I have spent a lot of time thinking about the surprising and enduring vulnerability of “Self Esteem” by The Offspring.

It’s not a surprise to learn Holland based part of it on the experience of a female friend who confided in him nor is it surprising to learn he was afraid to release it for fear the audience would see him as “spineless” because the song’s approach is so different than the norm

Like “Landslide” (“I’ve been afraid of changing because I built my life around you.”) there is a real feminine domestic energy to the lyrics even if it’s being euphemistic:
“I took her back and I made her dessert.”
“The more you suffer the more it shows you really care, right?”

“This rejection’s got me so low,
She keeps it up I just might tell her so”

On the heels of macho metal/glam/rock 80s and early 90s lyrics which are all about men who want to be on top & having orgies with endless babes & seeing themselves as gods it’s a very stark contrast.

Yeah I did just compare a “tender?” hit from a90s So-Cal grunge punk band with one good album in them to an absolutely iconic genius song written by the untouchably brilliant Stevie Nicks but these songs have the same emotional affect on me.