Song Story, chapter 1
"Calling Out to Idiot America"
Out of the countless things which dominate the world, politics stands on the top. Specifically American politics. So what can be said about it? Well... For one, "f*** Bush" or "We want our troops back"
I'm sure most of the readers agree with me. If not... I really don't know what to say but... Don't be too offended. No one ever spoke out against the government in full fledged power, no one ever took a stance...
Until last year.
Last year, an album was released which will make it's mark in music history (though it probably has already). The one, the only, American Idiot, which is clearly Green Day's most politically challenging album by far. One thing which stands out about the Album is the storyline of the whole CD. Many people call it a "Rock Opera" which is a fitting title. The album introduces 3 people- the Jesus of Suburbia (Otherwise refered to as JOS or the Son of Rage and Love), Saint Jimmy and Whatsername. Some people think JOS and Jimmy are the same person, others don't. Some think that Jimmy is the schitzophrenic personality of JOS, which is a very feesible argument. But some say that JOS just meets him. I have a few theories, but I won't say them here.
After hours of analyzing the lyrics of every song, and after much thought I decided to simply put the album into a story form. I had the whole storyline in my head, and the next step was to get it on paper. After a week, I finished part of Homecoming, which surprisingly worked out REALLY well. People have urged me to continue, so I will.
"This Is Our Lives On Holiday..."
The previous night was but a blur of distorted memories for J. He glanced at his car, which was now completely broken down, well beyond repair. What happened? He tried to piece the night back together in great frustration. A bar. The though flashed across his mind swiftly. Why would he go to a bar? J had always been around several alcholics, but he himself had never actually gotten drunk before. However, that fact was no longer true as the memories slowly returned to him. Yes, he did get drunk last night. Badly. Which explains why his car was totaled and completely useless. It all fit in, to his great dismay. "Why the f*** am I running away from my problems? I should go back..." Going back wasn't an option, since he had no where to go. He was just another outlaw rejected from mankind. He simply could not return home.
He looked at his surroundings. Nothing seemed familiar. It was all desert, and the road he stood on seemed to go on forever, leading to absolutely no where. If it did, it would probably be as bad as it was back there...
He then looked back at the car, finalizing his decision.
"No... I'm never coming back." He muttered, turning his back. He began to walk down the completely dead road, a road which would torment him so much in the future, and a road he would never forget...
And he was alone.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known... "
J felt complete isolation and solitude as he began his long and painful journey down the road. In fact, the road depicted a perfect hangover scene. Coincidentally, J was experiencing a hangover all at the same time from the previous night.
"Don't know where it goes but it's home to me and I walk alone... "
He had no idea of where he was, or where he was going for that matter. He didn't care either. He was just another stranded outcast, and isolated reject, just wanting to get away from everything. He belonged alone, away from civilization.
"I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Where the city sleeps... "
Everything appeared to be lifeless and dull. There was absolutely nothing green in sight, just a few dead trees and broken objects which scattered the sides of the boulevard.
"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me..."
There wasn't a trace of any human life in sigh either. It was like the road was created for him and him only- a road for the very one that no one cares about. He kicked a rock to the side. Why did everything seem so isolated here? It bothered him that life seemed to have ceased to exist.
"My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating... "
It didn't matter in the end. Life could care less about him, and he wasn't worth being cared about. He was pathetic and weak. No pride, no nothing. "Was I always like this?" He thought in despair. "Was I ever happy in my life? Is it a crime to laugh? I probably don't deserve to be happy either way... "
"Sometimes I wish someone out there would find me... "
As much as his confidence was eaten away, one trivial, almost nonexistent part of him believed there was a possibility of being accepted. One part of him wanted to be out of the darkness for once. He pushed it out of his mind instantly. "There isn't any f*** hope... " He muttered. It was just mocking him. The glimmer of hope was just an illusion. He would never be accepted by anyone else.
"I'm walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind... "
As he kept walking, it became harder and harder. Time seemed to go on for what seemed like years, and he wasn't getting anywhere. Something had to be wrong. He began to think that he was going insane. It would explain why he was so different. He was always different from everyone else.
"Check my vital signs, to know I'm still alive and I walk alone... "
"Maybe I'm dying... " he thought. "That would be nice... "
Death would be welcome compared to this hell. There probably was something after death. It didn't seem anything would happen after this road, considering it seems like it will never end. Night began to descend, darkening the desert scenery slowly. Fatigue began to become unbearable and sudden feelings of anger, depression, and confusion began to cloud his mind. Though they were distorted, it made no difference- they still were tormenting him, making every step more painful than the previous.
"Till then I walk alone... "
It was then he began to run. He just wanted the road to vanish completely. He couldn't face the solitude anymore, it was overwhelming. He began to stagger into the unknown, where the torture was just beginning for the Jesus of Suburbia...
Are We the Waiting
It was now completely dark, leaving J feeling blinded. He fell to the ground, to weak to walk any further, glancing into the night in despair. The only lights visible were the stars, glowing dimly in the far off distance. No civilization seemed to exist.
Then, he saw lights. City lights out of no where. He could make out the faint outlines of skyscrapers, seeming to touch the sky. But it really didn't mean anything. This city could be as bad as his home. It probably WAS no different. So why even try? He suddenly came to this conclusion- he was doomed. His destiny was nothing. He tried to escape the lies but he only ran away to discover he was lost. It was then that J began to slip away. He had no one, and he was no one.
"Maybe I'm the lie... "
His words echoed through his mind. The truth unveiled itself before him. The answer was right there. The Jesus of Suburbia never existed- he himself was the illusion, wishing to exist, wishing to be alive. But he never was. But he wasn't anguished by this. All of his regrets and despairs dissipated. So what would he do? It didn't matter anymore, because he didn't have any significance. He could rot here and it wouldn't make any difference. Everything was actually nothing, just a pile of dust.
J suddenly had a change of mind. "No... F*** that. I don't mean that. I'm NOT the lie... I... I can't be... " He struggled against the mocking thoughts, which seemed to be dominating his mind. "Or are they... But... No!"
He glanced at the city lights again, as if seeking sympathy. But they only stared back, emanating a reddish tint. He shuddered at the look. It made it look as if the city was burning down. Maybe there was a chance he could find salvation there...
But it made no difference. The negative thoughts returned once again at full power. He tried to fight back, but it was now too late. He felt them take over as he fell into blackness....
[ARE WE THE WAITING UNKNOWN!? ]
Out of the countless things which dominate the world, politics stands on the top. Specifically American politics. So what can be said about it? Well... For one, "f*** Bush" or "We want our troops back"
I'm sure most of the readers agree with me. If not... I really don't know what to say but... Don't be too offended. No one ever spoke out against the government in full fledged power, no one ever took a stance...
Until last year.
Last year, an album was released which will make it's mark in music history (though it probably has already). The one, the only, American Idiot, which is clearly Green Day's most politically challenging album by far. One thing which stands out about the Album is the storyline of the whole CD. Many people call it a "Rock Opera" which is a fitting title. The album introduces 3 people- the Jesus of Suburbia (Otherwise refered to as JOS or the Son of Rage and Love), Saint Jimmy and Whatsername. Some people think JOS and Jimmy are the same person, others don't. Some think that Jimmy is the schitzophrenic personality of JOS, which is a very feesible argument. But some say that JOS just meets him. I have a few theories, but I won't say them here.
After hours of analyzing the lyrics of every song, and after much thought I decided to simply put the album into a story form. I had the whole storyline in my head, and the next step was to get it on paper. After a week, I finished part of Homecoming, which surprisingly worked out REALLY well. People have urged me to continue, so I will.
"This Is Our Lives On Holiday..."
The previous night was but a blur of distorted memories for J. He glanced at his car, which was now completely broken down, well beyond repair. What happened? He tried to piece the night back together in great frustration. A bar. The though flashed across his mind swiftly. Why would he go to a bar? J had always been around several alcholics, but he himself had never actually gotten drunk before. However, that fact was no longer true as the memories slowly returned to him. Yes, he did get drunk last night. Badly. Which explains why his car was totaled and completely useless. It all fit in, to his great dismay. "Why the f*** am I running away from my problems? I should go back..." Going back wasn't an option, since he had no where to go. He was just another outlaw rejected from mankind. He simply could not return home.
He looked at his surroundings. Nothing seemed familiar. It was all desert, and the road he stood on seemed to go on forever, leading to absolutely no where. If it did, it would probably be as bad as it was back there...
He then looked back at the car, finalizing his decision.
"No... I'm never coming back." He muttered, turning his back. He began to walk down the completely dead road, a road which would torment him so much in the future, and a road he would never forget...
And he was alone.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known... "
J felt complete isolation and solitude as he began his long and painful journey down the road. In fact, the road depicted a perfect hangover scene. Coincidentally, J was experiencing a hangover all at the same time from the previous night.
"Don't know where it goes but it's home to me and I walk alone... "
He had no idea of where he was, or where he was going for that matter. He didn't care either. He was just another stranded outcast, and isolated reject, just wanting to get away from everything. He belonged alone, away from civilization.
"I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Where the city sleeps... "
Everything appeared to be lifeless and dull. There was absolutely nothing green in sight, just a few dead trees and broken objects which scattered the sides of the boulevard.
"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me..."
There wasn't a trace of any human life in sigh either. It was like the road was created for him and him only- a road for the very one that no one cares about. He kicked a rock to the side. Why did everything seem so isolated here? It bothered him that life seemed to have ceased to exist.
"My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating... "
It didn't matter in the end. Life could care less about him, and he wasn't worth being cared about. He was pathetic and weak. No pride, no nothing. "Was I always like this?" He thought in despair. "Was I ever happy in my life? Is it a crime to laugh? I probably don't deserve to be happy either way... "
"Sometimes I wish someone out there would find me... "
As much as his confidence was eaten away, one trivial, almost nonexistent part of him believed there was a possibility of being accepted. One part of him wanted to be out of the darkness for once. He pushed it out of his mind instantly. "There isn't any f*** hope... " He muttered. It was just mocking him. The glimmer of hope was just an illusion. He would never be accepted by anyone else.
"I'm walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind... "
As he kept walking, it became harder and harder. Time seemed to go on for what seemed like years, and he wasn't getting anywhere. Something had to be wrong. He began to think that he was going insane. It would explain why he was so different. He was always different from everyone else.
"Check my vital signs, to know I'm still alive and I walk alone... "
"Maybe I'm dying... " he thought. "That would be nice... "
Death would be welcome compared to this hell. There probably was something after death. It didn't seem anything would happen after this road, considering it seems like it will never end. Night began to descend, darkening the desert scenery slowly. Fatigue began to become unbearable and sudden feelings of anger, depression, and confusion began to cloud his mind. Though they were distorted, it made no difference- they still were tormenting him, making every step more painful than the previous.
"Till then I walk alone... "
It was then he began to run. He just wanted the road to vanish completely. He couldn't face the solitude anymore, it was overwhelming. He began to stagger into the unknown, where the torture was just beginning for the Jesus of Suburbia...
Are We the Waiting
It was now completely dark, leaving J feeling blinded. He fell to the ground, to weak to walk any further, glancing into the night in despair. The only lights visible were the stars, glowing dimly in the far off distance. No civilization seemed to exist.
Then, he saw lights. City lights out of no where. He could make out the faint outlines of skyscrapers, seeming to touch the sky. But it really didn't mean anything. This city could be as bad as his home. It probably WAS no different. So why even try? He suddenly came to this conclusion- he was doomed. His destiny was nothing. He tried to escape the lies but he only ran away to discover he was lost. It was then that J began to slip away. He had no one, and he was no one.
"Maybe I'm the lie... "
His words echoed through his mind. The truth unveiled itself before him. The answer was right there. The Jesus of Suburbia never existed- he himself was the illusion, wishing to exist, wishing to be alive. But he never was. But he wasn't anguished by this. All of his regrets and despairs dissipated. So what would he do? It didn't matter anymore, because he didn't have any significance. He could rot here and it wouldn't make any difference. Everything was actually nothing, just a pile of dust.
J suddenly had a change of mind. "No... F*** that. I don't mean that. I'm NOT the lie... I... I can't be... " He struggled against the mocking thoughts, which seemed to be dominating his mind. "Or are they... But... No!"
He glanced at the city lights again, as if seeking sympathy. But they only stared back, emanating a reddish tint. He shuddered at the look. It made it look as if the city was burning down. Maybe there was a chance he could find salvation there...
But it made no difference. The negative thoughts returned once again at full power. He tried to fight back, but it was now too late. He felt them take over as he fell into blackness....
[ARE WE THE WAITING UNKNOWN!? ]
