Spekaing Of Fragile

I have to chuckle when Offspring’s song “The Kids Aren’t Alright” gets to the line about “Shattered Dreams.”  It makes me think of pro wrestling.

That song isn't about wrestling, you know.

Oh, I know.  And it's not that I find shattered dreams to be inherently funny, since it's usually a fairly tragic thing, but the phrase does have a bit of a double meaning.  Let me illustrate.  

While the song isn't particularly cheerful, with references to drug abuse, poverty, and extreme depression, it has the standard upbeat tempo and same chord progression used in every Offspring song ever recorded, so it at least seems energetic and happy.  The lyrics include the phrase "Hard to see; Fragile lives; Shattered dreams."  Not something that would normally lead one to chuckle about its meaning.  

That said, there is the pro wrestling aspect to the phrase "Shattered Dreams."  One of the most popular and recognizable aspects of pro wrestling is the "finishing move" in which one wrestler ends the match by applying a particularly spectacular and devastating move.  This often involves Spinning, Jumping Off A Rope, or Dropping somebody on their Head.  There are many variations.  One of the most recognizable finishing movies in the history of pro wrestling is known as the "Shattered Dreams," and was performed by the wrestler "Goldust."  While it was a remarkably popular and effective maneuver to apply, it was entirely illegal as determined by the wrestling governing body to which Goldust belonged.  As such, it could only be applied during "No holds barred" type matches, or when the referee's back was turned, which happens conspicuously often in pro wrestling matches.  Anyway, Here's A Clip of the "Shattered Dreams" being applied to an opponent.  You'll see both why it's illegal as well as why it amuses me when the phrase is brought up out of context.