Though the albums Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997) and Warning (2000) did not match the success of Dookie, they were still successful, with the first two reaching double platinum status, while the last achieved gold. Green Day's seventh album, a rock opera called American Idiot (2004), found popularity with a younger generation, selling six million copies in the U.S. Their next album, 21st Century Breakdown, was released in 2009 and achieved the band's best chart performance. It was followed by a trilogy of albums, ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, released in September, November, and December 2012, respectively. The trilogy did not perform as well as expected commercially, in comparison to their previous albums, largely due to a lack of promotion and Armstrong entering rehab. Their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio, was released in October 2016 and became their third to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The band's thirteenth studio album, Father of All Motherfuckers, was released on February 7, 2020, and was their final album released by Reprise. On October 24, 2023, the band announced that their fourteenth studio album, 'Saviors', will come out January 19, 2024.
In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway. The musical was nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design, winning the latter two. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, their first year of eligibility. Members of the band have collaborated on the side projects Pinhead Gunpowder, The Network, Foxboro Hot Tubs, The Longshot and The Coverups. They have also worked on solo careers.
Green Day has sold roughly 90 million records worldwide, them one of the world's best-selling artists. The group has been nominated for 20 Grammy awards and has won five of them with Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and Best Musical Show Album for American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording.
Take Back
Green Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd love to break your fuckin' teeth
I'd stick a knife in the center of your back
You better grow some eyes in the back of your head
I fight dirty, just like your looks
Can't take, can't take, can't take any more
Take back
Take
Taste of bad blood on the tip of my tongue
An eye for an eye, a gun for a gun
Cold-cocked, I'm takin' back what's mine
Expect it when you're least expectin' it
No loss of love, the smell of regret
Lights out, I take, can't take any more
Take back
Take back
Take back
Take back
Shit
The lyrics to Green Day's song "Take Back" are a passionate expression of anger and a desire for revenge. The singer (presumably Billie Joe Armstrong) has been pushed "once too far" and is now ready to fight back with violent force. He's not afraid to play dirty, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to regain control of the situation. The repeated refrain of "Take back, take back, take" emphasizes this desire for raw, primal revenge.
The lyrics also hint at a personal grudge, with lines like "I fight dirty, just like your looks" suggesting that the person being addressed (whether a specific individual or a general societal problem) is someone who has previously done the singer wrong. The imagery of sticking a knife in someone's back and growing eyes in the back of their head also speaks to a desire to ambush and outsmart one's enemies.
The final lines of the song ("No loss of love, the smell of regret/Lights out/Can't take anymore/Shit") drive home the idea that this is a fight to the death. There's no room for forgiveness or mercy; the singer is ready to go all the way and "take back" what he believes is rightfully his.
Line by Line Meaning
You pushed me once too far again
You have repeatedly crossed me and it's gone too far this time
I'd like to break you fucking teeth.
I want to cause physical harm to you
Stick a knife in the center of your back.
I want to cause you serious harm or even kill you
You better grow some eyes in the back of your
Head.
You need to be more aware of the consequences of your actions and watch your back
I fight dirty, just like your looks.
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win and I see you as a dishonest and unattractive person
Can't take, can't take, can't take anymore.
I can't tolerate any more of your behavior
Take back, take back, take.
I'm taking control of the situation and asserting myself
The taste of bad blood on the tip of my tongue.
I have a bitter and resentful feeling towards you
An eye for an eye. Gun for a gun.
I believe in retribution and I'm prepared to be just as ruthless as you
Cold-cocked and I'm taking back what's mine.
I'm going to use force to take back what rightfully belongs to me
Expect it when you're least expecting it.
I'm planning to retaliate when you're off guard
No loss of love, the smell of regret.
I have no feelings of affection towards you and I'm already anticipating your regret
Lights out
I'm going to knock you unconscious or kill you
Can't take anymore
I've reached my breaking point
Shit
An exclamation of anger and frustration
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Frank Edwin Wright III, Mike Ryan Pritchard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielcorona8989
SHORT, FAST AND FURIOUS SONGS ARE MY FAVORITES
@benfisher9968
Check out ‘A Child and His Lawnmower’ by Dead Kennedys if you don’t already know it
@Smitty726
When is this going to be played live again?!?!! So underrated!!!!
@____dash____
SO FUCKING UNDERRATED!!
@nicksegall3693
Agreed! This is my favorite Green Day song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@nicksegall3693
In a way this was the last Green Day album. After nimrod they lost it. But, Green Day, all albums through Nimrod fuckin bad ass!!!!
Everything after is simply a different band. For the worse? Yep.
But I still very much celebrate when Green Day was truly Green Day🎵😎👌
@insomniaclover1995
TAKE BACKKKKKKK
@RockandrollNegro
TAAAAAKE, BYAAAACKK. TAKE.
@TestTubeFromII
TAAAKE, BUWAAACKKK!
@michaelsativa8834
This is one of the only songs where you will hear Billie Joe use harsh vocals.
I wish he did more of this style!