Lluis+C

=//** 21st Centuary Breakdown, 21st Centuary Breakdown (2009), Green Day **//= media type="youtube" key="HZmebemgggg?fs=1" height="461" width="768" align="center"

Summary 1. Introduction 2. What is the song about? 3. What do the lyrics say? 4. Musical influences 5. Activity

__ LYRICS __
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 am losing what's left of my mind To the 20th century deadline

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

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 am losing what's left of my mind To the 20th century deadline

We are the class of, the class of 13 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 4th 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 My debt to the status quo

The scars on my hands And the means to an end Is all that I have to show

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 Of flowers left over from the grave I sat in the waiting room Wasting my time And waiting for Judgment Day

I praise liberty The "freedom to obey" Is 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

**Introduction** 21st Centuary Breakdown is the eighth studio album of Green Day. This album tells a love story between two lovers ( Cristian and Gloria). The album is divided in three acts (Heroes and Cons, Charlatans and Saints and Horseshoes and Handgrenades). The song is the first one of Heroes and Cons so it's the song that starts the story. It is based on the personal life of the composer (Billie Joe Armstrong) and it is influenced by external musicians. Although the song 21st Century Breakdown has the name of the album it's not the most popular song in it. The song was released as a single in December 2009. I've chosen this song because I really like the lyrics, there is an enormous amount of work put in every line and it has a great meaning. In addition I think the rhythm, the voice and the guitar are sensational.



**What is the song about?**   This song talks about growing up in a working class family, also about the anger towards a generation. Later, it becomes a barrage of feelings after fighting against an oppresive and corrupt society. The first halve of the song is a very strong criticism to America, it´s society, politicians and culture. There are used very negative statements, taking out the worst part of America. After, it gives out all it´s feelings, it could be interpreted as a rendition to fighting against injustice in American society but the song finishes with hope the things will get better.

**What do the lyrics say?** The songs starts with an attack to America " Born into Nixon I was raised in hell", Nixon here represents America, the reality of it, the corrupt, capitalist and selfish America. When it says "My generation is zero" it shows the repugnancy to a generation that didn't do the things the right way. "20th century deadline" could mean that we've passed the deadline and we haven't got better so we are being late. The next stanza starts with "I was made from poison and blood" it means that since he was born he was destined to have a bad life. The stanza ends with " Homeland security could kill us all" this is a very powerful attack because the homeland security for the USA is the first priority and here is saying you could kill everyone in order to save lives, this shows the kind of political leaders there are in America and their governance. The song continues with negativeness against the generation "class of thirteen" and "raised by the bastards of 1969", here he expresses the bad luck of his generation, which isn't fair. Next he says he has done the things well "I am a nation, a worker of pride" as if the nation should take example of him that although having things difficult he's trying its best. Then he gives out his feelings "I swallowed my pride (...)" like if he was fed up and surrendered. The next stanza shows the sadness of death because someone close to him has died. In the last three stanzas the tone and rhythm of the song changes, he expresses his hope "I praise liberty the freedom to obey" he is now more optimistic. In the end of the song it says "America Dream" as if it was possible to progress but it is also necessary to suffer " America Scream".

**Musical Influences** The rhythm is influenced by the Queen's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" because they both follow a series of things in common, the third line of the poem is a clear reference to Bruce Springsteen and its "Born to run". There is also a reference to John Lennon's song "Working class Hero". Finally the guitar usage is very similar to the one that the member of U2 The Edge uses.



__ Activity __
Born into ....., I was raised in hell A welfare child where the teamsters .......last one born, the first one to run, My town was blind by ........ sun

My generation is ..... 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 .... century deadline

I was made of ........ and blood Condemnation is what I understood From Mexico to the Berlin Wall .......... security could kill us all ...