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SoTW: American Eulogy


stan the harmonica man

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American Eulogy is the 17th song on 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day's 8th Studio Album. The song was written by Green Day. This song is very noteworthy for a few reasons. One being that it's the only Green Day song that uses the "N" word. Also, it's a 2 part song (Part 1 Mass Hysteria, Part 2 Modern World, with Mike Dirnt singing on the second part), and it leads into the conclusion of the 21st Century Breakdown album, right before See The Light.
The band hasn't given much detail about American Eulogy and what its meaning is. I think that the song is about how the world that Christian and Gloria are living in (following in the storyline of 21st Century Breakdown). How their society is falling apart with everybody reaching breaking points in there lives, therefore yelling "Mass Hysteria" and "I don't wanna live in the modern world" because things aren't how they used to be, and they can't change them now, because it's too late. I wanted to write the OP for American Eulogy because it's one of my favorite Green Day songs.
In writing about American Eulogy for the song of the week, I discovered something I hadn't noticed before when looking at the lyrics of this song closely in my 21st Century Breakdown Liner notes.
Take a look at this line my liner notes has "I'm a fugitive son In the era of dissent".
Instead of "I'm a class of 13 In the era of dissent". (Which is what is sung on the cd)
Right here, I find this song all the more interesting. The lyric is different in the liner notes than what is sung on the album. (The switch in the words must have been a last second decision just like Drama Queen ending up on Tre and Stray Heart going on Dos) Ever since I noticed this recently, it makes me wonder if there was another version of this song instead of the one on the album.
I believe American Eulogy shows off Green Day very well. For instance, if I were to introduce somebody to Green Day, this would be the first song I would show them, because it shows that they are a very unique band with a long history of music, and it shows where they were at the time of when this song was written. I think this song really opened up a new dimension to Green Day's music. By this, I mean the fact that it's a 2 part song, and they hadn't done anything like this before. Furthermore, that Mike sings the second verse and it keeps that option open for fans to speculate and wonder for future albums, the following questions. Will Mike sing on the next record? Will they make another 2 part song? Along with all the other questions that hover with the anticipation of the release of a new Green Day record.
American Eulogy Lyrics
Sing us a song of the century, it sings like American Eulogy, the dawn of my love and conspiracy, forgotten hope and the class of '13. Tell me a story into that goodnight, sing us a song for me.
Mass Hysteria- Part A
Red Alert is the color of panic, elevated to the point of static
Beating into the hearts of the fanatics and the neighborhoods a loaded gun
Idle thought lead to full-throttle screaming, and the the welfare is Asphyxiating
Mass confusion is all the new rage and it's creating a feeding ground, for the bottom feeders of hysteria
True sounds of Maniacal of laughter, and the deafmute is misleading the choir
The punchline is a natural disaster and it's sung by the unemployed
Fight fire with a riot, the war is hanging on a wire, because the martyr is a liar when he said "it's just a bunch of niggers throwing gas into the hysteria"
There's a disturbance on the ocean side, they tapped into the reserve
The static response is so unclear now, mayday this is not a test
As the neighborhood burns
America is falling
Vigilantes warning us
Calling Christian and Gloria
Modern World- Part B
I'm a class of 13 in the era of dissent, a hostage of the soul on a strike to pay the rent
The last of the rebels without a common ground, I'm gonna light a fire into the underground
I don't want to live in the modern world
I am a nation without bureaucratic ties Deny the allegation as it's written
I want to take a ride to the great divide
Beyond the "Up to date" and the neo-gentrified
The High definition for the low resident
Where the value of your mind is not held in contempt
I can hear the sound of a beating heart
That bleeds beyong a system that's falling apart
With money to burn on a minimum wage, I don't give a shit about the modern age
I don't want to live in the modern world
Mass Hysteria
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I read somewhere that Billie wrote the song while he was in New Orlean's with his family, helping to rebuild houses after Hurricane Katrina. There's also a meaning behind the "N" word in the song as well, it was a term in a quote that was being talked about during the lack of help for the victims of Katrina. Besides that, "American Eulogy" is one of my favorite song's off of "21st Century Breakdown", the lyrics are very well written, and it's awesome to hear Dirnt take the lead vocals for the second part of the song!

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its one of my top favorites.. i always feel a wonderful strange sensation when billie sings "There's a disturbance on the ocean side, they tapped into the reserve The static response is so unclear now, mayday this is not a test As the neighborhood burns America is falling"

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I was just spamming twitter about how much I love this song. Mike's part really kicks ass! Also, the guitar solo is incredibly good, despite being only 15 seconds long :)

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I really like this song and i love when Mike sings, good choice!!! :thumbsup:

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This was the first song i love of 21st Century Breakdown. I loved it since i first listened..it has all this energy and its lyrically amazing. I love how fast it is and the fact that Mike sings is totally great! I love this song and love the live version!! However, it take me long time to learn the lyrics and the pronunciation because it is really fast.

Anyways, i love it and i would like to hear it live more..that would be amazing! :toocool:

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One of the best songs ever. And to me it took a while to realize that Mike sings the second part. :lol:

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I'm a huge 21st fan but dont like this or horseshoes

I think this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions Thread :P

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I wanted to write for this song, but I am sure I'd not have done a better job than you. Very well written!

I love this song cos of its energy and music and mainly cos Mike sings the second part. Its a great song and a good conclusion to the storyline of 21stCB.

My favorite live performance of this song would be the one that they performed at Fox Theater in Oakland!

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This is another of my absolute favorite Green Day songs, and for my money, one of their best. It was the absolute highlight of 21CB, a song that framed the entire album and gave a dark context to it all. The first act is a very strong series of references to the aftermath of Katrina, and arguably Green Day's strongest condemnation of Bush-era political games. The second act is the true "21st Century Breakdown" that the album spends 60-some minutes building up to. In the context of the album, and on a very deeply personal level, the penultimate realization that "I don't give a shit about the modern age" is the most powerful lyric to ever come out of Green Day's music.

Eulogy is a diamond of a song on an album surrounded by uninspired retreads, songs centered around knocked-off Queen and The Who riffs, and general crap.

Also, this song was an epic-as-hell closer at the Chula Vista amphitheater show. At first, I was a little unhappy that I wouldn't get to see Minority, but this song absolutely blew my mind live.

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This song grew on me very quickly after getting 21CB Breakdown and now I love it. It's one of the best if not the best on 21CB. The verse melody of Mass Hysteria sounds like that of Deadbeat Holiday but that just adds to the song. I love Deadbeat Holiday too (The lyrics to both these songs are great) I also get a chill when Billie sings "There's a disturbance on the ocean side.." and "I am a nation without beauricratic ties.." I think it's always great when Mike sings but it's runs so well into Billie Joe singing after that it adds something extra. Only recently noticed they used the 'N' word in it..don't really mind as long as it's not too noticeable! :D

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I remember when it came out I was listening to it all the time! Best song from 21st CB! It reminded me of Jesus Of Suburbia (which I absolutely love) because it's divided in parts.

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Definitely one of my favourites from 21stCB. It has a special place in my heart because I heard it at the Marlay Park sound-check in 2010 :wub: Ah memories!

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This is propably my favorite one on 21st CB and I love the fact that Mike got to sing in this one.

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21st Century Breakdown and Before the Lobotomy both have multiple parts too.

Nonetheless, it's one of my favorite Green Day songs. I think it's funny that many half-baked fans of the band actually think 21 Guns is the last song on 21CB when American Eulogy and See the Light both come after.

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Great OP Stan!

I love the fact that Mike sings on this song and I can't help myself but sing along to the "I don't wanna live in the modern world" part. Not my favorite song, but it's a good one

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THIS. SONG.

They played it when I saw them in 2009 and I went fucking nuts

It's one of my favorites of 21CB.

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This has to be one of my all time favorites. top 15 ish and my favorite off the album. BTW Mike's solo is the best. :D

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This is truly a fantastic song. I'm glad I was able to see it live during the first leg of the 21st Century Breakdown tour.

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