Don't wanna be an American idiot
Don't want a nation under the new mania
Hey can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind-f*ck America
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
Now everybody do the propaganda
And sing along to the age of paranoia
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
Don't wanna be an American idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information Age of hysteria
It's calling out to idiot America
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
Green Day - American Idiot Album Lyrics
Green Day - American Idiot Lyrics
Writer: Michael Ryan Pritchard, Frank Edwin III Wright, Billie Joe Armstrong
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Jesus Of Suburbia
[Part I]
I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of suburbia
From the bible of none of the above
On a steady diet of
Soda pop and Ritalin
No one ever died for my sins in hell
As far as I can tell
At least the ones I got away with
And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me
Get my television fix
sitting on my crucifix
A living room on my private womb
While the moms and brads are away
To fall in love and fall in debt
To alcohol and cigarettes
And mary jane
To keep me insane
Doing someone else's cocaine
And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me
[Part II: City Of The Damned]
At the center of the Earth
In the parking lot
Of the 7-11 were I was taught
The motto was just a lie
It says home is where your heart is
But what a shame
Cause everyone's heart
Doesn't beat the same
It's beating out of time
City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
city of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
Noone really seems to care
I read the graffiti
In the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall
And so it seemed to confess
It didn't say much
But it only confirmed that
The center of the earth
Is the end of the world
And I could really careless
City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
city of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
Noone really seems to careeeeee
HEY!
[Part III: I Don't Care]
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't care X5
I don't careeeeeeeeee
Everyone's so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrits
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave
We are the kids of war and peace
From Anaheim to the Middle East
We are the stories and disciples of
The Jesus of suburbia
Land of make believe
And it don't believe in me
Land of make believe
And I don't believe
And I don't care!
I don't care!
[Part IV: Dearly Beloved]
Dearly beloved are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse
[Part V: Tales Of Another Broken Home]
To live and not to breathe
Is to die in tragedy
To run, to run away
To find what you believe
And I leave behind
This hurricane of f*cking lies
I lost my faith to this
This town that don't exist
So I run
I run away
The light of masochist
And I leave behind
This hurricane of f*cking lies
And I walked this line
A million and one f*cking times
But not this time
I don't feel any shame
I won't apologize
When there ain't nowhere you can go
Running away from pain
When you've been victimized
Tales from another broken HOME
You're leaving...
You're leaving...
You're leaving...
Ah you're leaving home...
Writer: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Holiday
Say hey
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
A shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
(Hey!)
(Three, four)
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang, bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause
Just cause
Because we're outlaws, yeah
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
A shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
(Hey!)
(Three, four)
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang, bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause
Just cause
Because we're outlaws, yeah
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
Writer: Michael Pritchard, Frank Wright, Billie Joe Armstrong
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's f*cked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a...
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's f*cked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a...
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...
Writer: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Are We The Waiting
Starry nights, city lights
Coming down over me
Skyscrapers and stargazers
In my head
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting unknown
This dirty town was burning down in my dreams
Lost and found city bound in my dreams
Coming down over me
Skyscrapers and stargazers
In my head
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting unknown
This dirty town was burning down in my dreams
Lost and found city bound in my dreams
And screaming
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...
And screaming
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...
Forget me nots, second thoughts
Live in isolation
Heads or tails and fairytales in my mind
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting unknown
The rage and love, the story of my life
The Jesus of suburbia is a lie
And screaming
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...
And screaming
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...unknown
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...
And screaming
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...unknown
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting...unknown
Writer: Michael Pritchard, Frank Wright, Billie Armstrong
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
St. Jimmy
St. Jimmy's comin' down across the alleyway
Up on the boulevard like a zip code on parade
Light on the sillohette
He's insubordinate
Coming at you on account of wonder
1 2 3 4
Up on the boulevard like a zip code on parade
Light on the sillohette
He's insubordinate
Coming at you on account of wonder
1 2 3 4
My name is Jimmy and you better not wear it out
Suicide comando that your momma talked about
King of the forty theives
And I'm here to represent
That needle in the vein of the establishment
I'm the patron saint of the denial
With an angel face and a taste for suicidal
Cigarettes and ramen and a little bag to sell
I am the son of a bitch and Edgar Allen Poe
Raised in the city in the hail of lights
But ain't it worth it that we've been victimized
I'm the patron saint of the denial
With an angel face and a taste for suicidal
You talkin' to me?
I'll give you something to cry about.
ST. JIMMY
My name is St. Jimmy I'm a son of a gun
I am the one that's runaway out of town now
A teenage assasin exucuting some fun
In the cult of the life of crime
I really hate to say it but I told you so
So shut your mouth before I shoot you down old boy
Welcome to the club and give me some blood
And the resident leader at the lost and found
It's comedy and tragedy
It's St. Jimmy
And that's my nameeeeeee.
... and don't wear it out!
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Give Me Novacaine
Take away the sensation inside
Bittersweet migraine in my head
It's like a throbbing toothache of the mind
I can't take this feeling anymore
Bittersweet migraine in my head
It's like a throbbing toothache of the mind
I can't take this feeling anymore
Drain the pressure from the swelling,
The sensation's overwhelming,
Give me a kiss goodnight and everything will be alright
Tell me that I won't feel a thing
So give me novacaine
Out of body and out of mind
Kiss the demons out of my dreams
I get the funny feeling, that's alright
Jimmy says it's better than air,
I'll tell you why
Drain the pressure from the swelling,
The sensations overwhelming,
Give me a kiss goodnight and everything will be alright,
Tell me that I won't feel a thing,
So give me novacaine
Oh Novacaine
Drain the pressure from the swelling,
The sensations overwhelming
Give me a kiss goodnight and everything will be alright,
Tell me, Jimmy, I won't feel a thing,
So give me Novacaine
Writer: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Shes A Rebel
She's a rebel
She's a saint
She's assault of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel
Vigilante
Missing link on the brink
Of destruction
From Chicago to Toronto
She's the one that they
Call 'ol whatsername
She's the symbol
Of resistance
And she's holding on my
Heart like a hand grenade
Is she dreaming
What I'm thinking
Is she the mother of all bombs
Gonna detonate
Is she trouble
Like I'm trouble
Make it a double
Twist of fate
Or a melody that
She's a saint
She's assault of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel
Vigilante
Missing link on the brink
Of destruction
From Chicago to Toronto
She's the one that they
Call 'ol whatsername
She's the symbol
Of resistance
And she's holding on my
Heart like a hand grenade
Is she dreaming
What I'm thinking
Is she the mother of all bombs
Gonna detonate
Is she trouble
Like I'm trouble
Make it a double
Twist of fate
Or a melody that
She sings of revolution
The dawning of our lives
She brings this liberation
That I just can't define
Well nothing comes to mind
She sings of revolution
The dawning of our lives
She brings this liberation
That I just can't define
Well nothing comes to mind
She's a rebel
She's a saint
She's assault of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel
Vigilante
Missing link on the brink
Of destruction
She's a rebel
She's a saint
She's assault of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel
Vigilante
Missing link on the brink
Of destruction
She's a rebel
She's a rebel
She's a rebel
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel
She's a rebel
She's a rebel
And she's dangerous
Writer: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Extraordinary Girl
She's
An Extraordinary girl
In an ordinary world
And she can't seem to get away
An Extraordinary girl
In an ordinary world
And she can't seem to get away
He
Lacks the courage in his mind
Like a child left behind
Like a pet left in the rain
She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days she feels like dying
She gets so sick of crying
She sees the mirror of herself
And image she wants to sell
To anyone willing to buy
He steals the image in her kiss
From her heart's apocalypse
From the one called whatsername
She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days she feels like dying
She gets so sick of crying
She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days she feels like dying
Some days it's not worth trying
Now that they've pulled the fun in
She gets so sick of crying
She's
An Extraordinary girl
An Extraordinary girl
An Extraordinary girl
An Extraordinary girl
Writer: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Letterbomb
Nobody likes you...
Everyone left you...
They're all out without you...
Having fun...
Where have all the bastards gone?
The underbelly stacks up ten high
The dummy failed the crash test
Collecting unemployment checks
Like a flunkie along for the ride
Where have all the riots gone
As the city's motto gets pulverized?
What's in love is now in debt
On your birth certificate
So strike the f*cking match to light this fuse!
The town bishop is an extortionist
And he don't even know that you exist
Standing still when it's do or die
You better run for your f*cking life
It's not over 'till you're underground
It's not over before it's too late
This city's burnin'
It's not my burden
It's not over before it's too late
There's nothing left to analyze
Where will all the martyrs go when the virus cures itself?
And where will we all go when it's too late?
And don't look back
You're not the Jesus of Suburbia
The St. Jimmy is a figment of
Your father's rage and your mother's love
Made me the idiot America
It's not over 'till you're underground
It's not over before it's too late
This city's burnin'
It's not my burden
It's not over before it's too late
She said I can't take this place
I'm leaving it behind
Well she said I can't take this town
I'm leaving you tonight
Everyone left you...
They're all out without you...
Having fun...
Where have all the bastards gone?
The underbelly stacks up ten high
The dummy failed the crash test
Collecting unemployment checks
Like a flunkie along for the ride
Where have all the riots gone
As the city's motto gets pulverized?
What's in love is now in debt
On your birth certificate
So strike the f*cking match to light this fuse!
The town bishop is an extortionist
And he don't even know that you exist
Standing still when it's do or die
You better run for your f*cking life
It's not over 'till you're underground
It's not over before it's too late
This city's burnin'
It's not my burden
It's not over before it's too late
There's nothing left to analyze
Where will all the martyrs go when the virus cures itself?
And where will we all go when it's too late?
And don't look back
You're not the Jesus of Suburbia
The St. Jimmy is a figment of
Your father's rage and your mother's love
Made me the idiot America
It's not over 'till you're underground
It's not over before it's too late
This city's burnin'
It's not my burden
It's not over before it's too late
She said I can't take this place
I'm leaving it behind
Well she said I can't take this town
I'm leaving you tonight
Writer: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my fathers come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my fathers come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Writer: Michael Pritchard, Frank E Wright III, Billie Joe Armstrong
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Homecoming
[Part I: The Death Of St. Jimmy]
My heart is beating from me
I am standing all alone
Please call me only if you are coming come
Waste another year flies by
Waste a night or two
You taught me how to live
In the streets of shame
Where you've lost your dreams in the rain
There's no sign of hope
The stems and seeds of the last of the dope
There's a glow of light
The St. Jimmy is the spark in the night
Bearing gifts and trust
A fixture in the city of lust
What the hell's your name?
What's your pleasure what is your pain?
Do you dream to much?
Do you think what you need is a crutch
In the crowd of pain.
St. Jimmy comes without any shame
He says "we're f*cked up"
But we're not the same
And mom and dad are the ones you can blame
Jimmy died today
He blew out his brains into the bay
In the state of mind
Is my own private suicide
[Part II: East 12th St.]
Well nobody cares
Well nobody cares
Does anyone care if nobody cares?
Well nobody cares
Well nobody cares
Does anyone care if nobody cares?
Jesus filling out paperwork now
At the facility on East 12th st.
He's not listened to a word now
He's in his own world
And he's daydreaming
He'd rather be doing something else now
Like cigarettes and coffee with the under belly
His life's on the line with anxiety now
And she had enough
And he had plenty
Somebody get me out of here
Anybody get me out of here
Somebody get me out of here
Get me the f*ck right out of here
So far away
I don't want to stay
Get me out of here right now
Just wanna be free
Is there a responsibility
Get me out of here right now
This lifelike dream ain't for me
[Part III: Nobody likes you!]
I fell asleep while watching Spike TV
After 10 cups of coffee
And your still not here
Dreaming of a song
But something went wrong
And you can't tell anyone
'Cause noone's here
Left me here alone
And I should've stayed home
After 10 cups of coffee
I'm thinking were'd you go
Nobody likes you
Everyone left you
They're all out without you
Havin' fun
Where'd you go?
Everyone left you
Nobody likes you
They're all out without you
Havin' fun
Where'd you go?
[Part IV Rock And Roll Girlfriend]
[Written and sung by Tre']
Geez...ha...
I got a rock and roll band
I got a rock and roll life
I got a rock and roll girlfriend
And another ex-wife
I got a rock and roll house
I got a rock and roll car
I plat the shit out the drums
And I can play the guitar
I got a kid in New York
I got a kid in the bay
I haven't drank or smoked nothin'
In over 22 days
So get off my case
Off of my case
Off of my case
[Part V: We're Coming Home Again]
Here they come marching down the street
Like a desperation murmur of a heartbeat
Coming back from the edge of town
Underneath their feet
The time has come and it's going nowhere
Nobody ever said that life was fair now
Go-carts and guns are treasures they will bear
In the summer heat
The world is spinning
Round and round
Out of control again
From the 7-11 to the fear of breaking down
So send my love a letterbomb
And visit me in hell
We're the ones going
Home
We're coming home again
I started f*ckin' running
As soon as my feet touched ground
We're back in barrio
And to you and me, that's jingle town
That's home
We're coming home again
Home
We're coming home again
Home
We're coming home again
Home
We're coming home again
(NO F*CKING CONTROL I NEED IT I KNOW...)
Home
We're coming home again
Nobody likes you
Everyone left you
They're all out with out you
Havin' fun...
Writer: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Whatsername
Thought I ran into you down on the street
Then it turned out to only be a dream
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
She went away and then I took a different path
I remember the face
But I cant recall the name
Now I wonder how Whatsername has been
Then it turned out to only be a dream
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
She went away and then I took a different path
I remember the face
But I cant recall the name
Now I wonder how Whatsername has been
Seems that she disappeared without a trace
Did she ever marry 'ol Whatshisface
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
She went away and then I took a different path
I remember the face
But I cant recall the name
Now I wonder how Whatsername has been
Remember, whatever
It seems like forever ago
Remember, whatever
It seems like forever ago
The regrets are useless
In my mind
She's in my head
I must confess
The regrets are useless
In my mind
She's in my head
From so long ago
Go-go-go!
And in the darkest
If my memory serves me right
I'll never turn back time
Forgetting you, but not the time...
Writer: Michael Pritchard, Frank E Wright III, Billie Joe Armstrong
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on September 21, 2004, by Reprise Records. As with their previous four albums, it was produced by Rob Cavallo in collaboration with the group. Recording sessions for American Idiot took place at Studio 880 in Oakland and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, both in California, between 2003 and 2004.
A concept album, dubbed a "punk rock opera" by the band members, American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia, a lower-middle-class American adolescent anti-hero. The album expresses the disillusionment and dissent of a generation that came of age in a period shaped by tumultuous events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War. In order to accomplish this, the band used unconventional techniques for themselves, including transitions between connected songs and some long, chaptered, creative compositions presenting the album themes.
Following the disappointing sales of their previous album Warning (2000), the band took a break and then began what they had planned to be their next album, Cigarettes and Valentines. However, recording was cut short when the master tapes were stolen; following this, the band made the decision to start their next album from scratch. The result was a more societally critical, politically charged record which returned to the band's punk rock sound following the more folk and power pop-inspired Warning, with additional influences that were not explored on their older albums. Additionally, the band underwent an "image change", wearing red and black uniforms onstage, to add more theatrical presence to the album during performances and press events.
American Idiot became one of the most anticipated releases of 2004. It marked a career comeback for Green Day, charting in 27 countries, reaching for the first time the top spot on the Billboard 200 for the group and peaking at number one in 18 other countries. It has sold over 23 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling album for the band (behind their 1994 major-label debut, Dookie) and one of the best-selling albums of the decade and all time. It was later certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2013. The album spawned five successful singles: the titular track, "American Idiot", "Holiday", "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "Jesus of Suburbia" and the Grammy Award for Record of the Year winner "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
American Idiot was very well received critically and commercially upon release, and has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was nominated for Album of the Year and won the Award for Best Rock Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Album at the Europe Music Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, winning the former.
Its success inspired a Broadway musical, a documentary and a planned feature film adaptation. Rolling Stone placed it at 225 on their 2012 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and again in 2020, at 248.
Genre(s):
Punk rock, pop-punk, alternative rock A concept album, dubbed a "punk rock opera" by the band members, American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia, a lower-middle-class American adolescent anti-hero. The album expresses the disillusionment and dissent of a generation that came of age in a period shaped by tumultuous events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War. In order to accomplish this, the band used unconventional techniques for themselves, including transitions between connected songs and some long, chaptered, creative compositions presenting the album themes.
Following the disappointing sales of their previous album Warning (2000), the band took a break and then began what they had planned to be their next album, Cigarettes and Valentines. However, recording was cut short when the master tapes were stolen; following this, the band made the decision to start their next album from scratch. The result was a more societally critical, politically charged record which returned to the band's punk rock sound following the more folk and power pop-inspired Warning, with additional influences that were not explored on their older albums. Additionally, the band underwent an "image change", wearing red and black uniforms onstage, to add more theatrical presence to the album during performances and press events.
American Idiot became one of the most anticipated releases of 2004. It marked a career comeback for Green Day, charting in 27 countries, reaching for the first time the top spot on the Billboard 200 for the group and peaking at number one in 18 other countries. It has sold over 23 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling album for the band (behind their 1994 major-label debut, Dookie) and one of the best-selling albums of the decade and all time. It was later certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2013. The album spawned five successful singles: the titular track, "American Idiot", "Holiday", "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "Jesus of Suburbia" and the Grammy Award for Record of the Year winner "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
American Idiot was very well received critically and commercially upon release, and has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was nominated for Album of the Year and won the Award for Best Rock Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Album at the Europe Music Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, winning the former.
Its success inspired a Broadway musical, a documentary and a planned feature film adaptation. Rolling Stone placed it at 225 on their 2012 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and again in 2020, at 248.
Producer(s): Rob Cavallo, Green Day
Released: September 21st, 2004
Year: 2004