Green Day – Are We the Waiting?

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Starry nights city lights
Coming down over me
Skyscrapers and stargazers
In my head
Are we we are, are we we are
The waiting unknown
This dirty town was burning down in my dreams
Lost and found, city bound in my dreams

And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting

Forget me nots and second thoughts
Live in isolation
Heads or tails and fairy tales in my mind
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting unknown
The rage and love, the story of my life
The Jesus of suburbia is a lie

And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
And screaming
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
Ohh
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting
Ohh
Are we we are, are we we are the waiting

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Lyrics submitted by animated456

Track duration: 05:38

"Are We the Waiting" as written by Billie Joe/wright Iii Armstrong

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Are We the Waiting? song meanings
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106 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:I love this song. I saw this song as someone who has so much dreams for themself but the current place or state their in isn't where their heart is. While waiting for that dream or goal to happen they start to realize that things are not what it appears to be, almost as if in their head in looks better than reality. I also felt this song could be about those who are oppressed or suffering and are waiting, when things will get better.
    Flag lamehelplineon March 12, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the line "forget me nots and second thoughts live in isolation."
    So sad and lonely.

    I thought it meant, the line "Jesus of suburbia is a lie" to mean what he'd been preached to about really isn't the Truth and therefore he feels the person he Is is a lie. So he does what we all (not all, I know, but a lot of us) do, experiment with life and everything in it including his identity, hence St Jimmy.

    I was lucky enough to see this tour in New Jersey for their first stadium show after London and then the following week in Connecticut at the civic center. My mind was blown. I'd seen them three times prior but the energy of the crowds was just amazing and totally palpable. This is one of the best conception albums, imho second only to Deltron 3030.
    Flag someblonderedheadon July 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I always thought the American Idiot told the story with the order of which the songs were in... Like I thought Are The Waiting stood for someone aka "Jesus Of Suburbia" to save the people in need of help. And when the line "Jesus Of Suburbia is a lie" Came in, I thought it meant that the needy had decided that the story of Jesus Of Suburbia wasn't true. And after the song "St. Jimmy" came in it was some fraud name St Jimmy who claimed he had the ability to save the ones who needed help. And then came Jesus Of Suburbia who tries to get rid of Jimmy. And the needy believed in Jimmy and didn't care for JOS. So JOS has to find a way to prove that Jimmy is a fraud, and he somehow pulls it off and if you remember in the song Homecoming when the line "Jimmy died today. We blew his brains out into the bay." came in I thought of it as JOS had finally proved to the people that Jimmy was a fraud and had killed him. So basically I thought of it as a war between Jesus Of Suburbia and St. Jimmy. This is just my opinion though.
    Flag ACM34on August 23, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:*continuation SORRY IT CUT ME OFF
    Billie Joe Armstrong wrote the album to be told as a "rock opera", and the songs tell a story.
    Flag whateverrron August 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:FYI there's a Broadway musical based on this album...
    The main character is Johnny (aka Jesus of Suburbia). His friend, Tunny, is walking through the streets at night and sees an ad for the army, and realizes that nothing excites him anymore, so he decides to enlist. He has also become increasingly apathetic, which starts "Are We The Waiting." He realizes that the concept of "Jesus of Suburbia" (see lyrics) is useless, which, I believe, explains "Jesus of Suburbia is a lie".
    Flag whateverrron August 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Lol, 'puddrulesall' I totally agree with you. It'd be so much easier if we could just atleast like send Green Day and letter, get them to explain the whole album to us and then post in on the internet so everybody knows lol!
    You guys are silly, I'm pretty sure St. Jimmy IS the Jesus of Suburbia, they say it like 50 times in the album. Or maybe... you know what i Don't even know, this is such a confusing story. They should just make it into a movie a freakin movie.
    Flag lovelyalex3on December 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wow i love this song ! it sounds great with the rest of the album !
    Flag iluvbmth123on December 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:St. jimmy and jesus of suburbia are the same person ... in my opinion I think T he jesus of suburbia is a troubled kid that we hear about in the song jesus of suburbia / city of the damned / i dont care .....ect and St. Jimmy is the other side of the Jesus of suburbia ... the side that everyone is talking about and fears ...i think everyone has thier own interpertation of what the album is about .. the more you listen to it you begin to develop a different prospective and u figure out more about the album that you didnt realize before..... all and all this is an amazing green day album ... Green day is amazingly talented ...I think the reason why this album isnt that obvious is because its for you to figure out and for you to put your story to it
    --- just some of my opinions ")
    Flag musicgal2020on September 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I LOVE THIS SONG ! green day is my favorite band !!!<3333333333333333
    Flag musicgal2020on September 07, 2009   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:Dude, I can't believe I used to like Green Day. They sold out a loooong time ago.
    I fucking hate sell-outs.
    Flag robbierampageeeon March 24, 2009   Link

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