Jesus of Suburbia

In this song, Green Day detail the life and times of a so-called Jesus of Suburbia, the fictional protagonist of American Idiot. His real name is Jimmy, which is revealed in the extended music video when a girl calls him that and in the cut version of the video when he writes "Saint Jimmy" on a bathroom stall. The name "Jesus of Suburbia" may just mean he is the savior of the rebels in suburbia. He is a resident of Jingletown, USA, and the son of a divorced mother. His younger years were spent on a "steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin", watching television, using drugs, and loitering in front of convenience stores. Although everything seems alright at first, Jimmy feels trapped and bored in Jingletown and longs for escape, as he narrates in "City of the Damned". In a coming of age move, Jimmy leaves Jingletown by the end of the song to explore The City. His exploits in The City are not described in this song, but are described in greater detail in the rest of the album, especially in "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Nevertheless, to describe the essence of the personality of Jimmy, Green Day proclaims, "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..."

[Part I: Jesus of Suburbia] [Verse 1: Billie Joe Armstrong] I'm the son of rage and love The Jesus of Suburbia 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 'Least the ones I got away with [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong] And there's nothin' wrong with me This is how I'm supposed to be In a land of make-believe That don't believe in me [Verse 2: Billie Joe Armstrong] Get my television fix Sitting on my crucifix The livin' room, or 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 Doin' someone else's cocaine [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong] And there's nothin' wrong with me This is how I'm supposed to be In a land of make-believe That don't believe in me [Drum Solo] [Part II: City of the Damned] [Verse 3: Billie Joe Armstrong] At the center of the Earth, in the parkin' lot Of the 7-Eleven where I was taught The motto was just a lie It says "home is where your heart is," but what a shame 'Cause everyone's heart doesn't beat the same It's beating out of time [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong & Mike Dirnt] City of the dead (Hey! Hey!) At the end of another lost highway (Hey! Hey!) Signs misleading to nowhere City of the damned (Hey! Hey!) Lost children with dirty faces today (Hey! Hey!) No one really seems to care [Verse 4: Billie Joe Armstrong] I read the graffiti in the bathroom stall Like the holy scriptures of the 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 [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong & Mike Dirnt] City of the dead (Hey! Hey!) At the end of another lost highway (Hey! Hey!) Signs misleading to nowhere City of the damned (Hey! Hey!) Lost children with dirty faces today (Hey! Hey!) No one really seems to care (Hey!) [Part III: I Don't Care] [Guitar Solo] [Intro: Billie Joe Armstrong] I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't care I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't care I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't care I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't I don't care if you don't care I don't care! [Verse 5: Billie Joe Armstrong] Everyone's so full of shit Born and raised by hypocrites Hearts recycled, but never saved From the cradles 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! [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong] Land of make-believe And it don't believe in me Land of make-believe (Said it's, it's another lie!) And I don't believe [Outro: Billie Joe Armstrong] And I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo) I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo) I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo) I don't care! (Whoo, whoo, whoo) I don't care! [Part IV: Dearly Beloved] [Verse 6: Billie Joe Armstrong] Dearly beloved, are you listening? I can't remember a word that you were sayin' Are we demented, or am I disturbed? The space that's in between insane and insecure [Refrain: Billie Joe Armstrong] Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh-ooh [Verse 7: Billie Joe Armstrong] (Ooh, ooh) Oh therapy, can you please fill the void? (Ooh, ooh-ooh) Am I retarded, or am I just overjoyed? (Ooh, ooh) Nobody's perfect, and I stand accused (Ooh, ooh-ooh) For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse [Refrain: Billie Joe Armstrong] Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh-ooh [Part V: Tales of Another Broken Home] [Bass Solo] [Verse 8: Billie Joe Armstrong] To live and not to breathe Is to die in tragedy To run, to run away To find what you believe [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong] And I leave behind This hurricane of fuckin' lies [Verse 9: Billie Joe Armstrong] I lost my faith to this This town that don't exist So I run, I run away To the lights of masochists [Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong] And I leave behind This hurricane of fuckin' lies And I've walked this line A million and one fuckin' times But not this time! [Guitar Solo] [Bridge: Billie Joe Armstrong] I don't feel any shame, I won't apologize When there ain't nowhere you can go Runnin' away from pain when you've been victimized Tales from another broken [Outro: Billie Joe Armstrong] Home You're leavin' You're leavin' You're leavin' Are you leavin' home?