Teenage Kicks! Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 "Stand up! - All the white boysSit down! - All the black girlsYou're the soldiers of the new world"I don't get that....and It makes me feel a little awkward. The Black Girl part mainly.I've read the fuckin lyrics like 100 times and I still don't understand that.Is he like mocking somethin' ya know racist? Or is he not meaning black and white as in skin color?...........ugh.
rootbeersoup Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I pretty much get it, but it'd be a little hard to explain
The Disappearing Boy Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 they are rather...interesting lyrics.
Autostatic Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Ok...my interpretation was that it was a play on how the white male still holds a position of power while other groups--black people, women, ect--are kind of marginalized. So, white boys stand up because society places them in a position of power; black girls sit down because they're constantly pushed aside. It's commentary on racism and sexism I think.
mad hatter. Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 What I think it means is how in society, white males have always been dominant. White males have always dominated any other race/gender/etc. Black people, are of course criticized due to their skin color along with women because they're "weaker", thus "sit down-all the black girls" as if their opinion truly means nothing. It's a bit hard to explain, but I think he's kind of mocking how pathetic society is. Idk, that's what I got from it. I'm not sure if I just made any sense. XD
Teenage Kicks! Posted April 13, 2009 Author Posted April 13, 2009 Ok...my interpretation was that it was a play on how the white male still holds a position of power while other groups--black people, women, ect--are kind of marginalized. So, white boys stand up because society places them in a position of power; black girls sit down because they're constantly pushed aside. It's commentary on racism and sexism I think.Hmmm.... I see.What I think it means is how in society, white males have always been dominant. White males have always dominated any other race/gender/etc. So by saying. Black people, are of course criticized due to their skin color along with women because they're "weaker", thus "sit down-all the black girls" as if their opinion truly means nothing. It's a bit hard to explain, but I think he's kind of mocking how pathetic society is. Idk, that's what I got from it. I'm not sure if I just made any sense. XDYou made perfect sense.
colormestoopid Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I agree with the posters above but I also think that a bit of hypocrisy exists in the line.The fact that white males are dominant and women and other races are minorities doesn't affect the fact that well this country will still send you to war either way. We stand united, only when we're needed, and we're needed when there's blood to be shed. :/
rootbeersoup Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I agree with the posters above but I also think that a bit of hypocrisy exists in the line.The fact that white males are dominant and women and other races are minorities doesn't affect the fact that well this country will still send you to war either way. We stand united, only when we're needed, and we're needed when there's blood to be shed. :/The last line is no reference to war. It's a reference to society.
colormestoopid Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 The last line is no reference to war. It's a reference to society."You're the soldiers of the new world"It can be seen both ways.
rootbeersoup Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 "You're the soldiers of the new world"It can be seen both ways.The term "soldier" is nothing more than a synonym. It's not meant to be taken in a literal sense
pooldude256 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I was kind of wondering that too, but it makes sense to me now.EDIT: I am kind of scared...at the bottom of this page there was an ad for an interracial dating site. WTF? How did it get THAT out of this?
Teenage Kicks! Posted April 13, 2009 Author Posted April 13, 2009 I highly doubt anyone in Green Day is racist.I didn't think anyone of them were racist. And if they were they sure did play it off when I met them.Just that line stuck out to me. Made me think...
mandypants19 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 yeah, i agree with the majority of what everyone's saying. i think it's pretty much a statement about racism and sexism in today's society. people always seem to expect a white male to be a leader, to be a sort of hero. but what i think billie joe is trying to say is that both black people and women have that same kind of power, but society doesn't recognize it.
colormestoopid Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 The term "soldier" is nothing more than a synonym. It's not meant to be taken in a literal senseA synonym? You're the "society" of the new world..."White boys" and "black girls" have always made up part of the American society, why call it "new"?I can't see why it couldn't be referring to war?But hey, lyrics can be taken in different ways.
rootbeersoup Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 A synonym? You're the "society" of the new world..."White boys" and "black girls" have always made up part of the American society, why call it "new"?I can't see why it couldn't be referring to war?But hey, lyrics can be taken in different ways. No.Soldier being a synonym for a person. Not society. That doesn't even make any sense
colormestoopid Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 No.Soldier being a synonym for a person. Not society. That doesn't even make any senseLyrics, people see them differently....
rootbeersoup Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Lyrics, people see them differently....Water, it's wet
amy_runs Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I was kind of wondering that too, but it makes sense to me now.EDIT: I am kind of scared...at the bottom of this page there was an ad for an interracial dating site. WTF? How did it get THAT out of this?There's an Afro Romance ad on my page... "When love goes more than skin deep"
tq6993 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 The term "soldier" is nothing more than a synonym. It's not meant to be taken in a literal sensei agree witht the racist/sexist interpretation. but i think the last line is about how this generation can change that. idk thats my interpretation
S.cattered Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 What I think it means is how in society, white males have always been dominant. White males have always dominated any other race/gender/etc. Black people, are of course criticized due to their skin color along with women because they're "weaker", thus "sit down-all the black girls" as if their opinion truly means nothing. It's a bit hard to explain, but I think he's kind of mocking how pathetic society is. Idk, that's what I got from it. I'm not sure if I just made any sense. XDThat's pretty much what I thought. Don't worry, you made sence to me. lol.And as far as soldier goes, I don't think it's a literal meaning... It's more of a medaphor in my opinion, like soldiers march etc, like march foward, cause you're the new society... Okay, I don't think that made a whole load of sence, but it's kind of hard to explain. lol.
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