What does Restless Heart Syndrome mean?

Green Day: Restless Heart Syndrome Meaning

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Album cover for Restless Heart Syndrome album cover

Restless Heart Syndrome Lyrics

I've got a really bad disease
It's got me begging
On my hands and knees
Take me to the emergency
'Cause something seems to be missing
Somebody take the pain away
It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain
Send me to the pharmacy
So I can...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    greendayfreak90
    click a star to vote
    Aug 6th 2009 !⃝

    This song has a double meaning. It could relate to someone breaking up with someone and they feel like total bulls*** "I think they've found another cure, for BROKEN HEARTS and FEELING INSECURE. But this is what the band really means, according to Mike Dirnt:
    Restless Heart Syndrome is about government-related stuff. we can't all get healthcare but the government says that you have to be on this pill, and that you have to do this to kill ______ and thats why we have all of those pill related commericials on TV. It might help you, but it could kill your dreams.

    I did not have that word for word, don't sue me :-P

  2. TidalJ
    click a star to vote
    Nov 22nd 2017 !⃝

    "I've got a really bad disease. It's got me begging on my hands and knees. So take me to emergency, because something seems to be missing."

    He feels something about him is missing.

    "Somebody, take the pain away
    It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain
    So send me to the pharmacy so I can lose my memory"

    This is a reference to how some side effects of pills cause memory loss.

    "I'm elated, medicated
    Lord knows I tried to find a way to run away"

    He tried to get off this medication, but he couldn't.

    "I think they found another cure
    For broken hearts and feeling insecure
    You'd be surprised what I endure
    What makes you feel so self-assured"

    This is a reference to him finding a better cure to this disease.

    "I need to find a place to hide
    You never know what could be waiting outside
    The accidents that you could find
    It's like some kind of suicide"

    This medication has made him paranoid.

    "So what ails you, is what impales you
    I feel like I've been crucified to be satisfied"

    He feels that he has died inside because of this medication so he can be satisfied.

    "I'm a victim of my symptom
    I am my own worst enemy
    You're a victim of your symptom
    You are your own worst enemy"

    More referencing to this medication making him feel depressed"

    "Know your enemy"

    This is a reference to the song "Know Your Enemy"

    "I'm elated, medicated
    I am my own worst enemy
    So what ails you is what impales you
    You are your own worst enemy
    You're a victim of the system
    You are your own worst enemy
    You're a victim of the system
    You are your own worst enemy"

    So, Mike Dirnt actually said what the song meant in an interview. It's actually about government/healthcare stuff.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 1st 2016 !⃝

    I think what Billie is trying to say in this song is definitely related to some sort of disorder, whether it'd be mental or social. "I'm elated, medicated. Lord knows I've tried to find a way to run away." ..obviously a verse about wanting to get away from whatever problem he's facing. "I need to find a place to hide. You never know what could be waiting outside. The accidents that you could find.. it's like some kind of suicide." ..this could be an effect of paranoia, and he's thinking something is out to get him so he's trying to get away (maybe the thing he's trying to get away from is things that could break his heart and make him feel insecure). All of the verses about going to the pharmacy are evidently about pills, which could be used, in this case, to numb the pain from what's bothering him. As in "I think they found another cure for broken hearts and feelin insecure. You'd be surprised what I endure. What makes you feel so self-assured?" he could possibly mean that he's not what everyone thinks he is and he's actually dying inside, proving everyone wrong with the messages in the songs that he writes. We all know that Billie is no stranger to pills, depression, and other things like that.. so it honestly doesn't surprise me that this song's may be about overdose on pills to fill that space inside that would remain empty otherwise.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 23rd 2015 !⃝

    I think it's about feeling extremely ashamed and disappointed in yourself for whatever reason. You, yourself, are causing your own heartache (or "restless heart", if you will), and you're desperately trying to cope with it by A: seeking help ("Somebody take the pain away; It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain"), or B: trying to hide from your feelings/isolating yourself from society ("I need to find a place to hide; You never know what could be waiting outside").

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 4th 2015 !⃝

    So,it may be about the government and healthceare, partly. But on the whole it seems to be about depression. We know Billie Joe is no stranger to depression and prescription drugs. All in all, I'd say he's a pretty sensitive and vulnerable person on the inside.

    As I'm struggling with perfectly the same syndrome as in this song, I'm 100% sure it's mostly about mental disorder, see. It's when you want to run away 'cause you're afraid of everything and need a place to hide. You also want to lose your memory - to forget how others hurt you when you are too weak to protest and become a pushover. Finally you become your own worst enemy 'cause you easily fall victim to any evil when you stop loving yourself.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 26th 2011 !⃝

    About depression.

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 18th 2010 !⃝

    It's about you really love someone but they dumped you or turned you down and your heartbroken.

  8. rockergirl
    click a star to vote
    Jul 8th 2009 !⃝

    Hello,
    This song I think is about being addicted to prescription drugs because he says he wants to go to the emergency and pharmacy. He sings, “So take me to the emergency, cause something seems to be missing.” I think it means he’s addicted and needs the medicine that’s what’s missing. This one I guess it’s the most straight forward and obvious one.
    However, in my opinion I think there could be another side to the song…..
    Which is that it is about someone who’s having anxiety. He keeps saying that something is wrong and that he wants someone to come and help him. And maybe in this case the line “so take me to the emergency, cause something seems to be missing.” He is talking about feeling anxious. And the verse “I need to find a place to hide, you never know what could be waiting out side, the accidents that you could find, it’s like some kind of suicide.” Actually, is talking about being worried all the time and feeling so anxious and scared that you don’t want to do anything and that all you want to do is to go away and hide.


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