How an 18-Minute Punk Anthem Punk’d My Dad: A Malicious Compliance Masterpiece
Childhood is full of little battles: eating your veggies, going to bed on time, and—perhaps most importantly—enduring your parents’ “questionable” music taste on the daily drive to school. For one Redditor, this struggle sparked a lighthearted game of wits that turned a simple rule into an epic act of malicious compliance, starring punk legends NOFX and one very unsuspecting dad.
If you’ve ever been trapped in a car with your parents’ favorite tunes blaring (and silently wished you could swap it out for something, anything else), you’re going to love this story. It’s a tale of creative problem-solving, the power of punk rock, and the classic parent-child negotiation gone delightfully sideways.
The Battle for the AUX Cord
Meet u/IMrTrippy, a self-described survivor of his dad’s “terrible music.” Like many kids, he longed for a few minutes of musical freedom on the way to school. After what we can only imagine was a series of negotiations worthy of the United Nations, a deal was struck: each drive, he could pick one song—any genre, any artist. One song, no more.
For a while, life was good. The car rides became a little oasis of sonic sanity. But as any seasoned kid knows, loopholes are just opportunities in disguise. How could he squeeze the most joy out of his single-song allowance? Enter: punk rock’s most unexpected weapon.
Punk Rock Loophole: Deploying “The Decline”
NOFX is famous for their fast, punchy songs—usually clocking in at two minutes or less. But hidden in their catalog is “The Decline”: an 18-minute, genre-bending epic that’s as chaotic as it is catchy. For u/IMrTrippy, it was the golden ticket.
With a straight face and a playlist ready, he queued up “The Decline” and settled in for a marathon jam. It took a full six minutes for his dad to catch on. “How long is this damn song??” came the inevitable question. When told it was nearly 20 minutes long, Dad’s patience snapped like a guitar string. The music stopped, the deal was revoked, and the car returned to its regularly scheduled programming of “dad jams.”
Was it worth it? According to the Redditor: absolutely. Even with a month-long ban from picking the tunes, the satisfaction of that moment—and his dad’s incredulous reaction—made it all worthwhile.
The Art of Malicious Compliance
This wasn’t just a funny prank; it was a masterclass in malicious compliance. For the uninitiated, “malicious compliance” is the art of following the letter of the law (or the rules) in a way that’s totally within the boundaries, but hilariously undermines the spirit. It’s the kid who wears a suit to school because the dress code just says “no jeans.” It’s the employee who takes “use your vacation days or lose them” so literally that the whole office grinds to a halt in December.
In this case, the rule was simple: one song. No one said anything about the length. By picking the punk world’s equivalent of “Stairway to Heaven,” u/IMrTrippy showed that sometimes, the best way to win is to play by the rules—just not the way anyone expected.
The Power of Music (and a Good Loophole)
There’s something universal about this story. Whether you’re a parent, a kid, or just someone who’s ever been subjected to someone else’s playlist, you know the struggle. Music is personal, and the battle for control of the car stereo is as old as…well, car stereos.
But this lighthearted tale isn’t just about music. It’s about the creative ways we find to assert a little control, to have fun within the boundaries, and to turn a boring commute into a memory that lasts far longer than the song itself.
And for those wondering, the Internet had suggestions for even longer tracks. From Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (17 minutes) to Dream Theater’s prog-rock marathons (some over 20 minutes!), there’s a whole world of musical loopholes out there, just waiting for the next clever kid (or mischievous adult) to exploit.
Your Turn: Share Your AUX Cord Wars!
Have you ever pulled off a perfect malicious compliance? Did you ever get revenge on a parent’s playlist, or find the perfect loophole in a family rule? Maybe you have the ultimate “longest song” for next time the battle for the car stereo begins.
Drop your stories in the comments! And if you’re a parent reading this, consider yourself warned: next time you make a rule, be very, very specific.
Rock on—and remember, sometimes the longest song is the sweetest victory.
Original Reddit Post: You’re only allowed to to listen to one song