American Idiot
Released On
American Idiot
21 SEP 2004
Single Released: 03 AUG 2004
-
American Idiot (single) [2004] -
7" Vinyl Singles Box [2009] -
God's Favorite Band [2017] -
Welcome To My Panic [2021] -
Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool
Studio 880
Ocean Way Recording
Ocean Way Recording
Rob Cavallo, Green Day
712
2004-07-29
2026-02-08
Staple (80-100%)
Regular (50-79%)
Sporadic (20-49%)
Rare (1-19%)
Inactive (0%)
Performance Probability
98%
Odds of being played at the next showStaple
(Calculated from the last 100 shows)
!
For songs debuted recently, the percentage is calculated against total shows performed since the song's debut date rather than the full 100-show window.
Song Notes
It was just such a bold statement – bolder than I had ever said before politically. When we started [recording], we just talked about the song and we were all on the same page. It felt dangerous and risky and fun at the same time, if that’s even possible.
When the song first came out, I think we were like, “This could blow up in our faces, but who cares? We’ve said something that we really felt strongly about.” Then, as the record kept getting bigger and bigger, I just said, “Man, we really made something that is special that’s gonna stand the test of time.”
Billie Joe Armstrong (Billboard)
It was just such a bold statement – bolder than I had ever said before politically. When we started [recording], we just talked about the song and we were all on the same page. It felt dangerous and risky and fun at the same time, if that’s even possible.
When the song first came out, I think we were like, “This could blow up in our faces, but who cares? We’ve said something that we really felt strongly about.” Then, as the record kept getting bigger and bigger, I just said, “Man, we really made something that is special that’s gonna stand the test of time.”
Billie Joe Armstrong (Billboard)
Lyrics
Don't wanna be an American idiot
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
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 alienation
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 want to 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 alienation
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
Music Video
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★ Billion Club
+624,476 today
Rank: #2 among Green Day songs
Next Milestone
1.5B Club
As of April 28, 2026 · Updated Daily
Fan Rating
American Idiot
Billboard Charts
Tracklist
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