Top 5 Green Day Lyrics

[Fuzz]

I've made a list of my top 5 favorite Green Day lyrics. Read them here

http://www.greendayauthority.com/news/4484/

I'd like for you guys to share your top 5 and give your thoughts on why you picked the ones you did.

[The Disappearing Boy]

I'm rubbish at coming up with my own version of these things, coz I can never remember them, but I certainly agree with you on 1 and 2. For me, Minority is about doing your own thing, having your own voice regardless of what others think of you, so 'one light one mind flashing in the dark', seems to me to be about purposefully doing things differently to the crowd, wanting to stand out.

I also love contradictions in lyrics, which is why I like 'conscientious objector to the war that's in my mind', and 'blinded by the silence'. Not sure where the 'thousand broken hearts' comes into it though.

[inthehallwaynow]

great choices

[Ryan]

I really only have one absolute favorite Green Day lyrics..."To know you is to hate you, so loving you must be like suicide." Why? Just read it...it's fucking incredible.

[Spike]

I also love contradictions in lyrics, which is why I like 'conscientious objector to the war that's in my mind', and 'blinded by the silence'. Not sure where the 'thousand broken hearts' comes into it though.

I think that's to do with apathy. Like the 'broken hearts' refer to people beaten down by the system, to the point where they're too weak to make a stand against it.

I need to seriously think about this before I do my own list.

[The Disappearing Boy]

I think that's to do with apathy. Like the 'broken hearts' refer to people beaten down by the system, to the point where they're too weak to make a stand against it.

I need to seriously think about this before I do my own list.

Hmmm yeah, I like that.

[Anaïs.]

#5. "Put your faith in a miracle, and it's nondenominational/Join the choir, we'll be singin'/In the church of wishful thinking!

"East Jesus Nowhere" in general is just made of win for an anti-theist like myself. While most of the song is directed at fundamentalist religion, these lines take a shot at modernized religion, which is all about feeling good and believing because it makes your life easier. The last couplet, especially, is an extremely painful burn for that sect of believers.

#4. "Nobody's perfect and I stand accused/For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse."

Perfectly sums up teenage frustration and rationalization. You feel persecuted and mistrusted, and you can't really explain why, but you're convinced deep down that you haven't screwed up that much and everyone who thinks differently is against you. My slogan from the ages of fourteen to sixteen.

#3. "Do you have the time to listen to me whine/About nothing and everything all at once?"

May be the most brilliant opening line of the 90s, and certainly the best of Green Day's career. It sums up the entirety of Dookie perfectly, and the wordplay is, for lack of a better term, extraordinarily catchy—it's the verbal equivalent of a really attention-grabbing hook

#2. "A conscientious objector to the war that's in my mind."

As far as metaphors go, this is one of Billie's best. Unlike those of the Trilogy, it makes glorious sense, and provides a wonderful mental picture of a man mentally throwing down his gun and stalking off, refusing to let his inner battle destroy his enjoyment of life.

#1. "One light, one mind, flashin' in the dark/Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts."

"Minority", as we all know, is full of win, and this image in particular is wonderful. Poetic, but not overly complex; outnumbered, yet defiant. It's the lyrical equivalent of a middle finger—fuck you, I'm in this alone and I'm going to make a hell of a lot of noise.

[Clean Cut Asshole]

This might be kinda hard, they used to have alot of good lyrics! Let me get back to you on this one, I'll think it over...

[Anaïs.]

This might be kinda hard, they used to have a lot of good lyrics! Let me get back to you on this one, I'll think it over...

The truth of this statement simultaneously makes me sad and makes me laugh.

[Clean Cut Asshole]

This simultaneously makes me sad and makes me laugh.

Well I'm sorry, I give the lyrics on the trilogy two thumbs down. They sound like Billie wrote them with his ass. At least I made you laugh though! lol

[Flyingdonutz]

"Are you locked up in a world that's been planned out for you? Are you feeling like a social tool without a use?" - She

My mom always seems to have this idea that I would be one of those advanced high honor students that goes to university and becomes some fancy lawyer or something. Not only that I feel like the world in general has this idea of what the ideal male and ideal female should be and while I don't feel like I'm locked up in it, the line has a certain passion that to me describes a really terrible generation of young people that have a lot of struggles ahead of them. The second part doesn't really apply to me, but my reasoning for thinking it's one of Billie's best is the same as the last one, because he's speaking for an entire generation of troubled youth. Make that 2 generations.

"Television dreams of tomorrow, we're not the one's who're meant to follow, for thats enough to argue" - American Idiot

Do I need to explain this one? Pretty much sums up the generation I live in in a few short phrases, so this one is also one of the most important ones to me.

"The brutality of reality is the freedom that keeps me from dreaming" - Before the Lobotomy

This line to me is just pure 100 % genius. I look at it like Billie is saying that being so low and in touch with reality is what keeps him, or whatever character he is representing, from doing anything with themselves. I also think it goes a lot deeper than that and that it has many meanings, I just don't feel like trying to explain what it means to me.

"Home is where you heart is but what a shame, cause everyones heart doesn't beat the same" - Jesus of Suburbia

Never really feel at home anywhere I go.

"A face in the crowd, unsung against the mold, without a doubt singled out the only way I know" / "Stepped out of the line, like a sheep runs from the herd, To my own beat now, the only way I know" - Minority

Minority is without a doubt the most important song to me in the world. But honestly I couldn't pick my top 5 but these are definitely among my top favourites.

[Anaïs.]

Well I'm sorry, I give the lyrics on the trilogy two thumbs down. They sound like Billie wrote them with his ass. At least I made you laugh though! lol

I totally agree with you, which is why I laughed.

[Clean Cut Asshole]

I totally agree with you, which is why I laughed.

Oh okay. Well then we should get along just fine. Any trilogy-basher is a friend to me!

Anyways, don't have a top 5 yet, but I thought of one line I really like:

"Hearing colors and all I see is sounds" - "Best Thing in Town"

[!]

I'll post it on the article and here just because:

Here's mine: "When masturbation lost its fun, you're fucking lonely."

Genius. No explanation needed.

And you trilogy haters are adorable. Let's not act like Billy always hasn't had some strange lyrics here and there. It's just more out there because we have 30 something songs to judge compared to individual albums.

[Cath]

not original but some lyrics from jesus of suburbia of course

one i can think of right now is i started fucking running as soon as my feet touched ground

from homecoming


and i particulary love the first line to stuck with me which is i'm not part of your elite i'm just alright

[Flyingdonutz]

I'll post it on the article and here just because:

Here's mine: "When masturbation lost its fun, you're fucking lonely."

Genius. No explanation needed.

And you trilogy haters are adorable. Let's not act like Billy always hasn't had some strange lyrics here and there. It's just more out there because we have 30 something songs to judge compared to individual albums.

isn't that more common sense than anything. i mean you're either really lonely or really old. or both.

[Mr. Goodwind]

Oh well, here we go...

This was really hard... Started off with 45-50 lyrics, and can’t bring it down further than a top 6. So, in no particular order;

“Everything she does questions my mental health” - 80

This is just that one girl who’s every little action takes you on a mental journey, and you can’t decide if you’re going crazy or you’re falling in love... Well, those two might actually be the same, but still...

“Nobody's perfect and I stand accused, for the lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse” – Jesus of Suburbia

Well this is just brilliant. From the first time I heard this it has just stuck with me. As a young man growing up, and having to deal with the expectations, and the misconceptions that you are perfect, this has been a “safe place” whenever I haven’t lived up to those expectations.

“I've been waiting a long time, for this moment to come, I'm destined, for anything...at all” – Waiting

This could be about anything. The feeling when you go to your first class at University, watching the sunset with this one girl, the excitement when starting on a big project, and so on... It never fails to motivate me

“So won't you stay and count the circles 'round my eyes? And we can watch the stars until the sun begins to rise” – Stay the Night

There is just something about this, can’t really put my finger on it, but it is just brilliant. Maybe it’s because I like watching the stars, and hope to share that with someone.

“Standing still when it's do or die, You better run for your fucking life” - Letterbomb

This is more or less the same as the one above... I really love the energy with which this lyric is being delivered live.

“The brutality of reality is the freedom that keeps me from dreaming” - Before the Lobotomy

This might be my favorite lyric of all time. I love Before the Lobotomy, and this line just gives me chills everytime. Dreaming is just dreaming. It might be lovely, but it doesn’t change the facts of live and the reality that we live in.

Apologies if the above is rather difficult to understand, it’s been a long time since I last wrote in English

[Certified Nimrod]

I really like the line "You fell in love, but it didn't catch your fall," from X-Kid. That line just speaks to me personally.

Great write-up! Just one thing, you forgot to type "dad" in the Coming Clean quote.

[Cath]

I'll post it on the article and here just because:

Here's mine: "When masturbation lost its fun, you're fucking lonely."

Genius. No explanation needed.

And you trilogy haters are adorable. Let's not act like Billy always hasn't had some strange lyrics here and there. It's just more out there because we have 30 something songs to judge compared to individual albums.

[Spike]

There was no way I could keep it down to five

Honorary mentions:

11) Call it as I see it even if I was born deaf, blind and dumb

10) It's not over til you're underground / It's not done before it's too late

9) Cold turkey's getting stale, tonight I'm eating crow

8) Is the cop or am I the one that's really dangerous?

7) So what ails you is what impales you

6) Blown out of proportion again / My temper snaps and I get myself all wound up

5) I gotta know if you're the one that got away / Even though it was never meant to be

This one's pretty direct and simple, but I think it's really powerful in the sense that it's human nature to want to know how things might have turned out, even if you're happy with what actually happened. I can relate to it on a personal level in that I'm in a very happy, successful, long term relationship but I still sometimes find myself wondering how my life might have turned out if things had worked out with people I was previously involved with.

4) I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies / This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

This is one of the most important political statements of the modern world, in my opinion. More people need to take it to heart and make a stand, or we'll be politically fucked forever, as though we haven't been already.

3) You're not so young, but you're still dumb / And you're numb to your old glory / But now it's gone

This one really means a lot to me right now. I've been feeling old and washed up since I finished uni and have been unable to get a job, as well as struggling to keep friendships alive. "Numb to your old glory" speaks to me, as my previous achievements don't really mean anything to me these days. The difference between how I feel now and how I did a year ago is enormous.

2) Put your faith in a miracle / And it's non-denominational / Join the choir, we'll be singing / In the Church Of Wishful Thinking

I absolutely love this. As an atheist it was brilliant to hear such a big band come out with a statement this bold, and basically sums up my feelings on religion to perfection. Similarly, I don't wanna be an imbecile, but Jesus made me that way. I find that equally hilarious and powerful. I love how it's kind of ambiguous, as in it could be interpreted as "It's ok that I'm an imbecile because it's how I'm meant to be" or "Being a religious nut makes me really stupid."

1) It said "home is where the heart is" but what a shame, cos everyone's heart doesn't beat the same

I think this is probably the best line Billie has ever written, and it's absolutely perfect. I don't think I need to explain it - personally, I never felt less happy than when I was at home with my family.

[The Disappearing Boy]

I can never think of these things, though I know there are plenty to chose from. Here is a start:

Stand up all the white boys, sit down all the black girls - East Jesus Nowhere

When this came out, everyone played the racist card against Green Day, but the line actually highlights the racism that can be prevalent among some religions. Parts of the Bible endorse slavery and consider women the lesser sex and thereby give all the power to white males. I think it was quite brave to highlight this in one line.

Don't wanna be an American idiot - American Idiot

I can kinda agree with the criticisms that the song itself is nothing special in terms of creativity, but this line was fantastic. Consider the historical context: in the middle of the Bush regime, the war on terror and all the negativity that brought, and the context in Green Day's history. Warning had sold poorly, and they had brought out two compilation albums: the death knell for many bands. And then they bring out this song, starting it with this line. Brilliant and brave.

One light, one mind, flashing in the dark, blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts - Minority

I've explained that one above

I'm sure there will be more, when I can think of them.

[StuckWithInsomnia]

One of my favorites that hasn't been said yet.

Stranded, lost inside myself. My own worst friend and my own closest enemy. I'm branded, maladjusted, never trusted anyone let alone myself.

[DTH]

1) No Pride

i just quote what i wrote in another thread about the lyrics:

as the whole song is a song against national pride it's not so much about individualist seperation it's more about the separation through countrys.

it already becomes clear in the frist verses:
"i am just a mutt
and nowhere is my home".

and then:
"Sects of disconnection
And traditions of lost faith
No culture's worth a stream of piss
Or a bullet in my face"

those verses are describing how nationalistic ideas, speration through religion and culture lead to war. and billie is rejecting national pride, saying he can't identify with that and it's nothing worth to die for. that this seperation from each other will kill us all, because it is leading to that hate and war.
the song is like a more aggresive, less idealistic endorsement to "imagine" by john lennon.

this is maybe my favourite green day song ever. the lyrics are incredible awesome and i wish more people would actualy understand the meaning behind it.

2) Macys Day Parade

this song is so poetic.... one of the best song lines ever: "Economy sized dreams of hope". hoe can a single line tell so much? amazing.

to me the whole song is about critisizing the propaganda of capitalism/ consumerism and how shallow and unimportant extensive consumerism is for a happy life. on the contrary... it waters life down to something shallow, arbitrary.

but the narrator (once already corrupted as a kid by the tenor of western society) learned better:

"When I was a kid I thought
I wanted all the things that I haven't got
Oh. I learned the hardest way
Then I realized what it took
To tell the difference between
Thieves and crooks
A lesson learned to me and you"

the difference between thiefs and crooks: thiefs -> mostly harmless little people steeling for a living in a system that let them down. crooks -> the true criminals are the powerful people in big companys, who can do whatever they want. murdering for profit, modern slavery for money, destroying our environment...

and again: billie wouldn't write this anymore. i dont have any illusions about that...

3) Static Age

a really straight forward media criticizing song. on the one side the mix of entertainment, advertising and news and political propaganda.

it also has a great sarcastic sense of humor:

"All I want to know is a god-damned thing
Not what's in the medicine
All I want to do is I want to breathe
Batteries are not included"

and yeah... then billie did the voice and played for a doubtful "charity" eventm, just to name a few incidents. see macys day parade...

4) Stuck with me

again i already said everything about those lyrics in another thread:

i think the song is about the struggles billie had with being succesfull and famous. it is about the people in the pop-buisness (snobby managers, cokane sniffing radio company people, arrogant rockstars...) he had to deal with after the success of dookie. he saw what kind of elitist douches those people were and he realizes he doesn't want to be part of this elite. he just wants to be a normal guy but at the same time he can't be that guy anymore and has troubles of dealing with the behaviour of old friends towards him after their success ("cast out... burried in a hole"). the part "destroyed... giving up the fight" describes, that he tried to keep his life like it once was. but he was unable to do so and now he is giving up and feeling lost, like he neither belongs to his old life anymore nor to his new life as a famous popstar.

the question "what's my price and will you pay it if it's alright?" refers to new succesful bands not being more than a product in the music industry. with "take it from my dignity and waste it until it's dead" he sarcastically accepts to play his role in this fully commercialised sytem, no matter if it is against all his ideals and if it is destroys the rest of dignity he trys to retain as an artist with a punk backround and as a person with strong believes.

with "find another pleasure fucker, drag him down to hell" he clearly tells all the greedy people wanting their profit out of the bands success that he will make it in his own way, without the alleged necessary rules of the industry. they can search themselfes another band who is willing to make compromises for their success.

in my opinion one of their best songs with really strong lyrics. sadly the billie joe of today couldn't stand behind those words anymore. maybe the reason they rarely play it live (same as with other insomniac tracks...)

5) X-Kid

a song about an adult who can't cope with the challenges and responsibilities of adult life. he lost his fun in life and is overwhelmed by all the shit he has to deal with.

"Hey, little kid
Did you wake up late one day and
You're not so young, but you're still dumb
And you're numb to your old glory but now it's gone"

the change between using "you" and "I" is such a great stylistic device. a friend of the band comitted suuicide and gave the inspiration for this song (you), but billie recognizes the x-kid in himself (I).

i think it's kind of relateable to everybody leaving school and starting to realise: "fuck, i'm not a kid anymore...".

EDIT: oops, instead of edit i pressed the quote button. sorry, im gonna delete the upper, older post...

[Spike]

Stand up all the white boys, sit down all the black girls - East Jesus Nowhere

When this came out, everyone played the racist card against Green Day, but the line actually highlights the racism that can be prevalent among some religions. Parts of the Bible endorse slavery and consider women the lesser sex and thereby give all the power to white males. I think it was quite brave to highlight this in one line.

That's a great line. I can't believe people thought it was sincere. The entire song is a sarcastic, scathing response to religion and all that's wrong with it, and that's what I love about it. For people to miss the point so spectacularly is a real shame.

[DTH]

That's a great line. I can't believe people thought it was sincere. The entire song is a sarcastic, scathing response to religion and all that's wrong with it, and that's what I love about it. For people to miss the point so spectacularly is a real shame.

if theres one thing the internet has proven, that there are a LOT of people out there, immune to any form of irony, sarcasm or cynism. "pulverize the eifel towers"... omg, green day hates the french!

sometimes the stupidity in some comments is so huge it actually hurts when i have to read it... the worst is when nazis and facsist are celebrating sarcastic anti nazi songs. they just don't get it. check youtube, its great fun... not.