"Wrong Way" is a 1997 single from Sublime

Sublime (band)

Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...

's 1996 self-titled third album

Sublime (album)

Sublime is the third and final album released by ska-punk band Sublime. Originally intended to be titled Killin' It, the band and record label agreed to substitute an eponymous title due to lead singer Bradley Nowell's death prior to the album's release...

 that fits squarely within the punk rock

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

-inspired third wave ska movement of the 1990s. The song spent 26 weeks on Billboard's

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

Alternative Songs chart, peaking at number 3.

The lyrical content of the song refers to the life of a girl, named Annie, who was forced into prostitution by her family of "seven horny brothers" and her "drunk-ass dad." She is soon rescued from a life of prostitution by the narrator of the song; an ironic twist is added in the lyrical references hinting that the narrator saved her and then regretted mistreating her himself. A video was made starring Bijou Phillips

Bijou Phillips

Bijou Lilly Phillips is an American actress, model, and singer. Phillips began her career as a model but soon transitioned herself into acting and singing. When she was 13, she started as a model and became one of the youngest people to grace the cover of Interview Magazine and Italian Vogue....

, soon after the band's lead singer, Bradley Nowell

Bradley Nowell

Bradley James Nowell was an American musician who served as lead singer and guitarist of the Californian band Sublime. He died at the age of 28 from a heroin overdose shortly before the release of Sublime's self-titled major label debut.Raised in Long Beach, California, Nowell developed an...

, died. The video also features a cameo by Mike Watt

Mike Watt

Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...

 of the bands Minutemen

Minutemen (band)

Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...

, fIREHOSE

FIREHOSE

Firehose was an alternative rock band consisting of Mike Watt , Ed Crawford , and George Hurley .-History:...

, Dos

DOS

DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...

, and many others. Mike Watt was one of the biggest influences on bass player Eric Wilson

Eric Wilson

Eric Wilson may refer to:*Eric Wilson , member of Sublime*Eric Charles Twelves Wilson , recipient of the Victoria Cross*Eric Wilson , American author*Eric Wilson , American athlete...

.

The song was featured in the video game Aggressive Inline.

The trombone solo in Wrong Way contains an interpolation of the theme from George Gershwin's

George Gershwin

George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...

 "Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....

".