(Uuuh, uuuh uuuh uuh)
Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell
A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled
The last one born and the first one to run
My town was blind from refinery sun

My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline

(Uuuh, uuuh uuuh uuh)

I was made of poison and blood
Condemnation is what I understood
Video games of the Tower's fall
Homeland security could kill us all

My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline

We are the class of the class of thirteen
Born in the era of humility
We are the desperate in the decline
Raised by the bastards of 1969

My name is no one, the long lost son
Born on the fourth of July
Raised in the era of heroes and cons
That left me for dead or alive
I am a nation, a worker of pride (pride)
My debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands and the means to an end
It's all that I have to show

(Hey)
(Hey)
(Hey)

I swallowed my pride and I choked on my faith
I've given my heart and my soul
I've broken my fingers and lied through my teeth
The pillar of damage control

I've been to the edge and I've thrown the bouquet (hey)
Of flowers left over the grave
I sat in the waiting room, wasting my time
And waiting for judgement day

Praise liberty
The freedom to obey
It's the song that strangles me
Well, don't cross the line

Oh, dream, America, dream
I can't even sleep
From the light's early dawn
Oh, scream, America, scream
Believe what you see
From heroes and cons


Lyrics submitted by bfg1024

21st Century Breakdown Lyrics as written by Frank E. Michael Pritchard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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21st Century Breakdown song meanings
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53 Comments

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  • -2
    My Opinion

    Sorry... this CD sounds like the same old tune.

    I swear, this band is so absurd. I find it funny how they preach against america, about corrupt polotics and the EVIIIIILLLLLL of war-- and how the people with power do nothing but feed on the demoralization and fear of the masses. This entire CD mocks americans as idiots and fools, and insults us yet kids these days eat it up like candy. It's really something.

    But the most absurd thing is how the band is entirely made up of hypocrits. The people with the power and the money who are able to make changes-- BIG changes-- do nothing but make stupid CDs to induce mass paranoia. When was the last time Greenday wrote to congress or donated money to a choral program? The regular joe blow can't speak up because he can't LOSE his job-- most americans live paycheck to paycheck, work to pay of their student loans and try, TRY, to support their families on the crap wages they earn on their 9-5. What does green day do? Make their shitty songs, with their uneblievably dull musical structure and dynamics, take your money from your albums and buys nice houses and cars. What do they do?

    They make me sick and this entire CD is nothing but a joke. Feel free to disagree-- it just shows how uneducated children are and how impressionable our teenage and young adult youth, truly is.

    Mink4ion May 22, 2009   Link

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