit, a staple of teen movie soundtracks, and eventually, a song played at Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration. Not bad for a guy who decided to quit the music industry just months after the song peaked.
The Chaos Behind the We Only Get What We Give Song
Most people think of New Radicals as a one-hit wonder. Technically, they are. But that label ignores the sheer craftsmanship Alexander poured into this record. He spent years trying to get a break in the industry, failing with two solo albums that went nowhere. By the time he wrote the we only get what we give song, he was frustrated. You can hear it in the lyrics. He isn't just singing about "giving and receiving." He's screaming about the soul-crushing nature of corporate greed and the fake nature of celebrity culture.
The recording process was famously messy. Alexander was a perfectionist who also valued "the vibe." He recorded the track at various studios, constantly tweaking the arrangement. It’s got a bit of Todd Rundgren’s soul, a bit of Hall & Oates' groove, and a lot of Mick Jagger’s swagger. It feels big. It feels expensive. And yet, it feels like it could fall apart at any second.
That Infamous Celebrity Diss Track Ending
If you grew up in the 90s, you remember the "beef." At the very end of the we only get what we give song, Alexander goes on a lyrical rampage. He name-drops Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, Hanson, and Fashion Fever. He threatens to "kick their asses."
It was a bold move. At the time, Manson was the king of shock rock and Love was a grunge icon. Looking back, it was a genius bit of marketing, even if Alexander later said it was intended as a test. He wanted to see if the media would focus on the deep, political message of the song or the shallow celebrity gossip.
The media, of course, chose the gossip.
Manson famously reacted by saying he didn't want his head kicked in by a guy in a bucket hat. Hanson, being the polite kids they were, took it in stride. But the controversy gave the song legs. It made the New Radicals look like rebels, even though they were signed to MCA, a massive corporate label.
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The Philosophy of "Giving" in a Cynical World
Why does this song still resonate? Why does a kid in 2026 find it on TikTok and feel something? It’s the hook. “You’ve got the music in you / Don’t let go / You’ve got the music in you.” It’s an anthem for the disillusioned. The we only get what we give song argues that the world is going to try to break you. It mentions health insurance rip-offs, the "FDA big bankers," and the general feeling that the "whole damn world" is coming down. In 1998, that felt like teenage angst. Today, it feels like a nightly news report.
The core message—that we only get what we give—is an old-school karmic idea. But in the context of the song, it’s a call to arms. It suggests that if you give your energy to the "four o'clock" corporate grind, that’s all you’ll get back. If you give your energy to your art or your passion, you might just find a way out.
The Sudden Disappearance of Gregg Alexander
Just as the song was becoming a definitive anthem of the era, Alexander walked away. He disbanded the New Radicals in 1999. He hated the promotion. He hated the interviews. He hated the "performing" aspect of being a pop star.
He didn't stop making music, though. He became a "ghost" songwriter. He wrote "Game of Love" for Santana and Michelle Branch, which won a Grammy. He wrote for Ronan Keating, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and eventually earned an Oscar nomination for "Lost Stars" from the movie Begin Again.
The we only get what we give song remains his crown jewel. It was the only time he allowed himself to be the face of the music. And then he vanished back into the shadows.
The Biden Connection and a Modern Revival
In 2021, something weird happened. The New Radicals reunited for the first time in over 20 years. They didn't do it for a Coachella paycheck. They did it for the Virtual Inaugural Parade for Joe Biden.
Why? Because the song had a deep personal connection to the Biden family. Beau Biden, the President's late son, used to listen to the song during his battle with glioblastoma. It was his fight song. During the campaign, the song became a sort of private anthem for the Biden family.
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Seeing a 50-year-old Gregg Alexander put the bucket hat back on and play those chords one more time was a moment of genuine emotional weight. It proved the song wasn't just a 90s relic. It was a source of resilience.
Is It Actually About Karma?
People often debate the "real" meaning of the lyrics. Is it a religious song? A political manifesto? Or just a catchy pop tune?
Honestly, it’s all of the above.
The title is a bit of a trick. "You get what you give" sounds like a platitude. But when you listen to the verses, it's actually quite dark. It’s about how the "big guys" take everything and the "little guys" have to find a way to keep their spirit alive. It’s about the exchange of energy.
If you give in to fear, you get a life of fear. If you give in to the "music," you might just survive.
Technical Brilliance: Why It Sounds So Good
Musically, the song is a masterclass in tension and release.
- The Tempo: It’s fast. Almost too fast. It feels like it’s rushing toward a cliff.
- The Piano: That bright, rolling piano line provides a pop foundation that keeps the song from becoming too "rock."
- The Vocals: Alexander’s voice isn't perfect. It cracks. He strains for the high notes. That’s what makes it feel human.
- The Dynamics: The way the song drops out before the final chorus—it’s classic songwriting.
It’s often compared to "Midnight Train to Georgia" or "Under My Thumb" in terms of its rhythmic drive. It’s got soul, but it’s definitely a product of the late 90s alternative scene.
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Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think the New Radicals were a British band. Nope. They were purely American, based in Los Angeles.
Others think the song was a flop initially because of the "controversial" lyrics. In reality, the label was terrified of the celebrity name-dropping, but the song was such a massive hit that they couldn't stop it. Radio stations actually tried to edit the ending out, but listeners wanted the full version.
There's also a myth that Alexander wrote it in ten minutes. While the initial hook might have come quickly, the production took months of agonizing work in the studio.
Actionable Insights: How to Experience the Song Today
If you want to dive deeper into the world of the we only get what we give song, don't just put it on a 90s nostalgia playlist and call it a day.
- Listen to the full album: Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too is surprisingly cohesive. It’s much more soulful and "weird" than the single suggests. Tracks like "Mother We Just Can't Get Enough" are just as good as the hit.
- Watch the 2021 Reunion: Search for the New Radicals' performance at the Biden inauguration. It’s a stripped-back, older version that highlights the songwriting over the 90s production.
- Check out the songwriting credits: Look up Gregg Alexander’s other work. You’ll be shocked to find out how many of your favorite radio hits from the 2000s were actually written by the "bucket hat guy."
- Analyze the lyrics: Sit down and actually read the verses. Ignore the chorus for a second. The lyrics about "health insurance" and "corrupt leaders" are more relevant now than they were in 1998.
Ultimately, we only get what we give song isn't just about the 90s. It’s about the universal struggle to stay hopeful when the world feels like it's rigged against you. It's about finding that "music" inside and refusing to let go, no matter how many celebrities you have to threaten or bucket hats you have to wear.
Keep the volume up. Don't let the "big bankers" get you down.
Next Steps for Music Lovers:
Explore the "Sophisti-pop" genre of the late 80s and early 90s. If you like the New Radicals, you'll likely appreciate the works of The Style Council or Prefab Sprout. These artists pioneered the blend of high-concept political lyrics with polished, soulful pop melodies that Gregg Alexander eventually perfected on this track.