This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Today's the Macy's Day parade
The night of the living dead is on its way
With a credit report for duty call
It's a lifetime guarantee
Stuffed in a coffin, ten percent more free
Red-light special at the mausoleum
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed to you
What's the consolation prize?
Economy sized dreams of hope
When I was a kid I thought
I wanted all the things that I haven't got
Oh, but I learned the hardest way
Then I realized what it took
To tell the difference between thieves and crooks
Lesson learned to me and you
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed
'Cause I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known
'Cause now I know it's all that I wanted
What's the consolation prize?
Economy-sized dreams of hope
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed
'Cause I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known and where it goes
And I'm thinking 'bout the only road
The one I've never known and where it goes
And I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known
'Cause now I know it's all that I wanted
The night of the living dead is on its way
With a credit report for duty call
It's a lifetime guarantee
Stuffed in a coffin, ten percent more free
Red-light special at the mausoleum
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed to you
What's the consolation prize?
Economy sized dreams of hope
When I was a kid I thought
I wanted all the things that I haven't got
Oh, but I learned the hardest way
Then I realized what it took
To tell the difference between thieves and crooks
Lesson learned to me and you
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed
'Cause I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known
'Cause now I know it's all that I wanted
What's the consolation prize?
Economy-sized dreams of hope
Give me something that I need
Satisfaction guaranteed
'Cause I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known and where it goes
And I'm thinking 'bout the only road
The one I've never known and where it goes
And I'm thinking 'bout a brand new hope
The one I've never known
'Cause now I know it's all that I wanted
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Macy's Day Parade Lyrics as written by Frank Edwin Wright Iii Billie Joe Armstrong
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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I think it's pretty obvious and (like most people here have already pointed out) the moral is that you can't buy happiness.
As far as a less generalized interpretation, here's my two cents: (and yes, it being Thanksgiving did make me think of this song)
Today's the Macy's Day Parade - obviously the biggest advertising scheme in history The night of the living dead is on its way - Black Friday Sales start at midnight, turning most people into consumer zombies. With a credit report for duty call - nameless, faceless credit cards. You're nothing but your credit limit. It's a lifetime guarantee, Stuffed in a coffin "10% more free", Red light special at the mausoleum - People plan their funerals ahead of time and pay for them to ensure they get the best prices. It's a pathetic (not mention morbid as fuck) attempt at feeling like you have some control over everything in your life--even your own death and what happens after you're dead.
Give me something that I need Satisfaction guaranteed to you What's the consolation prize? Economy sized dreams of hope - I think this is pretty self explanatory. Consumer: Give me something that I need. Corporate America: Satisfaction's guaranteed! Consumer: What's the consolation prize? Corporate America: Dreams of all the shit you'll never have!
When I was a kid I thought I wanted all the things that I haven't got Oh, I learned the hardest way Then I realized what it took To tell the difference between Thieves and crooks a lesson learned to me and you
When he was a kid he probably thought he wanted to be a bad ass rock star, money, women, drugs, booze, houses, cars--the whole nine yards. But he had to acquire all of that garbage to realize that he didn't want any of it--none of it made him happy none of it made him anything. That's when he realized thieves may break into your house and still your shit, but a crook will cheat you into dreaming of a life that's supposed to be everything everyone wants and if you get it--you'll realize it only adds to the misery.
Give me something that I need Satisfaction guaranteed Because I'm thinking about a brand new hope The one I've never known cause now I know its all that I wanted
He's thinking about a brand new hope--and honestly, I assume this is where the song gets really personal. At this point in his life he had a 5 year old and a 2 year old and a wife. I'm pretty sure he probably figured out that they were way more important than anything he could ever buy. That's his reason for existing--and that's the only means that he's going to find anything slightly resembling true happiness. He's a husband and a father, he's responsible for a family which I'm guessing he probably didn't dream of as a kid.
I think the rest of the song is just reiteration of everything already stated. He's thinking about a brand knew road, one he's never know and where it goes because now he knows it's all that he wanted. He wanted (as hippyish as it sounds) to be loved for no more reason than he's him. He wanted acceptance. He wanted to belong somewhere and he has it. So, instead of being a consumer or a publicity whore, he's going to be a father and a husband. He's going to be the kind of man he would want his sons to grow up to be. He's going to take the high road, so to speak.
Well...that's my 75 cents. lol.
@DaisyD137 brilliant....
This is my favorite song from Warning too...I'm surprised it hasn't become a favorite of Green Day fans. I think it's kind of beautiful.
one of the best things i've seen live was when billiejoe played this acoustic on his own at the end of the reading festival last year, his backdrop being tre's burning drum kit. everyone in the crowd just stood and listened and it was the loudest applause i've ever heard when he was finished. it was fucking amazing, and what an amazing song. anyways, that's what i think...
oh, and where it has the lyrics "when all along it was me and you" it says "a lesson learned for me and you"
This is the best song on the 'Warning' LP, it carrie son where Good Ridance(Time of your Life) left off.It is a truly great song on an otherwise plain album.
i'm surprised a lot of ppl haven't commented on this, i like this song alot, and its also my fav song off of Warning. I think it has something to do with his childhood, obviously, and his friends and not really realizing who they are for awhile. That or i'm completely wrong, but every song means different things to every person
although i like all green day songs, this one is specially good because it makes you think, and i think it talks about realizing what really matters in life - people, not things
i really like this song i think its my favorite greenday..yeah well i agree with devo2234 because i think its about like childhood and stuff...but i dont understand what he says when he says "cuz im thinkin bout a brand new hope...the one ive never known...cuz now i know its all that i wanted.." i would just like to know what this song means so ppl help me thanks :)
i think this song is about rememberin what you were like as a kid and what you wanted back then but you could never ever have it... and you are trying to find somethin to replace it... like erm.. (hard to explain what im thinkin) say you were a kid being brought up in a broken home... and all that you want is a normal happy life with a good home.. but you cant have it.... i buggered that up... lol i knew what i was trying to say tho.... AMAAAAAAAZZZZZZZING SONG!!!! :P
I think this song has a mild political view of society; how we are surrounded by things we don’t really need or are just irrelevant to life - (but we want it any way) We are persuaded into thinking that we want these things (when he was a kid he thought he wanted everything, but when he grew up - he realised that possession isn’t that important) I think there is a reference to retailers being "crooks" (cheating us with ‘sales’) The ‘economy sized hope’ is no longer adequate because he sees through it, so he’s looking for a new hope. Anyway, I think he’s trying to say what is important in life. I think it’s a sad song because he realises that he can’t gain anything this way. (if you know what I mean)