Lyrics for Jesus Of Suburbia as interpreted by prayingmantis84

Jesus Of Suburbia Lyrics
[Part I: Jesus of Suburbia ]

I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of suburbia
From 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
At least the ones I got away with

But there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me

Get my television fix
Sitting on my crucifix
The living room of 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
And doing someone else's cocaine

[Part II: City Of The Damned]

At the center of the Earth
In the parking lot
Of the 7-11 were I was taught
The motto was just a lie
It says "home is were your heart is"
But what a shame
Cause everyone's heart
Doesn't beat the same
We're beating out of time

City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
No one really seems to care

I read the graffiti
In the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of a 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

[Part III: I don't care]

I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't care [x5]

Everyone is so full of shit
Burn and raised by hipocrites
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle 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
Land of make believe
And it don't believe in me
Land of make believe
And I don't believe
And I don't care!

[Part IV: Dearly beloved]

Dearly beloved are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed?
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse

[Part V: Tales of another broken home]

To live and not to breathe
Is to die in tragedy
To run, to run away
To find what you believe
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
I lost my faith to this
This town that don't exist

So I run
I run away
To the light of masochists
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
And I walked this line
A million and one fucking times
But not this time

I don't feel any shame
I wont apologize

When there ain't nowhere you can go
Running away from pain
When you've been victimized
Tales from another broken home

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green&pinkmusic
06-20-2005

Rated 0 
I love the Dearly Beloved part. It's a nice break in the song.

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duo8675309
06-29-2005

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This just came to me. Sorry if this was posted earlier, but Dr. Suess gets me bored, so 151 theories just won't do.

Ok, Billie Joe and Mike were both raised in the suburbs right? Just like JOS. Then they discovered punk rock, ala St. Jimmie. Oh and whatshername? Remember Mike's wife? Well she left him because he spent too much time out on the road. Sound familiar? Now backtrack. They started out wwith 1000 Slappy Hours E.P.(or something similiar.). This did ok for an E.P., but they still weren't known much outside of Guilman's Street. But then came Kerplunk. On that album they toured and had alot of fanbase just by self-advertizing. They sold all of their own records. They got alot of "followers". Then they signed to a major label, got accused of being too pop, they said F you, blah blah, they release Insomniac, really punk, hardcore, not them, they give up, release nimrod, blah blah. Then on VH1 Behind the Music, they said they had settled down since they had kids. Ok, back to the story. I think Jimmy was their wild abnoxious punk kid side and when they got kids and grew up Jimmie died. Thats my interpretation of it and I just got in to Green Days history 2 days ago so I might have gotten it mixed up a little, but thats just my 2 cents. Peace.

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yeslek
07-02-2005

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basically the character jesus of suburbia is like what jesus is to christians - he's like the one who's looked up to, the one they all try to live like an be like, folow by example - mom's and brads reffering to the divorce rate -so by being the jesus of suburbia means that he;s like the stereotype of what the suburbian life is but in one person
christians/catholics are supposed to be all forgiveing, easy goings do gooders yeh? just like jesus was.
its hard to explain to be honest but its just a play on words really

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yeslek
07-02-2005

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i thinks its kinda auto-biograpical - its like the stereotype for a suburbian kid, (in the first 2 parts) then the guy gettin sick off it - seems like its billie joe gettin pissed at the way life is. (in usa)

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yeslek
07-02-2005

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i thinks its kinda auto-biograpical - its like the stereotype for a suburbian kid, (in the first 2 parts) then the guy gettin sick off it - seems like its billie joe gettin pissed at the way life is. (in usa)

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skeggy553
07-06-2005

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why do people say they are becoming like everyone else? i mean everone else doesnt release an ambitious punk rock opera detailing the live of 3 characters while simulteaniously putting in the most personal song ever (wake me up when september ends) and still linking it up with the story.

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emi_sarb
07-16-2005

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when he says "I read the graffiti In the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall" it is because Billie got banned from the under ground club but he got back in and in the bathroom he found some graffiti that said die Billie Joe

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xXRoCk_QuEeNXx
07-16-2005

Rated 0 
i think that this song is like the story of JOS's childhood/teenhood in the begining and later on he grows up and is getting tired of all the BS around him.

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SaigonGarden
08-06-2005

Rated 0 
Ok my interpretation: There is a kid, for some reason called the jesus of suburbia, who is all fed up with being an "american idiot" from the first song. In this one, it describes him, and how he hates the way of life and all that, and eventually runs away. Then comes holiday, where he is out on the streets trying to make things right, but not really doing anything. Blvd is a while later, when street life begins to take its toll. He becomes more distant and lonely, ect. Then Are We the Waiting, where he starts to question his own purpose/sanity (maybe both? he says The jesus of suburbia is a lie") Anyways then he meets/becomes (i'v heard its another person and also a split personality) called saint jimmy, a die hard 100%hardcore slightly psychotic rebel punk. Anyways Give Me Novacaine goes off into him and jimmy doing illegal drugs and stuff, and wanting the pain to go away. Then he meets whatsername in She's A Rebel. He is total fascinated by her and likes her I guess. Extraordinary girl describes JoS (jesus of suburbia) and whatsername's "relationship" which is slowly falling apart. Then Letterbomb (a fav of mine). The song starts off with (in my opinion) a recording from whatsername saying everyones left JoS and is having fun without him. Then he starts talking about how his hometowns changed, (or the city he is in) how everything is different. But its not over till your underground, and its not all before too late. and about how saint jimmy is a figment of your fathers hate and your mothers love, (also noted in the album as son of rage and love) Then in the last half he is talking back to whatsername. "Well she said I can't take this town, I'm leaving you tonight." Then we come to Wake Me Up when September Ends. This talks about how he looks back on all he's done, not sure if he is home or heading home. "AS my memory rests but never forgets what I lost." may talk about whatsername, and losing her. "Bring out the bells again, like we did when spring began" may be something he did back at his home. Then Homecoming. This is the death of saint jimmy, remembering whatsername, and coming home. JoS finally leaves saint jimmy (he says he threw his brains into the bay, in the state of mind. So is it a split personality?)anyways "well nobody cares, does anyone care, if nobody cares?" is talking about no one cares the world may be shit, they are fine and arnt gunna help JoS in his world. East 12th street is jus talkin about JoS thinkin about his past life at work now, "cigaretts and coffee with the underbelly." i think the underbelly is his group of friends. Then nobody likes you is remembering what went wrong with whatsername, how she never showed up. As for rock& rollgirlfriend, i heard this was a postcard from some one JoS met on the streets, named Tammy or something, but not sure. Anyways coming home again is jus remembering how he came home i guess, or he is comming home... I thougth he woulda been home tho. And then whatsername, the obvious missing her and its been so long he cant remember her name. "I'de remember the face but i cant recall the name."
Anyways flame me to hell, or congratulate me, but ya thats my thots.

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reason4living
08-22-2005

Rated 0 
best fucking song ever! They are awsome in concert!! BJ's voice is a gift from God! totally awsome!

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psuedin
09-04-2005

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Poor Everclear. This song alone wraps up album after album of what Mr. Alexis has devoted his life to, even if it IS just Green Day.

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aus
09-07-2005

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i like this song because everytime i heared this song i feel happy

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crazyhippy8
09-24-2005

Rated 0 
this is a wonderful song. I lvoe Green day so much and im glad they are using the power of music to speak out.

but know what bugs me? My friend whoose really christian hates this song... shes only heard it once. Is there really a reason a christian should hate it? is it really that offending?

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GreenDay05
09-25-2005

Rated 0 
Green Day is so fuckin awesome! This album is great! I'm still trying to tie everything together but I think I'm almost there, but this song is great! Rock On!

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vivalabam
09-28-2005

Rated 0 
i love this song! it rox. itz kinda like rock opera. i like those type of songz for e.g. bohemean raphsody.yeah. this is the best song of the album! Itz so kool! i luv it! my favourite song now. everybody clap for green dai!

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Chiisu
10-12-2005

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Ok then... so this what I think the story of american idiot is:

American Idiot:
Jesus of Suburbia (jos) is crying out that he doesn't want an the american idiot in the middle of all this of confusion and disorientation around him. kinda like a prequel. Also Anti-Bush #1.

Jesus of surbia:
(part 1) All it's really doing is discribing Jesus of Suburbia's life and him, himself.
(part 2) JoS is crying for help and tell how crappy his town is, and how miserable it's making him.
(part 3) Well... he just doesn't care anymore. He's completely and totally lost faith in his life in this state.
(part 4) JoS is questioning if these are normal feelings. Pretty much just giving himself therapy.
(part 5) He decides he can't take anymore and decides to leave town.

Holiday:
He's partying be himself on streets, and yelling out his dead beliefs in the world. Also Anti-bush #2.

Boulevard of broken dreams:
He finally realizes he's alone and nobody cares. He just walks alone lonely.

Are We the Waiting?:
JoS is still alone, and he's beginning to lose his sanity. Nobody knows who he is. Nobody cares. He's nobody. He's just that guy.

St. Jimmy
So JoS decides to change himself into St. Jimmy (Jimmy). A rebel who's just so hardcore.

Give me a Novacaine
The entity of Jimmy convices JoS to begin to take drugs to ease his pain and keep his sanity.

She's A Rebel/Extraodinary Girl
This is where Jimmy meet's some girl on the streets (Whatsername). A real rebel. Jimmy gets interested in her and eventually falls in love. So then they begin dating.

Letterbomb:
Jimmy can't support what Whatsername need and wants, and eventually, she breaks up with him.

Wake me up When Sept. Ends:
Jimmy falls into depression over whatsername, and being alone again only makes it worst.

Homecoming:
(part 1) JoS, with his experiences of life on the street decides to drop the St. Jimmy act and go back to JoS. So Jimmy kills himself in a sense.
(part 2) JoS get's a job, which he finds boring...
(part 3) JoS is still depressed about Whatsername. He tried waiting for her to come back, but she doesn't (waste of coffee :p)
(part 4) It talks about his friend how apparently started a band and is now a celebrity, while he's still alone.
(part 5) Seeing how everything is basically worse on the street he decides to go back home.

Whatsername:
He's basically looking back at the time with whatsername. Trying to forget about her but the experience with her.

So yeah....

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shiro
11-05-2005

Rated 0 
The video for this is awesome! As for the meaning Im a still a bit confused but yeah seems like you guys figured it out.

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daughterofdarkness
11-05-2005

Rated 0 
Good interpritation of the whole story Chiisu. JOS just reminds me how crappy life can be and i think he's an amazing character, and describes a few people i know. My favourite line from this song is 'in a land of make believe that don't believe in me' as it sums up parts of my life. Dealy Beloved is my favourite part of the song though. Good stuff Green Day! x

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drummer27
11-09-2005

Rated 0 
I think Spam word has a grip on this. I always thought that 'Jesus' grew up in this surberb teenage wasteland and after all the crap he went through in life, he needed to leave town to find his own way.

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bkat004
12-05-2005

Rated 0 
Okay, here we go:

Oh my god, it’s a PUNK CONCEPT ALBUM! It’s as if NOFX recorded TOMMY! It’s as if the CLASH recorded THE WALL! How cool is this album and this Rock Opera that is this song! It is probably the most important album of the decade and the most ambitious punk album ever! We live in such a paranoid time, that it makes sense that someone in punk had to write an album about it – Punk is always suppose to be political! The Pistols did it with Pre-Thatcherite Britain. The Dead Kennedys did it with Reagan’s 80’s. And now Green Day has done it with Bush’s Millenium! Punk is usually three minutes long, at best, so this is probably the first Punk Epic ever! No – in fact, NOFX did it first with The Decline. So having said that, this is the BEST Punk Epic ever! Many of you may critisize that this is not PROG ROCK. Youre goddamn right, because its PUNK PROG ROCK!

My favourite part is how it goes from the 4/4 of ‘City of the Damned’ into the 6/4 of ‘I Don’t Care’, and yes, that’s got to be Jesus Christ Superstar riff! I also like the Dante interpretation. It’s has beautiful religious connotations that suppose both religion and anti-religion. From your guys’ interpretations, it’s really does seem that Jesus Christ was a punk. And yes, City of the Damn, sounds like Bryan Adams’ Summer of 69, but who cares about that hoser.

It’s a cross between compassion and hate as the hand grenade typifies cos he’s the son of “rage and love”

And then he leaves, leaves for a journey into the rest of the album – how cool is that!

‘Land of Make Believe’ must be California, or in fact the entire United States

Yes – where are Everclear?

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damloser
12-05-2005

Rated 0 
I think this is such a popular since so many people can relate to it. This song is about how a typical teenager/young adult is confused/aimlessly living. He doesn't know what to do with his life. He most likely didn't have a well structured family/childhood, his parents brought him up all Laissez-faire. And this song is about the quagmire and rut this generation is stuck in. Caused to a degree by the parents generation of hippies, who broke off a cultural traditions with the many 'revolutions' of the 60's and 70's. But I'm talking about this because I was studying Edmond Bunke ( the guy who said evil triumphs when good men do nothing) and the French Revolution. Bunke was against the French Revolution since he felt that a line of tradition, which helps create a stable and well functioning society. Anyways I was thinking about how the turmoil of the 60's-70's messed up this current generation. It should be noted that Bunke wasn't against change, he just felt that it should happen organicly and over time.

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2atlow8
12-16-2005

Rated 0 
The is there best song to date.

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bdw_x
12-18-2005

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I read in a magazine (I think it was Q or NME) that Billie Joe was aiming for a Bohemian Rhapsody-type song. All operatic and such.

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jefferson908
12-20-2005

Rated 0 
I really like the prrogression and the changes in mood

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brunettechick88
01-01-2006

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This is a really good song even though is a really long song. I also really like the video.

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