- 5 Stars26.83%33 votes
- 4 Stars30.89%38 votes
- 3 Stars31.71%39 votes
- 2 Stars5.69%7 votes
- 1 Star4.88%6 votes
Release Date: September 21, 2012
Length: 41:44
Studio: Jingletown Recording
Label: Reprise Records
Producers: Rob Cavallo & Green Day
Mixing: Chris Lorde-Alge
Engineer: Chris Dugan
Artwork: Chris Bilheimer (art direction, design), Greg Schneider (stills), Theo Stockman (back cover photo), Felisha Tolentino (photos)
Additional Musicians: Jason White (guitar), Rob Cavallo (keyboards)
Singles: Oh Love, Kill The DJ, Let Yourself Go
RIAA Certification: None (less than 0.5 million in sales)
Billboard 200 Peak: #2 – 16 weeks on the chart
Top Rock Albums Peak: #2 – 16 weeks on the chart
Notes: After four straight experimental albums including two concept albums, Green Day returned to their roots with a back to basics approach to their recording sessions. With their creativity bursting, the band would end up recording 37 songs and decided to release them all in a three album trilogy. While most would consider the trilogy as a whole a failure, there are several classic Green Day songs spread across the albums.
- Nuclear Family
- Stay The Night
- Carpe Diem
- Let Yourself Go
- Kill The DJ
- Fell For You
- Loss Of Control
- Troublemaker
- Angel Blue
- Sweet 16
- Rusty James
- Oh Love
13. Let Yourself Go (live)
13. Let Yourself Go (live)
14. Oh Love (live)
15. Stay The Night (live)
Track Info:
1. Nuclear Family
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars64.29%63 votes
- 4 Stars25.51%25 votes
- 3 Stars7.14%7 votes
- 2 Stars1.02%1 vote
- 1 Star2.04%2 votes
The song starts off with the author’s mindset being laid down (gonna ride the world like a merry-go-round) with how he just wants to have fun with his life. Even though he knows the things he’s doing is affecting his world (a Ferris wheel that's breaking down), he couldn’t care less and wants to keep doing what he’s doing without a care in the world (drinking angel's piss, gonna crash and burn, I just want some action).
Chinese dramas tend to be over-dramatized and exaggerated with lots of family issues being the main plot at most times. The author compares this to how his life is beginning to feel like one of those shows (looking like another bad comedy) and his family is suffering as a result of his life choices (death of a nuclear family).
The next line refers to the author waiting to drop his sick moves when the bass drops (Can you hear the sound coming over the hill? Gotta move my feet, it's coming in for the kill) in the party. The line, “like a nuclear bomb and it won't be long 'til I detonate”, could refer to either the author vomiting everywhere after excessive drinking or more dancing. This is further exemplified by the countdown to the end of the song when the author ‘detonates’.
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Gonna ride the world like a merry-go-round
Like a Ferris wheel that keeps breaking down
Drinking angel’s piss, gonna crash and burn
I just want some action so gimme my turn
Like a Chinese drama and conspiracy
It’s the death of a nuclear family staring up at you
It’s looking like another bad comedy
Just as long as it comes in hi-fidelity for me too
Can you hear the sound coming over the hill?
Gotta move my feet, it’s coming in for the kill
Ba-baby, baby it’s a blow out
Like a nuclear bomb and it won’t be long ’til I detonate
Like a Chinese drama and conspiracy
It’s the death of a nuclear family staring up at you
It’s looking like another bad comedy
Just as long as it comes in hi-fidelity for me too
Gonna ride the world like a merry-go-round
Like a Ferris wheel that keeps breaking down
Scream, scream, screaming bloody murder
Like a nuclear bomb and it won’t be long ’til I detonate
Like a Chinese drama and conspiracy
It’s the death of a nuclear family staring up at you
It’s looking like another bad comedy
Just as long as it comes in hi-fidelity for me too
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three
5-4-3-2-1
2. Stay The Night
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars55.67%54 votes
- 4 Stars37.11%36 votes
- 3 Stars4.12%4 votes
- 2 Stars1.03%1 vote
- 1 Star2.06%2 votes
Straight to the point love song; the author is deeply infatuated with someone and tries to convince her to leave the bar (do you wanna share a ride and get the fuck out of this joint?) to go home to have sex (I've got an impulse so repulsive that it burns). High on infatuation, the author becomes a hopeless romantic (I wanna break your heart until it makes your stomach turn, I got to know if you're the one that got away) and spews plenty of sweet nothings to charm her (Say you'll stay the night 'Cause we're running out of time).
As the two get to know each other more in bed after the sex, the author genuinely finds her intriguing (Well you're so sick and tired of feeling so alone, I don't understand the point if you have to go home) and begs her to stay and chat (so won't you stay and count the circles 'round my eyes?) and even begins to think of date plans (And we can watch the stars until the sun begins to rise). At least the author can tell himself he tried even if this relationship fails (I gotta know if you're the one that got away even though it was never meant to be).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Well I ain't got much time so I'll get to the point
Do you wanna share a ride and get the fuck out of this joint?
I've got an impulse so impulsive that it burns
I wanna break your heart until it makes your stomach churn
I got to know if you're the one that got away
Even though it was never meant to be
Say, you'll stay the night
Because we're running out of time
So stay the night
I don't wanna say goodbye
I'm just sick and tired of feeling so alone
I don't understand the point if you have to go home
So won't you stay and count the circles 'round my eyes?
And we can watch the stars until the sun begins to rise
I got to know if you're the one one that got away
Even though it was never meant to be
Say, you'll stay the night
Because we're running out of time
So stay the night
I don't wanna say goodbye
I got to know if you're the one one that got away
Even though it was never meant to be
Say, you'll stay the night
Because we're running out of time
So stay the night
I don't wanna say goodbye
3. Carpe Diem
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars20.88%19 votes
- 4 Stars36.26%33 votes
- 3 Stars31.87%29 votes
- 2 Stars5.49%5 votes
- 1 Star5.49%5 votes
Translator note: Carpe diem means YOLO
The song touches on trying to seize the moment and live a fulfilling life. It starts off with the author waking up anxious (breaking in a sweat) and compares this to a silhouette fading out from an explosion like how a shadow would when nearing a light source. He decides that worrying about life won’t get him anywhere (life’s a gas and it’s running out) and he should get a grip and do something worthwhile with it (nothing left to lose, detonate the fuse). Whilst it may sound a little cliché, the author finds profound meaning in simplicity (gonna seize the day (carpe diem)).
The question arises on how people are constantly seeking more time but doing nothing with it (aren’t we all too young to die? Ask a reason and no reply). The author lives a more carefree and day-to-day life instead of living for impossible goals and holding onto grudges (making a living, what’s worth forgiving?). Despite this, old habits die hard (the blink of an eye, barely scraping by) and the author finds himself slipping into an existential crisis (dominated by passersby) and jealousy of his more successful peers when he’s stuck in the boring silence (feeling out of luck, when the traffic’s stuck, and you’re feeling so left behind).
The author picks himself back up (get a second win, another promise to make a change) and accepts that although he may never be fully happy and fixed all the time, he will do his best to cope (got a broken wing, hear the angels sing when the signal is out of range). The author accepts that even though his life may be too short to achieve everything he wants, he will live his best life and live for today (aren’t we all too young to die?).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Breaking in a sweat
Like a bomb threat
Is your silhouette fading out
Nothing left to lose
Detonate the fuse
Another breaking news blowout
Ain't it beautiful
So unusual
Life's a gas and it's running out
Living a cliche
Gonna seize the day
Bottle rockets that celebrate
Celebrate, celebrate
Carpe Diem, a battle cry
Are we all too young to die
Ask for reason and no reply
Are we all too young to die?
Making a living
Making a killing
What's worth forgiving?
All right
A blink of an eye
Barely scraping by
Dominated by Passer-by's
Feeling out of luck
When the traffic's stuck
And you're feeling, so left behind
Getting off a binge
Get a second wind
Another promise then make a change
Got a broken wing
Hear the angels sing
When the signal is out of range
Ain't it strange, ain't it Strange
Carpe Diem, a battle cry
Are we all too young to die
Ask for reason and no reply
Are we all too young to die?
Making a living
Making a killing
What's worth forgiving?
All right
Carpe Diem, a battle cry
Are we all too young to die
Ask for reason and no reply
Are we all too young to die?
4. Let Yourself Go
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars42.14%59 votes
- 4 Stars37.14%52 votes
- 3 Stars15.71%22 votes
- 2 Stars2.14%3 votes
- 1 Star2.86%4 votes
The author engages his inner edgy teen and disses everyone around him; pretty self-explanatory track. He doesn’t skip a beat to tell people how he doesn’t care about what people think (shut your mouth cause you’re talking too much and I don’t give a damn anyway) because everyone else is a bloody hypocrite (you always seem to be stepping in shit). Anyone who doesn’t agree with the author are seen as liars and small-minded people and he justifies his crude behavior by saying how the rest are putting on a mask and not being who they are meant to be (let yourself go) because they prefer fitting in and conforming to society.
The song continues on with more STFU's (you’re screaming in my ear and you’re taking up all of the space) and edge (I’d rather get punched in the face, I’m sick to death of your every last breath and I don’t give a fuck anyway). The song ends with the author saying how everyone’s just fucking with his head and he’s gotta let loose by shouting.
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Shut your mouth cause you're talking too much
And I don't give a damn anyway
You always seem to be stepping in shit
And all you really do is complain
It's your lie, tell it how you like
Small minds tend to think alike
Shut your mouth cause you're talking too much
And I don't give a fuck anyway
Let yourself go, let yourself go, let yourself go
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go
Cut the crap cause you're screaming in my ear
And you're taking up all of the space
You're really testing my patience again
And I'd rather get punched in the face
You're getting on my very last nerve
Everything you said I've already heard
I'm sick to death of your every last breath
And I don't give a fuck anyway (Shut the fuck up)
Let yourself go, let yourself go, let yourself go
Gotta let it go, gotta let it go
Always fuck, fucking with my head now
Always fuck, fucking with my head now
Always fuck, fucking with my head now
Always fucking with my head and I gotta
Let it go, let yourself go, let yourself go
Let yourself go, let yourself go, let yourself go
5. Kill The DJ
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars22.70%32 votes
- 4 Stars35.46%50 votes
- 3 Stars20.57%29 votes
- 2 Stars8.51%12 votes
- 1 Star12.77%18 votes
"It’s about static and noise. Like this government cannot, will not, agree with itself. They refuse to make it work. Right, left – it doesn’t matter. It blows your mind and pisses you off. It’s a song about being drunk, going through this chaos, feeling fucked up and all you want to do is get more drunk - 'I don’t even want to know about it anymore.'”
"I think the line 'kill the DJ' is more a take on all these opinions you get when you watch television these days -- anything from Bill Maher to Bill O'Reilly: culture wars and all that; the static noise that keeps coming at you. And there's that moment where you just say, 'Shut the fuck up!' That's my take on it: Just give me fuckin' peace."
- Billie Joe Armstrong
As stated by Billie, this song is mostly about all the noise around you broadcasted on media. The author is taking a walk in the New York city park, distraught and confused on his own opinions as the TVs are telling him that his thoughts are unholy in the holiest of holes. He questions himself as the media's mind control is working on him.
He can feel himself getting more and more lost as he wanders on and finds himself in a contemplating suicide (the bullet that you asked for). He ends up clubbing where he gets drugged (blood left on the dance floor running, running red) and he begins to hallucinate. The voices in his head tell him to kill the DJ, the noises/media telling him to not do the things he feels are right.
In his head, he begins to call the people on the media vultures of the dirtiest kind and how they want to start a culture war within people by telling them to conform to their views. The party ends as people begin to leave the club leaving the author as one of the people left behind aside from the cleaners. He's hungover and is picking up what's left in the club which consists mostly of drugs (pocket full of pills).
The line Sodom and Gomorrah in the century of thrills may refer to the media and public's generally negative view on homosexuality, and possibly what the media has been spamming recently in the author's world. The song ends with the author's head pounding as his mind gets more and more involved and overloaded with media opinions.
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Walking after dark in a New York City park
Your thoughts are so unholy in the holiest of old
Onward Christian soldiers filled with jivin' mind-control
The blood left on the dance floor running, running red
The bullet that you asked for killing you to death
Unless you
Someone kill the DJ, shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, shoot the fucking DJ
The voices in my head are saying, "Shoot that fucker down"
We are the vultures, the dirtiest kind
The culture wars in your heart and your mind
Walking after dark in the New York City park
Beer Goggles left in the club, a pocket full of pills
Sodom and Gomorrah in the century of thrills
The blood left on the dance floor running, running red
The bullet that you asked for killing you to death
Unless you
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Hold him underwater 'till that motherfucker drowns
We are the vultures, the dirtiest kind
The culture wars in your heart and your mind
Someone's gonna get you boy
Shoot that fucker down
Someone kill the DJ, shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
(Walking after dark...)
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
(Walking after dark...)
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
(Walking after dark...)
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot that fucker down
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Someone kill the DJ, Shoot the fucking DJ
Voices in my head are saying, "Shoot that fucker down!"
6. Fell For You
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars19.51%16 votes
- 4 Stars31.71%26 votes
- 3 Stars23.17%19 votes
- 2 Stars13.41%11 votes
- 1 Star12.20%10 votes
A song about a crush. The author sets the scene by him waking up from a dream where he kissed the girl of his dreams drenched in sweat. He reminisces the dream as the two have a date at night telling ghost stories and eventually kissing at the Eiffel Tower. Kiss of death may refer to how he was woken up and his dream was killed because of the kiss. He looks around the room, dazed and realizes it was all a dream (you’re out of sight but not out of mind).
To help himself calm down, he makes paper planes to help keep his heartbeat normal whilst in agony over how it was so real (I’ll spend the night living in denial) and hopes that perhaps she had the same dream too (did you crash in my imagination too?). Fast forward and the author finds the balls to ask her out only to be denied (break a leg and you crush my heart). The author knew this would happen (I’m a mess and you’re a work of art) and tries to steal a kiss only to be slapped by her (took a dive).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
I woke up in a pool of sweat
At first, I thought that I pissed the bed
All the stars in the midnight hour
The kiss of death from the Eiffel Tower
And I went down like the speed of sound
You're out of sight but not out of mind
I had a dream that I kissed your lips and it felt so true
Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell for you
I'll spend the night living in denial
Making paper planes just for a while
I'll crash into you, crash into you
Did you crash in my imagination too?
Break a leg and you crushed my heart
I'm a mess and you're a work of art
Count your blessings going zero to five
Steal a kiss and I took a dive
And I went down like the speed of sound
You're out of sight but not out of mind
I had a dream that I kissed your lips and it felt so true
Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell for you
I'll spend the night living in denial
Making paper planes just for a while
I'll crash into you, crash into you
Did you crash in my imagination
I had a dream that I kissed your lips and it felt so true
Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell for you
And I fell for you
And I fell for you
7. Loss Of Control
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars17.86%15 votes
- 4 Stars19.05%16 votes
- 3 Stars32.14%27 votes
- 2 Stars19.05%16 votes
- 1 Star11.90%10 votes
The author is expressing his hatred towards the people his past, and how he's planning to get rid of them by ignoring them and running far, far away from them (I'm taking down all my enemies 'cause they're all so fucking useless, I wanna find me a better scene). The author further explains how he'd rather go to a funeral than to this high school reunion, implicating that most of his 'enemies' and 'fake friends' are from high school.
He also talks a bit about his old girlfriend (April Fool thought you're falling in love) and how he slammed her out of his life or literally, his house (But now you're sucking on a doorknob that I slammed in your face). He continues on his rant about how his life is shit (cruel crushing bastard crime) and how his friends were too idiotic to see what he truly wanted (you're a stupid mother fucker) and that they're all insane from believing his lies (Well we're so crazy, you've all gone insane, loss of control).
However, despite the author's efforts, (Hanging out all by myself) he still manages to run into his old friend (isn't that a whatshisface that I see walking down the street). He then proceeds to hide in the shadows, avoiding eye contact since he has nothing to say to him anyway. He then reminisces about how they never really talked much and how they were just everyday classmates passing by and just possibly greeting each other out of sheer manners (We never had anything in common and I never liked you anyway).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
I'm takin' down all my enemies, cause they're all so fucking useless
A bunch of shit talkin' drama queens and they're all filled with excuses
I wanna find me a better scene where it's not the same opinion
I'd rather go to a funeral than into this High School reunion
April fools! Thought you were falling in love?
But now you're suckin' on the doorknob that got slammed in your face
Life's a cruel crushing bastards crime
And you're a stupid mother fucker
And you're doing your time cause...
We're all crazy
You're all crazy now
Well we're so crazy
You've all gone insane
Loss of control
Loss of control
Hangin' out all by myself, at least I'm in good company
Hey! Isn't that what's-his-face that I see walking down the street
I'm gonna hide in the shadows cause I really got nothing to say
We never had anything in common, and I never liked you anyway
April fools! Thought you were falling in love
But now you're suckin' on the doorknob that got slammed in your face
Life's a cruel crushing son of a bitch
And you're a stupid motherfucker
Serving the shit to the pigs
We're all crazy
You're all crazy now
Well we're so crazy
You've all gone insane
Loss of control
Loss of control
April fools! Thought you were falling in love
But now you're suckin' on the doorknob that got slammed in your face
Life's a cruel crushing bastards crime
And you're a stupid mother fucker
And you're doing your time cause...
We're all crazy
You're all crazy now
Well we're so crazy
You've all gone insane
Loss of control
Loss of control
8. Troublemaker
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars15.46%15 votes
- 4 Stars10.31%10 votes
- 3 Stars21.65%21 votes
- 2 Stars21.65%21 votes
- 1 Star30.93%30 votes
The song is a guy wanting to be a troublemaker for a girl he likes. He describes how she gives him a heart attack, how he wants to explore the ‘inner machinations of her mind’ (I wanna crack your cranium), her personality (BM-excellent tits) and her astounding sense of fashion (sunburned in a pink bathing suit). He makes flirty comments (I wouldn’t say I’m straight cause I’m bent out of shape) and goes to party with her.
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Hey!
You're giving me a heart attack
You're giving me a cardiac arrest
When I'm sitting at the traffic light
Hey!
I wanna get inside of you
I wanna crack your cranium delirium
On the Lower East Side of your mind
Wanna be a Troublemaker
Hey!
I like your BMW
I like your BM-excellent tits
With a tattoo of a pig sniffing glue
Hey!
You're living at the W
You're looking like a Jezebel, hot as hell
Sunburned in a pink bathing suit
Wanna be a Troublemaker
Hey!
Yeah!
Easy come and go, gonna go it alone
Knock yourself out with a shot of Patron
I wouldn't say I'm straight cause I'm bent out of shape
From now till death do we party just before it's too late
Hey!
You're giving me a heart attack
You're giving me a cardiac arrest
When I'm sitting at the traffic light
Hey!
9. Angel Blue
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars15.66%13 votes
- 4 Stars24.10%20 votes
- 3 Stars32.53%27 votes
- 2 Stars15.66%13 votes
- 1 Star12.05%10 votes
Another love song, this song covers the midst of a relationship. The author is stating how he keeps fucking up the relationship (gonna build it just to burn it down, I’m a fucking clown) but his girlfriend always stands by him and looks past his mistakes (you’re a princess). The girlfriend gives the author emotional support saying how everyone puts far too much burden on him (you’re just a fucking kid and no one ever gives you a break) and it’s not his fault that the relationship is suffering as a result of his responsibilities (you want a senorita and now your heart is gonna break).
Angel blue could refer to either parties or both simultaneously (teenage traces, pretty faces) referring to them having the maturity of teenagers who are hanging out with good-looking company. A stick in the mud can be defined as ‘a person who is dull and unadventurous and who resists change’ and as such, the girlfriend might be someone who is very headstrong (stab my heart) and adventurous (cut my chest just to see the blood) whilst the author is someone who’s rather boring and sticks to his beliefs (singing out the alphabet).
Despite being polar opposites, the two still find fun and compatibility (we’ll hit the cemetery so we can see the holiday lights) and enjoy stirring up trouble (waking up the dead). Within this relation, the author is also figuring himself out (trying to find my better angels), stuck between his relationship and the struggles of everyday life (stuck in the middle of Heaven and Hell).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Gotta build it up just to burn it down
You're the princess I'm a fucking clown
Stop the presses cause I'm killing time
Won't you be my bloody valentine
You're just a fucking kid and no one ever gives you a break
You want a senorita and now your heart is gonna break
You're Angel Blue
With teenage traces
Angel Blue
With pretty faces
Stab my heart like a stick in the mud
Cut my chest just to see the blood
Now I'm singing out the alphabet
As my tears are putting out my cigarette
We'll hit the cemetery so we can see the holiday lights
Waking up the dead and everything will be alright
You're Angel Blue
With teenage traces
Angel Blue
With pretty faces
Alright stuck in the middle of heaven and hell
Alright trying to find my better angels
Stab my heart like a stick in the mud
Cut my chest just to see the blood
Stop the presses cause I'm killing time
Won't you be my bloody valentine
You're just a fucking kid and no one ever gives you a break
You want a senorita and now it's on you're gonna break
You're Angel Blue
With teenage traces
Angel Blue
With pretty faces
10. Sweet 16
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars18.60%16 votes
- 4 Stars26.74%23 votes
- 3 Stars30.23%26 votes
- 2 Stars12.79%11 votes
- 1 Star11.63%10 votes
A song about a man reminiscing on his love life (Time stands still as the years go by). He is looking back on the first time he saw his wife (Brown-eyed girl that's throwing down a bottle of Old English, back in the warehouse) and it is indicated to be a very long time ago (Old days are fine, but are left so far behind). They travelled the world together and met lots of friends along the way. (From California to Jane Street, kids alright, alright as they'll ever be and From the Midwest to the beach). They went through many financial problems but made it through the end (Sleep on the floor on cardboard, Stab out my heart like a dartboard).
The song repeats itself with the lines "You will always be my sweet 16". Showing the first time he confessed his love to her at his 16th birthday. The song may also be describing his experiences back when he was 16 and the things he was going through and enjoying at that phase of his life.
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Bring me back to an hour ago
Time stands still as the years go by
Brown-eyed girl that's throwing down a bottle of Olde English
Back in the warehouse
Old days are fine but are left so far behind
From California to Jane Street
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
Cause you will always be my
Well you will always be my
You will always be my sweet 16
Sleep on the floor on cardboard
Stab out my heart like a dartboard
Brown-skinned girl that I dream about a long long time now
From the Midwest to the beach
Old days are fine but are left so far behind
From California to Jane Street
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
Cause you will always be my
Well you will always be my
You will always be my sweet 16
11. Rusty James
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars37.36%34 votes
- 4 Stars40.66%37 votes
- 3 Stars13.19%12 votes
- 2 Stars4.40%4 votes
- 1 Star4.40%4 votes
“The song title is from the name of a character in the book Rumble Fish and the song itself is about my old punk-rock scene and the survivors of it—the initial starters of that scene and how some of them didn’t really live up to their promises and just became finger pointers a little bit. And then they disappeared. And just the feeling that…Green Day, we’re still here. Where are you? What happened to all the values that you were bringing to the table? Now you’re gone. All the things you were telling people to fight for, you’re not fighting for them anymore. So that’s probably one of the more bitter songs I’ve written."
- Billie Joe Armstrong
Taking a deeper look at the lyrics, the song touches on how it feels to be the last of the real ones (when there’s no one left around and you’re the last gang in town). The scene starts with the author hanging out with his old friends, reminiscing about the old times long gone (raise your glass and toast your friends, someday we will fight again) how some things that mattered a long time ago were nothing more than the past, whether be it good or bad (your enemies, your tragedies, pocket knives and rusty chains, where the hell is the old gang?).
To call someone green would be to say they are inexperienced and similar to the music scene, the author sees how his old stages are slowly overtaken by the newer generation (this broken scene is turning green). As time passes, the new replaces the old but there’s a sense of emptiness knowing that the newer generation of musicians are merely taking on the torch of old views without knowing its history (the beginners don’t even know what song they’re singing/brass knuckles left in the rain). Despite this, the author knows he has to come to terms with it (your heart can’t even break when it doesn’t even pound).
Being one the last of the originals, the author tries his best to keep up with the newer wave of music whilst staying true to his roots (I want to ride on the divided, anything but the mainstream). In the end, the author has to come to terms with the past disappearing behind him and the things that made him stand out are being tuned out by newer, evolving options (there’s nowhere to go when you’re hiding in plain sight).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
This whisky sour, amateur hour
Raise a glass and toast your friends
Someday we will fight again, well
Your enemies, your tragedies
Pocket knives and rusty chains
Where the hell is the old gang at
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
When there’s no-one left around
And you’re the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
This broken scene, is turning green
Brass knuckles left in the rain
Deathwish kids among the living
I wanna ride on a divided
Anything but the mainstream
Where the fuck is your old gang man
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
When there’s no-one left around
And you’re the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
So long
You didn't even say goodnight
So long
There's nowhere to go when you're hiding in plain sight
When there's no one left around
And you’re the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
12. Oh Love
- Rating
- Meaning
- Lyrics
- 5 Stars29.85%40 votes
- 4 Stars36.57%49 votes
- 3 Stars23.88%32 votes
- 2 Stars5.97%8 votes
- 1 Star3.73%5 votes
“'Oh Love' is kind of like leading with your heart and not necessarily with your brain as much, and [also] kind of maybe losing your mind, and shooting a little bit more from the crotch area.”
- Billie Joe Armstrong
In dealing with infatuation, the author writes a serenade to woo the woman he fancies (whole first verse). He wants to let loose and feel drunk on love (I’m wearing my heart on a noose, tonight my heart’s on the loose). Despite his lavish life, the author just can’t be satisfied until he gets the girl he wants. He gets lost in his flirty comments (talk my way out of control) and tries to put himself back on his feet (talk myself out of falling in love) but fails as his heart takes over (falling in love with you).
- song meaning written by u/potlah on r/GreenDay
Oh love, oh love
Won't you rain on me tonight
Oh life, oh life
Please don't pass me by
Don't stop, don't stop
Don't stop when the red lights flash
Oh ride, free ride
Won't you take me close to you
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
I'm wearing my heart on a noose
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
Tonight my heart's on the loose
Oh lights and action
I just can't be satisfied
Oh losers and choosers
Won't you please hold on my life
Oh hours and hours
Like the dog years of the day
Old story, same old story
Won't you see the light of day
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
I'm wearing my heart on a noose
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
Tonight my heart's on the loose
Talk myself out of feeling
Talk my way out of control
Talk myself out of falling in love
Falling in love with you
Oh love, oh love
Won't you rain on me tonight
Oh ride, free ride
Won't you take me close to you
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
I'm wearing my heart on a noose
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
Tonight my heart's on the loose
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
I'm wearing my heart on a noose
Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
Tonight my heart's on the loose
Tonight my heart's on the loose
Tonight my heart's on the loose