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Holiday

Words ByBillie Joe Armstrong
Music ByBillie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool
American Idiot recording sessions:Studio 880
Ocean Way Recording
ProducerRob Cavallo, Green Day
Live Performances 676
First Played 2004-08-24
Last Played 2026-02-08
Performances By Year
Staple (80-100%)
Regular (50-79%)
Sporadic (20-49%)

Rare (1-19%)
Inactive (0%)
Performance Probability
97%
Staple
Odds of being played at the next show
(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

That was a time when our country was moving into a war for fictitious reasons. A lot of it had to do with politics and oil. It felt like the country was beginning to come apart. I think the catalyst of where we’re at now, really, is with George W. Bush. So this song was just about trying to find your own voice and your own individuality and questioning everything that you see on television, in politics, school, family, and religion.

I was jumping into character a little bit. I wanted something that sounded very nasty. I definitely wanted to do something that was provocative. So I was like, “Sieg Heil to the president Gasman,” invoking old Nazi Germany propaganda films, contrasted with the American branches of government. I was just kind of messing around and using the English language against itself. With the riff, I was messing around with chords in a different way and putting in some echo and delay on it, doing what I normally do and trying to come up with riffs.
Billie Joe Armstrong (Rolling Stone)

Lyrics
Say hey! Cha! Hear the sound of the falling rain Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!) The shame, the ones who died without a name Hear the dogs howling 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 (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) Just 'cause (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) 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!
Music Video
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Holiday
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Rating: 4.7/5  ·  419 votes

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Billboard Charts
  • #1 Rock Airplay (3 weeks)
  • #1 Alternative Airplay (3 weeks)
  • #19 Hot 100
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