Saturday, July 6, 2013

Song Meaning & Analysis: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by Green Day

ARTIST: GREEN DAY | ALBUM: American idiot | RELEASED: 2004
Heartfelt song from heavy-hitting American Idiot album showcases some of Billy Joe Armstrong's best writings. Coinciding with recurring themes of the album, such as anti-establishment, anti-war, and exposure of biased media of the US, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" sings about a person's adversity as a consequence of thereof.

The music video depicts the band members walking on a devastated, inhabitable neighborhood. It's very reminiscent to the devastation brought upon as a result of Hurricane Katrina. But it's important to state the fact that the album was released a year prior. Nevertheless, what's interesting is that, in the following weeks and months, the Bush Administration was harshly criticized for its lack response to the outcry of the hurricane victims. Criticizing the President Bush is a recurring theme of American Idiot, highlighted by songs like "Holiday." So it was very fitting that Green Day chose to do such music video for this song, even though it wasn't a response to the events following the disaster.

The song remains one of Green Day's signature ones. It enjoyed much critical acclaim, highlighted by winning a Grammy for the Record of the Year. As a result of its enormous mainstream success, it has a become a fixture of the band's live performances, as well as on pop and rock radio. 

Let me know what you think of the song by making a comment below. I read all of the comments( or most of them ), and any valuable suggestions will be added to the post later on.



  1. I walk a lonely road
  2. The only one that I have ever known
  3. Don't know where it goes
  4. But it's home to me and I walk alone

  5. I walk this empty street
  6. On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
  7. When the city sleeps
  8. And I'm the only one and I walk alone

  9. I walk alone
  10. I walk alone
  11. I walk alone
  12. I walk a...

  13. My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
  14. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
  15. Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
  16. 'til then I walk alone

  17. Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah,
  18. Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

  19. I'm walking down the line
  20. That divides me somewhere in my mind
  21. On the border line
  22. Of the edge and where I walk alone

  23. Read between the lines
  24. What's fucked up and everything's alright
  25. Check my vital signs
  26. To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

  27. I walk alone
  28. I walk alone
  29. I walk alone
  30. I walk a...

  31. My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
  32. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
  33. Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
  34. 'til then I walk alone

  35. Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah
  36. Ah-ah, ah-ah

  37. I walk alone
  38. I walk a...

  39. I walk this empty street
  40. On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
  41. When the city sleeps
  42. And I'm the only one and I walk a...

  43. My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
  44. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
  45. Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
  46. 'til then I walk alone...

Lyrics from: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/greenday/boulevardofbrokendreams.html

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