Green Day

Lyrics

[Part I: Jesus of Suburbia]

[Verse 1: Billie Joe Armstrong]
I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of Suburbia
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
'Least the ones I got away with

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
And there's nothin' wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make-believe
That don't believe in me

[Verse 2: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Get my television fix
Sitting on my crucifix
The livin' room, or 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
Doin' someone else's cocaine
[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
And there's nothin' wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make-believe
That don't believe in me
[Drum Solo]
[Part II: City of the Damned]

[Verse 3: Billie Joe Armstrong]
At the center of the Earth, in the parkin' lot
Of the 7-Eleven where 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

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong & Mike Dirnt]
City of the dead (Hey! Hey!)
At the end of another lost highway (Hey! Hey!)
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned (Hey! Hey!)
Lost children with dirty faces today (Hey! Hey!)
No one really seems to care
[Verse 4: Billie Joe Armstrong]
I read the graffiti in the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of the 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 care less

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong & Mike Dirnt]
City of the dead (Hey! Hey!)
At the end of another lost highway (Hey! Hey!)
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned (Hey! Hey!)
Lost children with dirty faces today (Hey! Hey!)
No one really seems to care (Hey!)

[Part III: I Don't Care]

[Guitar Solo]

[Intro: Billie Joe Armstrong]
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
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
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
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
I don't care!
[Verse 5: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Everyone's so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrites
Hearts recycled, but never saved
From the cradles 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!

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Land of make-believe
And it don't believe in me
Land of make-believe
(Said it's, it's another lie!)
And I don't believe

[Outro: Billie Joe Armstrong]
And I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo)
I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo)
I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo)
I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo)
I don't care!

[Part IV: Dearly Beloved]

[Verse 6: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Dearly beloved, are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were sayin'
Are we demented, or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure

[Refrain: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh

[Verse 7: Billie Joe Armstrong]
(Ooh, ooh) Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
(Ooh, ooh-ooh) Am I retarded, or am I just overjoyed?
(Ooh, ooh) Nobody's perfect, and I stand accused
(Ooh, ooh-ooh) For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse

[Refrain: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh

[Part V: Tales of Another Broken Home]
[Bass Solo]

[Verse 8: Billie Joe Armstrong]
To live and not to breathe
Is to die in tragedy
To run, to run away
To find what you believe

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fuckin' lies

[Verse 9: Billie Joe Armstrong]
I lost my faith to this
This town that don't exist
So I run, I run away
To the lights of masochists

[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fuckin' lies
And I've walked this line
A million and one fuckin' times
But not this time!
[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge: Billie Joe Armstrong]
I don't feel any shame, I won't apologize
When there ain't nowhere you can go
Runnin' away from pain when you've been victimized
Tales from another broken

[Outro: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Home
You're leavin'
You're leavin'
You're leavin'
Are you leavin' home?

This iconic song from Green Day’s album “American Idiot” takes listeners on a journey of self-discovery and rebellion. “Jesus of Suburbia” serves as the introduction to the main character of the album, a young man whose disillusionment with society leads him to a life of drugs and youthful angst. With its five distinct parts and varying musical styles, “Jesus of Suburbia” is a standout track that showcases the band’s versatility and unique approach to storytelling through music.

About Jesus of Suburbia

“Jesus of Suburbia” is a song that was developed out of Billie Joe Armstrong's desire to create “the Bohemian Rhapsody of the future.” This song is anything but traditional, consisting of five parts that are different in sound and tempo. The guitars vary throughout each movement, while bassist Mike Dirnt even has to adjust his tuning during live performances to accommodate the different styles within the song.

The first part of the song, “Jesus of Suburbia,” serves as an introduction to the character that the album is focused on. In this part, Jesus is described as a teenage boy who is lost in the world of drugs and rebellion, seeking solace from the chaos around him. He is trying to find his place in the world, but he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. The part begins as a slow ballad before it erupts into a full-blown punk rock song that is over nine minutes long.

The second part of the song, “City of the Damned,” is a reflection of the harsh realities of city life in America. The lyrics describe the city as a place where the dreams of the young die and the streets are paved with broken glass. The instrumentation in this movement is slower and more somber than the first part, reflecting the dark and depressing lyrics.

The third part of the song, “I Don’t Care,” is a fast and furious punk rock song that serves as a rejection of authority and societal norms. Jesus is rejecting everything that society is trying to force him to become in this movement, and he is embracing his own rebellion. The song is angry and raw, reflective of Jesus’s frustration with the world around him.

The fourth part of the song, “Dearly Beloved,” is a slower ballad that serves as a reflection on the state of the world. The lyrics describe a world that is plagued by war and suffering, and the music is emotional and raw. This part of the song showcases Green Day’s ability to craft memorable ballads that capture the emotions of the listener.

The fifth and final part of the song, “Tales of Another Broken Home,” serves as a culmination of the emotions and feelings expressed in the previous movements. It is a reflection on Jesus's life and the brokenness that surrounds him. The music is slow and somber, reflective of the sadness and disappointment that Jesus feels.

Overall, "Jesus of Suburbia" is a song that offers a deep and introspective look into the life of a young man coming of age in post-9/11 America. The song is unique in its structure, with each movement offering a distinct sound and feel. The lyrics are poignant and raw, speaking to the disillusionment that many young people felt during this time period.

Twenty years later, “Jesus of Suburbia” remains a standout track in Green Day’s long and impressive career. It is a song that showcases the band’s ability to tell a powerful story through music, and it continues to resonate with listeners around the world.

• Release Date: September 20, 2004
• Artist: Green Day