I_LUV_GD September 24th, 2005 09:09AM  

The title refers to the state of the United States at that point in time. It speaks of a nation controlled by the new, biased media, and how the singer is not part of a "Redneck Agenda" discontent with how things are going. It was released during the 2004 presidential campaign, where George W. Bush was re-elected

anonymous March 7th, 2006 01:27PM  

fair enough I agree with the top section of this site, in that the album -especially the title track 'american idiot' is taken a left wing approach to american foreign policy and political agenda, however it is also part of the mainstream as it fits into popular culture. In this way greenday are supporting a capitalistic lifestyle, a lifestyle that they themselves fall into. The moment we step outside our doors we take part in this consumerism society. american idiot is simply perpetuating a false consciousness that the media is portraying. It is capitalising on a sensitive social issue that a lot of people feel strongly about. It is no better or worse than that it antagonises. It is simply another cog in this wheel of corruption. and fair enough, after all they have no obligation to change anything.

anonymous March 18th, 2007 02:55PM  

Me thinks this is mostly Billie Joe's way of telling George Bush that he's a dick, and he can fuck off cause he's a shitty presidant.

anonymous April 27th, 2007 10:43AM  

Simply I just think Green Day finally decided to say what they thought was going on with the US society. A nation controlled my the media basically means that we suck & don't know how to judge things ourselves & we rely on EVERY FUCKING ONE ELSE!!!! plus George Bush sucks.

anonymous June 22nd, 2007 07:01AM  

When Billie Joe says, "Well, maybe I'm the Fag*ot America"
The word "fag" or in this case "fag*ot" doesn't always mean "GAY". I mean If someone makes me mad I say, "YOU'RE SUCH A FAG!" It means more like... "What's wrong with you?"
But I think that's what Billie Joe means by that, like maybe He's a Fag*ot because he doesn't agree with America.
The song is basically a rant.

anonymous August 8th, 2007 10:10AM  

Wow, I am so glad I am not american. I am british, but I fear that soon britain too will be subjected to what I call the 'bush therepy' ie media taking over, compulsary conforming, etc.
american idiot is a good way of portraying what a lot of young people feel about the current government and society, how they do not want to be 'idiots' and be swept up in the media hysteria rubbish.

down with george bush is what I say (but at least tony blair is gone. gordon brown will probably not be quite so chummy with mr. president).

anonymous October 29th, 2007 04:05AM  

I think that this song clearly states about how media controls everybody these days and how they can easily twist someone else's mind by starting up a rumor or gossip and it shows it when the lyrics go, "Don't wanna be an American idiot, one nation controlled by the media. Information age of hysteria
it's going out to idiot America." This also obviously talks about George Bush's re-election on 2004 when Armstrong says, "I'm not a part of a redneck agenda." It states that they are against whatever Bush is doing since he is making America look stupid by all the decisions he chooses.

Gurl_E_Nerdd April 30th, 2008 12:27PM  

I think that the song is about not wanting to be the average American doing whatever the country tells you to.

anonymous April 2nd, 2009 09:38PM  

i think this song is all about how america has become so consumed in propaganda and the media, that we've all become "american idiots" who do wat the news tells us, and believe everything they say, even when its eggsagerated, filered, and dosent tell us anything truthfully any more, exept for maybe the weather (but sometimes i wonder) hes saying this country is run by stupid rednecks who want money and oil. this nation basicly is controlled by the media, and i think we all need to wake up, and stop allowing ourselves to be hypnotized by propagana. so put plain and simply... TURN OFF YOUR TV'S AMERICA!

anonymous August 1st, 2009 01:25PM  

Large groups of people fail to think individually - there are too many things on our minds to worry about "what's happening over there" or even in the next town/county/state. It's idiocy to accept what the media tells you at face value - everything is filtered.

But remember, so to is everything filtered on the internet - there is no such thing as independent, free thinking. We are all formed by our life events.

American Idiot points out that those who fail to do exactly what the media tells, those who fail to agree with the current agenda - are seen as dangerous. Society thrives on people being sheep.

Meanwhile, youtube any Green Day concert... watch the sheep of a different fold rallying in hue and cry during the concert - entertained, but really amounting to nothing.

Sure, we could change the world - but what would we change it to?

Reign_Alexander September 25th, 2009 07:15PM  

Basically, this song is about rebellion! Anarchy all the way!!

brandtaylor93 October 23rd, 2009 01:56PM  

It's about not being apart of the stats quo. It's about how this country has too many people who aren't well educated and just follow and do as there told. "don't want a nation under the new media" well to many people just mindlessly watch the news and are told what to think. Especially fox news but I can write books on how fox news is evil. "Well maybe I'm the Fagot america" Well Billie joel is at the very least bi curious. in a interview with the advocate ( a gay magazine) he sad he believes we are all born bi but because of social norms most of us become straight. this song at it's core is how republicans are dumb illogical idiots who don't care about us and your a stupid redneck if you listen to them.

anonymous October 26th, 2009 08:53AM  

Don't want to be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.