Holiday
►Green Day Lyrics

Say hey
Introduces the song and invites the listener to pay attention.

Hear the sound of the falling rain
Sets the mood for the lyrics to follow, a dark and ominous feeling.

Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
Describes the rain as fire, alluding to the destruction of life happening around the world.

A shame
Expresses sorrow for the loss of lives that have gone unnoticed and unnamed.

The ones who died without a name
Refers to the countless people who have died in wars or natural disasters without recognition.

Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
Describes the sound of the military and government propaganda as unsettling and out of sync with reality.

To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
Describes the propaganda as a manipulative and dangerous attempt to control the population.

And bleed, the company lost the war today
Implies that the government and corporations are engaged in a war to control people's lives and resources, and sometimes they lose.

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
The singer is claiming his individuality and rejecting the dominant narrative that is lies meant to maintain control.

This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
Implies that despite the chaos and uncertainty in the world, there is still hope for the future.

On holiday
Repeats the chorus as a statement of defiance and celebration of life.

Hear the drum pounding out of time
Describes the sound of the protesters as defiant and energetic.

Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
Someone else has become emboldened to speak up and act against the powers that be.

To find, the money's on the other side
The singer implies that the real power is not with the government and corporations, but in the hands of everyday people.

Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
Asks the listener to join in solidarity and agreement with the message of the song.

There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
The singer highlights the way the flag is used to manipulate people to fight wars that only benefit the powerful.

A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
Describes the way dissenters are silenced and their messages twisted, even after their deaths.

Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Shows the way that even a democratically elected leader can become a fascist and totalitarian ruler.

Bombs away is your punishment
People who exercise their right to protest can be met with violent responses from police or military forces.

Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Alludes to the idea that even symbols of hope can be targeted or destroyed by those in power.

Who criticize your government
Implies that the government fears criticism and dissent more than any real threat to national security.

Bang, bang goes the broken glass and
Describes the violent consequences of people's actions when they feel unheard or oppressed by those in power.

Kill all the fags that don't agree
Critiques the way that homophobia is perpetuated by those in power to divide and conquer groups who might otherwise resist them.

Trials by fire, setting fire
Again describes the violent and oppressive tactics used by governments and corporations to maintain control.

Is not a way that's meant for me
The singer rejects the idea that violence and oppression are legitimate ways to gain or maintain power.

Just cause
Asserts the moral rightness of the singer's cause to fight against oppressive power structures.

Just cause
Repeats the above phrase for emphasis.

Because we're outlaws, yeah
The singer identifies with those who are marginalized or criminalized by society for speaking out against power.

This is our lives on holiday
Repeats the chorus with even more emphasis, as a claim of self-determination and power over one's own life.