Breaking Down Green Day’s Revolution Radio Track by Track

Revolution Radio Is Green Day’s 12th studio record, following a failed launch of a trio of LP’s entitled ¡Uno! ¡Dos! and ¡Tre!, respectively in late 2012. Long time fans won’t be disappointed with the edgy riffs and cutting vocals in tracks like Bang Bang and Too Dumb To Die. From themes of destruction and chaos in a charged socio-political climate to reminiscing about the days of our youth, this album will take you through its emotional ups and downs, and leave you feeling very satisfied. Here’s a complete breakdown of the album.

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Somewhere now

Opening with a saccharine sweet acoustic sequence faintly reminiscent of Sweet Home Alabama, Billie Joe sings softly of both nostalgia and what lies ahead; “the future and promises ain’t what it used to be,” possibly a reference to Uptight on Nimrod. You’re then suddenly stung by that familiar punk grit from the throat, bringing us into a swelling crescendo that kicks off the album. “I put the riot in patriot” is a powerful line that evokes imagery of recent civil rights riots in the US, while cementing the idea that to fight for your rights is about as patriotic as it gets.

 

Bang Bang

Easily the star of the album and the first track to be released, Bang Bang is a hit single. Seriously, turn the volume up to 11 for this one. The song is preceded by the sound of an old radio being turned on and you can make out layered news clippings of war and terrorism, before the beat drops and you’re punched in the gut with fast and furious punk rock power chords that you’ve been dying to hear from Green Day for years. It’s written from the perspective of a “semi-automatic lonely boy” who declares, “give me death or give me head,” a chilling reference to recent mass shootings in the US.

 

Revolution Radio

The album’s namesake, Revolution Radio is the anthem of the record. Inspired by a Black Lives Matter protest in New York that Billie himself ended up joining, this song is about being “on the right side of history (-Billie Joe.)” “Sing/ like a rebel’s lullaby/Under the stars and stripes/For the lost souls that were cheated.” It’s pretty straightforward; something is terribly wrong and innocent people are being killed. So what do we do? “Give me cherry bombs and gasoline!” We’re not going down without a fight.

 

Say Goodbye

A scathing, brutally honest song about death, power and corruption. Bursting with heavy chords and boot-stomping percussion, this tune is simple, yet powerful. “Say goodbye to the ones that we love… Say hello to the cops on patrol/Say hello to the ones in control.” The lyrics shine a spotlight on police brutality, facing the reality that you or your loved ones could be victims of senseless violence. “Teach your children well from the bottom of the well” has a double meaning, referencing the toxic water crisis in Flint, Michigan. The song’s message is harsh and bitter but necessary, like medicine.

 

Outlaws

This song will make you feel nostalgic no matter what your age. It has a very personal feel, as Billie recounts his times with his friends, “freaks of a faded memory.” The soft melody of the verses place you at the high school prom, perhaps, while the chorus breaks into a powerful cry: “Outlaws, when we were forever young… We’re Outlaws of redemption, baby.” This song is your background music to a mental montage of the days of your youth. “I found a knife by the railroad track/you took a train and you can’t go back,” is a reference to Christie Road (Kerplunk!) and the band has said that they see this song as a sort of sequel.

 

Bouncing Off The Wall

After such heavy themes, you’ll be relieved to get to Bouncing Off The Wall. Right away it references the album art with the line, “a radio covered in gasoline.” It’s a fun song whose chords quite literally bounce back and forth. This poppy tune sounds like it could be about feeling bored and antsy, with lyrics, “It’s just another day of idle threat/the secret of the day and I wouldn’t sweat it/and everybody’s bouncing off the walls.” With its catchy chorus, this song will have you bobbing your head back and forth the way a Green Day song should.

 

Still Breathing

Still Breathing, the third single to be released, is a personal song about survival. “I’m like a junkie tying off for the last time/I’m like a loser betting on his last dime/Oh, I’m still alive,” speaks to when you’ve hit rock bottom and all you have going for you is the fact that you exist. Celebrating that, despite the struggles we go through, “I’m still breathing on my own/my head’s above the rain and roses/making my way away.” The song’s theme is heavy as it teeters on the brink of death, while being cognisant about the fragility of life.

 

Youngblood

Do you like hand-claps? We like hand-claps. Possibly a throwback to a She’s a Rebel-type power-pop, Youngblood is a fun, light-hearted song about Billie’s long-time wife, Adrienne. Despite being “the cedar in the trees of Minnesota,” where she’s originally from, she’s later quoted in the song as declaring, “Fuck you, I’m from Oakland!” which is where they currently reside.

 

Too Dumb To Die

With a fuzzy low-fi intro, Too Dumb to Die chronicles Billie’s youth in a more positive light. “My daddy always was on strike/going off with the teamsters/he said that everything will be alright/not every Sunday can be Easter;” a telling but hopeful line about keeping optimistic even when times are hard. The sound is pleasantly Green Day and could probably slip itself onto Nimrod without anyone noticing. “Way up high, too scared to dream/but too dumb to die” is a line that I think many can relate to: feeling like you’re potentially capable of anything but having too much self-doubt and anxiety to pursue your dreams, and yet you can’t seem to let go.

 

Troubled Times

In a similar vein as Say Goodbye, this song speaks to the general unease and fear in the world, especially with the current political climate. “What good is love and peace on Earth/when it’s exclusive?” Some people get to enjoy love and peace, if they can afford it, or were born into a fortunate life, while the rest are left in the gutter. It brings up the fact that those with certain privileges feel comfortable enjoying their rights, while neglecting to fight for the rights of others. And with the threat of Trump on the rise, it’s safe to say, “We live in troubled times.”

 

Forever Now

“My name is Billie and I’m freaking out.” How’s that for transparency?

Forever Now is broken down into three sections that each have their own sound, wrapping up with a reprise that circles back to Somewhere Now. “If this is what you call the good life,” Billie submits, nonplussed by mass murderers and police brutality, “I want a better way to die.” As the song enters its third phase, we hear a familiar stanza from Somewhere Now but with the addition of hard and sudden chords, and as the last lines are sung they are overlaid with a chant of “I ain’t gonna stand in line no more,” a declaration to stop waiting for something to happen and to make something happen yourself.

 

Ordinary World

Ordinary World, the final track on the album, was written for a movie titled Ordinary World, originally titled Geezer, which features Billie Joe as the lead role. With a guitar progression that sounds like something you might hear when you open up a small music box, this ballad is a bit on the cheesy side, but nonetheless sweet. A simple, stripped down acoustic track about a person who may not have everything he wants, but has everything he needs. “Baby I don’t have much/but what we have is more than enough/Ordinary World.”