Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Green Day
Performer
Billie Joe Armstrong
Guitar
Mike Dirnt
Background Vocals
Tré Cool
Drums
Jason Freese
Piano
Patrick Warren
String Conductor
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Billie Joe Armstrong
Songwriter
Frank Edwin Wright III
Composer
Michael Pritchard
Composer
Tom Kitt
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Green Day
Producer
Billie Joe Armstrong
Producer
Mike Dirnt
Producer
Tré Cool
Producer
Andrew Schubert
Additional Engineer
Brad Kobylczak
Additional Engineer
Brad Townsend
Additional Engineer
Joe McGrath
Additional Engineer
Keith Armstrong
Assistant Engineer
Nik Karpen
Assistant Engineer
Wesley Seidman
Assistant Engineer
Chris Dugan
Engineer
Ted Jensen
Mastering Engineer
Chris Lord-Alge
Mixing Engineer
Butch Vig
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
[Verse 3]
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
[Verse 4]
I was made of poison and blood
Condemnation is what I understood
Video games to the tower's fall
Homeland Security could kill us all
[Verse 5]
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
[Verse 6]
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
[Verse 7]
We are the cries of the Class of 13
Born in the era of humility
We are the desperate in the decline
Raised by the bastards of 1969
[Verse 8]
My name is no one, the long lost son
Born on the 4th of July
Raised in an era of heroes and cons
That left me for dead or alive
[Verse 9]
I am a nation, a worker of pride (No)
My debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands and a means to an end
Is all that I have to show
[Verse 10]
(Hey)
(Hey)
(Hey)
[Verse 11]
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
[Verse 12]
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
[Verse 13]
I praise liberty
The "freedom to obey"
Is the song that strangles me
Well, don't cross the line
[Verse 14]
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?
Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Frank E. Wright III, Michael Ryan Pritchard