Billie Joe's lyrical ability

[Hermione]

^That's so cool, ha there was no doubt walk would be biggest. Have you done one for every album? If not I have the urge to do so . Or one for all their albums mixed together would be interesting.

[andy4]

I think that now his lyrics require more of listening to a song multiple times to figure them out more so than 1039 lyrics.

[Modern Zero.]

^That's so cool, ha there was no doubt walk would be biggest. Have you done one for every album? If not I have the urge to do so . Or one for all their albums mixed together would be interesting.

Here, I did all the albums

1039/Smooth

Kerplunk

Dookie

Insomnic

Nimrod

Warning

Shenanigans

American Idiot

21st Century Breakdown

You can really tell how much he has improved with his lyrics and use of words over the years. Like in 1039/Smooth all lot of his lyrics and words were REALLY simple although the songs were still really good, and now in 21CB they're a lot more complex

[J'net]

Here, I did all the albums

1039/Smooth

Kerplunk

Dookie

Insomnic

Nimrod

Warning

Shenanigans

American Idiot

21st Century Breakdown

You can really tell how much he has improved with his lyrics and use of words over the years. Like in 1039/Smooth all lot of his lyrics and words were REALLY simple although the songs were still really good, and now in 21CB they're a lot more complex

Wow, I really enjoyed looking at all those. It's interesting how seeing some of the words called out immediately brings certain songs to mind and the way all of it together kind of gives a feel for each album as a whole. I've bookmarked that site - I think it's so cool (of course, being a word person and all ).

[Princess Consuela]

Here, I did all the albums

1039/Smooth

Kerplunk

Dookie

Insomnic

Nimrod

Warning

Shenanigans

American Idiot

21st Century Breakdown

You can really tell how much he has improved with his lyrics and use of words over the years. Like in 1039/Smooth all lot of his lyrics and words were REALLY simple although the songs were still really good, and now in 21CB they're a lot more complex

Whoa, I'm impressed you were bothered to do this. I really enjoyed looking through it

[CarmenPunkGirl]

those graphics lockandload_xx made are really nice.

today i was analyzing with my mom Billie's lyrics

[Modern Zero.]

^ haha thanks!

[petrina_678]

he has his own style , granted its not overly sophisticated or amazing. But he does what he wants to do best, which is GETTING his POINT across.

His audience is mostly a younger generation which wont appreciate deep lyrics which require analyzing to get to the true meaning . So rather than making his listeners dig deep, he blasts his points across in literal and obvious lyrics. They may be simple and easy to understand, but that does not make them less powerful .

He has his own lyrical charm , sometimes quick and simple is better than overly-complex and deep.

[Bryn]

As many people have said I relate to Billie's lyrics.

For me, I have trouble expressing certain things, and there are songs that I can listen to and say "Yeah that is exactly what I am trying to say!" Although for someone else that song may mean something totally different.

There is something to be said for simplicity. Although Billie's lyrics are not purely simple, there is one thing they are not. Pretentious.

A lot of artists who are supposedly great lyricists just come off to me as people who tried too hard, or think they are the best at writing anything. Therefor, in my eyes being pretentious.

I can not stand that.

I prefer hearing things like "Uptight", "Castaway", "Letterbomb"...I have a massive list. They just are, and they are fantastic in my eyes.

[Hermione]

Here, I did all the albums

1039/Smooth

Kerplunk

Dookie

Insomnic

Nimrod

Warning

Shenanigans

American Idiot

21st Century Breakdown

You can really tell how much he has improved with his lyrics and use of words over the years. Like in 1039/Smooth all lot of his lyrics and words were REALLY simple although the songs were still really good, and now in 21CB they're a lot more complex

I love them! The whole album at a glance, it's just brilliant. Having a look at those has made me want to give them a good listen to enjoy all those lyrics again

Like J'Net I think I will be visiting that site myself, looks very entertaining. I wanna do a Foxies one.

[amy_runs]

Here, I did all the albums

1039/Smooth

Kerplunk

Dookie

Insomnic

Nimrod

Warning

Shenanigans

American Idiot

21st Century Breakdown

You can really tell how much he has improved with his lyrics and use of words over the years. Like in 1039/Smooth all lot of his lyrics and words were REALLY simple although the songs were still really good, and now in 21CB they're a lot more complex

Those are all really cool! Nice job

[J'net]

I love them! The whole album at a glance, it's just brilliant. Having a look at those has made me want to give them a good listen to enjoy all those lyrics again

Like J'Net I think I will be visiting that site myself, looks very entertaining. I wanna do a Foxies one.

I did one for just one song - Macy's Day Parade, which is one of my MANY favorites. I love the way it turned out so much that I've printed and stuck it on my bulletin board (notice board).

[*withoutadoubt*]

^^Those lyric thingys are so cool!! I might have to print out one (or two) of those myself!

I read thru this whole thread because I was really curious to read everyone's opinion.

When I first got into Green Day, it was really the music that got under my skin. But once I sat down with a lyric book, I was blown away, and Billie's lyrics continue to do that to me. I just think he writes brilliantly whether it's simple (It's never simple, imo) or deeply complex and symbolic. I never get tired of listening to their music because to me, there is always something new, even if I've heard a song a million times. I always seem to interpret things in different ways or hear something or think of something I never did before.

I find it amazing that his lyrics (music) appeal and have the ability to relate to so many different people. His honesty and sincerity is refreshing and makes his music stand out like nothing else has ever done before for me.

To me, there is no comparison to him - no one has ever touched me in the way that his lyrics have, and I don't think anyone ever will. Maybe it's a personal thing, or subjective, or whatever - but that's the way I feel about it, and I think time will tell.

Angeline, I think you got it right in three words (although I totally love the rest of 'em and agree) - he does kick ass!

[CarmenPunkGirl]

the reason i write my own songs is because of billie

i write a lot of lyrics, and billie's lyrics inspire me

[Modern Zero.]

the reason i write my own songs is because of billie

Same here.

[bollard_11]

he is an excellent lyricist one of the best in music atm

but he has nothing on James Hetfield

[TLEGABY]

Billie Joe is golden! he has inspired half of this generation.

[Alex.]

i like the lyrics in his 'love' songs, like scattered and redundant etc.

they're simple, but they are so good.

[pooldude256]

That is really awesome. No surprise on "enemy" there...it's used about 50 times in KYE. But kudos for posting that, it's awesome.

[Opezi]

I think that now his lyrics require more of listening to a song multiple times to figure them out more so than 1039 lyrics.

yeah i agree and it is just great to listen to the lyrics and hear what he is trying to say.

[M3G4N]

Here is this thing I did to determine the words he uses the most in all of the lyrics:

I love how the biggest word is "Hey." We all know how much Billie Joe likes that one.

Just to add my two cents, though, I don't think BJ is the most profound lyricist of all time. I do think he's extremely clever with the wordplay and can make them easy to relate to. All of the songs are different, ranging from poetic and metaphorical, to blunt and simple, and it's the variety that is the best part, IMO.

[Greenforaday101]

He writes good lyrics, sometimes they miss a little, but overall he's good at it.

[tHE dAydREAM]

i love Billie's lyrics... i think they range from something simple to a very deep meaning... Plus it's great leaving the fan up to their own interpretation... that means we can sing the same song with a different emotion...

[Femme Gauche]

Billie's lyrics are great, in my opinion. They are strong, emotional and his play with words is excellent, it allows people to see things in so many different ways... I think that's part of what makes him such an excellent songwriter, personally.

Where do I even begin? Ok, the first thing is that he never wastes one single word, and all of his words are powerful. When I first read thru the lyrics of 21CB - totally blown away by them - Dylan came to mind, and I'm thinking, 'yeah, he's up there now'. But really, I wouldn't compare him to anyone else, because he's just who he is, a one-off. He was a natural from the beginning, but he works at it and he evolves. He can write in many different ways, but even when it sounds simple, there are always shades and depths. He kicks ass.

You just said exactly what I feel. He says so much in so few words, that's what always really just blows me away. Not everyone here may think too highly of Shakespeare, but he said, "Brevity is the soul of wit." That pretty much sums up the greatness of Billie Joe's lyricism. And yes, reading the new lyrics, they really hit hard and are extremely potent... they are beyond anything he's done before - and that's saying something. They just took the band to a completely new level.

On another note, he pretty much inspires me to keep pushing myself creatively... he really tries to dig deep. Sometimes the words themselves might be saying the simplest things, but it's the feeling behind them that really hits.

[Sharmellow]

For me, lyrics are much to me. As long as the must is good, then I'm okay with the song.

I understand that some of their songs have a deep meaning, but it's not a big thing for me.

As for Billie, I agree with a few people, he's an average lyricist. Not the best, but certainly not the worst either.