american idiot lyrics
"American Idiot" is Green Day's iconic punk rock anthem from their 2004 rock opera album of the same name, critiquing post-9/11 American media, politics, and conformity.
Full Lyrics
Here's the complete, verified lyrics to American Idiot as performed by Green Day, structured by sections for easy reading.
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 mindfuck America
Chorus
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
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
Verse 2
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
Chorus
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
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
Bridge
Don't wanna be an American idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information Age of hysteria
It's calling out to idiot America
Chorus (Outro)
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
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
Song Background
Released on September 21, 2004, as the lead single from the album American Idiot , the track was written amid the Iraq War era and George W. Bush's presidency. Billie Joe Armstrong described it as a response to media overload and political division, aiming to capture the chaos of the "information age." It topped charts worldwide, won Grammys, and remains a staple in punk rock history.
Cultural Impact
- Chart Success : Peaked at No. 61 on Billboard Hot 100; album sold over 8 million copies in the US.
- Recent Buzz : As of late 2024, Reddit threads like r/greenday jokingly debate lyrics with memes, showing its enduring fan love—over 235 upvotes on one viral post.
- Political Resonance : Still relevant in 2026 discussions on media influence, with covers and references in protests; an alt demo version surfaced recently with tweaks like "information age is full of static."
- Multi-Viewpoints : Critics hail it as anti-propaganda genius; some conservatives saw it as unpatriotic, while fans view it as timeless individualism.
"Don't wanna be an American idiot. One nation controlled by the media." – Core hook that sparked endless forum debates.
TL;DR : Punchy protest lyrics railing against media hysteria—full text above, born from 2000s turmoil but trending fresh in fan chats.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.