Identify song using your Microphone
Lyrics
Meaning
Chords

Artist: Greenday
Track: American Idiot

Lyrics
Don't wanna be an American idiot
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind-fuck America

Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue

Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
Now everybody do the propaganda
And sing along to the age of paranoia

Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue

Don't wanna be an American idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information Age of hysteria
It's calling out to idiot America

Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
Green Day – American Idiot
Starting off the album with a bang, “American Idiot” is a scathing takedown of American culture in the years following 9/11. Released as the first single from the album, it has
Green Day – American Idiot (Radio Edit)
[Verse 1] / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new media / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind [____] America / [Chorus
"Weird Al" Yankovic – Canadian Idiot
A take off on Green Day’s “American Idiot,” both songs make fun of Americans. Weird Al sings about the stereotypical Canadian, and makes fun of how Americans view them—too nice, a
Green Day (Ft. Christina Sajous, The Company, John Gallagher Jr., Mary Faber, Michael Esper, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Stark Sands & Tony Vincent) – American Idiot (Broadway)
The youths in this musical are frustrated with their less-than-satisfactory suburban lives in Jingletown, U.S.A. They’re angry with the media that’s been shoved down their throats
Green Day (Ft. Christina Sajous, Mary Faber & Rebecca Naomi Jones) – Letterbomb (Broadway)
After growing tired of Johnny’s behaviour and unwillingness to seek help over his addiction, Whatshername delivers some harsh truths to the ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ before leaving him
MDMA – American Idiot
[Intro] / Indigo / Up, up, up, let's fly away / Up, up, up, let's fly away (Yeah) / Let's fly away / [Chorus] / Up, up, up, let's fly away (Fly) / I feel like Lenny Kravitz, the
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, Stark Sands, Theo Stockman & Tony Vincent) – Homecoming (Broadway)
The penultimate musical number of American Idiot sees Johnny take action against his addiction and cast away his alter ego St. Jimmy. Will struggles with his loneliness and
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands & Theo Stockman) – Holiday (Broadway)
Johnny and Tunny are finally leaving Jingletown and are headed to the city.
5 Seconds of Summer – American Idiot
5 Seconds of Summer covered “American Idiot” originally by Green Day for Kerrang’s compilation album Kerrang! Does Green Day’s American Idiot, an album containing various bands
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr.) – When It's Time (Broadway)
This song is about realizing that you are falling in love someone, and when is the right time to tell them you love them. It is a heartfelt song that Johnny sings to a sleeping
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper & Tony Vincent) – Know Your Enemy (Broadway)
[ST. JIMMY] / Do you know the enemy? / Do you know your enemy? / Well, gotta know the enemy, wa-hey! / Do you know the enemy? / Do you know your enemy? / Well, gotta know the enemy
Green Day (Ft. Green Day, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, The Original Broadway Cast of American Idiot, Stark Sands & Tony Vincent) – American Idiot (Broadway) - Monologue Transcripts
American Idiot / February 2nd / [JOHNNY] / February 2nd / I jerked off into oblivion last night and today I forgot to shower… again / Oh well. It doesn’t matter, because I’m just
Green Day – American Idiot - Live at Milton Keynes National Bowl, Milton Keynes, England, 6/18/05
[Verse 1] / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new mania / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind-fuck America (Alright!) / [
Green Day (Ft. Alysha Umphress, Mary Faber, Michael Esper & Theo Stockman) – Too Much Too Soon (Broadway)
[VERSE 1: THEO] / She's always living like she's running out of time / Too much just ain't enough to keep her satisfied / Her plastic card is filled with nothing comes to mind / It
Green Day (Ft. Michael Esper & Stark Sands) – Give Me Novacaine (Broadway)
[WILL] / Take away the sensation inside / Bittersweet migraine in my head / It's like a throbbing toothache of the mind / I can't take this feeling anymore / Drain the pressure
Vitamin String Quartet – American Idiot
Green Day - American Idiot / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation that under the new media / And can you hear the sound of hysteria / The subliminal mindfuck
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr. & Rebecca Naomi Jones) – 21 Guns (Broadway)
“21 guns” sees Whatshername urge Johnny not to give up on his dreams and fall further into addiction. The Extraordinary Girl helps Tunny come to terms with his war injuries and
Green Day – She's a Rebel
“She’s a Rebel” introduces a new character in the American Idiot story arc: Whatsername. Here, Jesus of Suburbia meets this free-spirited, rebellious woman who he falls in love
Green Day – Jesus of Suburbia
“American Idiot” introduced the concept of an post 9/11 America in Green Day’s eyes, and this song present’s the album’s main character Jesus of Suburbia. Jesus of Suburbia is a
Robyn Adele Anderson – American Idiot
[Verse 1] / Don't want to be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new mania / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind fuck America / [Hook
Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” is the only song on American Idiot that has no direct connection to the album’s story arc. Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this
Green Day – American Idiot(Live At Montreal,QC)
[Verse 1: Crowd] / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new media / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind-fuck America / [Chorus
Green Day – Last of the American Girls/She's a Rebel
[JOHNNY] / She puts her makeup on like graffiti on the walls of the heartland / She's got her little book of conspiracies right in her hand / She is paranoid, endangered species
Green Day (Ft. Ben Thompson, Chase Peacock, Joshua Henry & Stark Sands) – Before the Lobotomy (Broadway)
[TUNNY] / Dreaming / I was only dreaming / Of another place and time / Where my family's from / [CHASE] / Singing / I can hear them singing / When the rain has washed away / All
Green Day (Ft. Mary Faber, Rebecca Naomi Jones & Tony Vincent) – Last Night on Earth (Broadway)
[ST. JIMMY] / I text a postcard sent to you, did it go through? / Sending all my love to you / You are the moonlight of my life every night / Giving all my love to you / [
Green Day (Ft. Alysha Umphress, Christina Sajous, Joshua Henry, Leslie McDonel, Libby Winters & Mary Faber) – Favorite Son (Broadway)
Tunny is unsure of what to do or where to go in the city, so he turns on the T.V. and sees this ad for the army.
Green Day – American Idiot (Live In Japan)
A live version of “American Idiot” recorded live at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2005. This was release on the second disc of the deluxe edition of the Japanese
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper & Stark Sands) – Wake Me Up When September Ends (Broadway)
[JOHNNY] / Summer has come and passed / The innocent can never last / Wake me up when September ends / Like my father's come to pass / Seven years has gone so fast / Wake me up
Green Day (Ft. Christina Sajous & Stark Sands) – Extraordinary Girl (Broadway)
[TUNNY] / She's an extraordinary girl / In an ordinary world / And she can't seem to get away / [EXTRAORDINARY GIRL] / He lacks the courage in his mind / Like a child left behind
Green Day – American Idiot Covers
See all of “American Idiot” by Green Day’s covers
The Interrupters – American Idiot
[Verse 1] / Don't want to be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new mania / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind fuck America / [Chorus
Green Day (Ft. Declan Bennett, John Gallagher Jr., Miguel Cervantes, Theo Stockman & Tony Vincent) – St. Jimmy (Broadway)
Johnny is upset with Tunny and, left alone, turns to drugs, which are provided to him by St. Jimmy, the embodiment of everything Johnny wants to be.
Green Day (Ft. John Gallagher Jr., Rebecca Naomi Jones & Stark Sands) – Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Broadway)
Johnny is wandering the city and longing for a woman, Whatsername, who he sees in an apartment window.
Patty Walters – American Idiot
[Verse 1] / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under the new media / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind-fuck America / [Chorus
​boyband – ‎american idiot!
[Verse 1] / Don't wanna be an American idiot / Don't want a nation under new media / And can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind-fuck America / [Chorus] / Welcome
View 32 More →
Genius Albums
American Idiot by Green Day
For their fifth major label studio album, Green Day decided to go deeper in their themes, aiming for a punk rock opera reminiscent of The Who once the song “Homecoming” wound up as
American Idiot (Deluxe Edition) by Green Day
After the grand success that was Green Day’s American Idiot, the band released a deluxe version of the politically-charged punk-rock opera. This release, besides adding three new
American Idiot (iTunes Deluxe Edition) by Green Day
Get all the lyrics to songs on American Idiot (iTunes Deluxe Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
American Idiot (Japanese Edition) by Green Day
Japan, being an important country for Green Day in Asia, got a special release of their 2004 masterpiece American Idiot. The album had the exact same tracklist as the original with
American Idiot - Single by Green Day
Get all the lyrics to songs on American Idiot - Single and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Kerrang! Does Green Day's American Idiot by Various Artists
Kerrang! Does Green Day’s American Idiot is a cover album released in 2014 by the rock magazine Kerrang! It is a compilation of covers of all the songs from Green Day’s 2004 album
American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording by Green Day
American Idiot is a Tony Award-winning musical based on the 2004 concept album of the same name by the American punk-rock band Green Day. American Idiot explores the themes of
American Idiot (Edited Version) by Green Day
Get all the lyrics to songs on American Idiot (Edited Version) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Oh Love EP by Green Day
After the release of “Oh Love” as the lead single for ¡Uno!, the band announced on July 20, 2012, that the song will also take part of an EP of the same name. The EP was released
Saviors by Green Day
Saviors is Green Day’s fourteenth studio album succeeding Father Of All Motherfuckers, released on January 19th, 2024. Via their media outlets, Saviors is an invitation into Green
View 7 More →
AZ Lyrics
Green Day - American Idiot Lyrics
Green Day "American Idiot": Don't wanna be an American idiot Don't want a nation under the new media And can you hear the sound...
MusixMatch Lyrics
Green Day - American Idiot lyrics
Lyrics for American Idiot by Green Day. Don′t wanna be an American idiot Don't want a nation under the new media And can you hear ...
Green Day - American Idiot (feat. John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, Stark Sands, Mary Faber & Company) Lyrics
Lyrics for American Idiot (feat. John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, Stark Sands, Mary Faber & Company) by Green Day. Don′t wanna be an American idiot Don't want a nation under the new media And can you hear ...
Green Day - 21 Guns (feat. The Cast of "American Idiot") lyrics
Lyrics for 21 Guns (feat. The Cast of "American Idiot") by Green Day. Do you know what′s worth fighting for? When it's not worth dying for? Does it take your br...
Genius Q&A
Q:Who wrote “American Idiot” by Green Day?
“American Idiot” by Green Day was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool.