The song is largely based on the life of Billy Joe Armstrong. First verse distinguishes Jesus of Suburbia from Jesus of Nazareth. Suburbia has two parents: rage and love, and his consumptions are soda pop and Ritalin. So early in the song, Armstrong defines Jesus as someone who lives the rock n' roll lifestyle. In fact, it could also be interpreted as obeying the rock n' roll religion.
As we progress through the song, we learn more about the life of this particular Jesus. He also likes to smoke Marijuana from time to time. SHOCKING! And cigarettes,alcohols and cocaine are also commonplace. Therefore, judging the lyrics, the Jesus is not an actual religious figure, it's just a name of a regular person.
In the second part of the song, we are introduced to Jesus' hometown. I think it's somewhere in New York. Brooklyn perhaps? Evidence supporting is the line, "I read the graffiti/In the bathroom stall." This indicates ghettos of New York where hip-hop culture was born. Painting graffiti on subway cars and walls were an integral part of hip-hop culture. Also "City of dead" and "Lost children with dirty faces today" further illustrates the left behind suburbs of NY where the only the poor lives -- usually consisting of Black people.
Latter parts of the song indicates Jesus' growth into adulthood, and finally leaving behind his hometown for a better place.
I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of Suburbia
From the bible of none of the above
On a steady diet of
Soda pop and Ritalin
No one ever died for my sins in hell
As far as I can tell
At least the ones I got away with
And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me
Get my television fixed
Sitting on my crucifix
The living room or my private womb
While the Moms and Brads are away
To fall in love and fall in debt
To alcohol and cigarettes
And Mary Jane
To keep me insane,
Doing someone else's cocaine
And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me
[Part 2: City Of The Damned]
At the center of the Earth
In the parking lot
Of the 7-11 where I was taught
The motto was just a lie
It says home is where your heart is
But what a shame
Cause everyone's heart
Doesn't beat the same
It's beating out of time
City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
No one really seems to care
I read the graffiti
In the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of the shopping mall
And so it seemed to confess
It didn't say much
But it only confirmed that
The center of the earth
Is the end of the world
And I could really care less
City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
No one really seems to care
[Part 3: I Don't Care]
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't care
[X4]
I don't care
Everyone is so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrites
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave
We are the kids of war and peace
From Anaheim to the middle east
We are the stories and disciples
Of the Jesus of suburbia
Land of make believe
And that don't believe in me
Land of make believe
And I don't believe
And I don't care!
I don't care! [x4]
[Part 4: Dearly Beloved]
Dearly beloved are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh, therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed?
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse
[Part 5: Tales Of Another Broken Home]
To live and not to breathe
Is to die in tragedy
To run, to run away
To find what you believe
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
I lost my faith to this
This town that don't exist
So I run, I run away
To the lights of masochist
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
And I walked this line
A million and one fucking times
But not this time
I don't feel any shame, I won't apologize
When there ain't nowhere you can go
Running away from pain when you've been victimized
Tales from another broken home
You're leaving...
You're leaving...
You're leaving...
Ah you're leaving home...
This song is pretty deep, and has multiple meanings and interpretations.
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