St. Jimmy
Green Day / Cast of American Idiot Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

St. Jimmy's comin' down across the alleyway
Up on the boulevard like a zip gun on parade
Light of a silhouette
He's insubordinate
Coming at you on the count of one, two (one, two, three, four)

My name is Jimmy and you better not wear it out
Suicide commando that your momma talked about
King of the forty thieves
And I'm here to represent
That needle in the vein of the establishment

I'm the patron saint of the denial
With an angel face and a taste for suicidal
Cigarettes and Ramen and a little bag of dope
I am the son of a bitch and Edgar Allan Poe
Raised in the city under a halo of lights

The product of war and fear that we've been victimized
I'm the patron saint of the denial
With an angel face and a taste for suicidal

Are you talkin' to me?

I'll give you something to cry about

St. Jimmy

My name is St. Jimmy I'm a son of a gun
I am the one that's from the way outside
A teenage assassin executing some fun
In the cult of the life of crime
I'd really hate to say it but I told you so
So shut your mouth before I shoot you down ol' boy
Welcome to the club and give me some blood
I'm the resident leader of the lost and found
It's comedy and tragedy,




It's St. Jimmy
And that's my name, and don't wear it out

Overall Meaning

Green Day's song "St. Jimmy" tells the story of a rebellious and self-destructive character who goes by the same name. The lyrics describe St. Jimmy’s presence as he melts into the alleyways of the boulevard, boasting an insubordinate nature that he is not afraid to showcase. He is introduced as a suicide commando and the king of forty thieves, ready to wreak havoc and dismantle the establishment however he can. St. Jimmy is portrayed as an angel-faced denial saint, melded together with a taste for danger, cigarettes, Ramen, and a little bag of dope. He seems to take pride in being the product of war and fear, and has been victimized by society.


Despite his dangerous and self-destructive nature, St. Jimmy can be seen as an underground leader of sorts, representing those who have been cast out by society. The line "Welcome to the club and give me some blood, I'm the resident leader of the lost and found" insinuates that there is a subculture out there with St. Jimmy at its helm. Nevertheless, his actions are still met with confrontation, with the lyric "Are you talkin' to me? I'll give you something to cry about."


Overall, the song's lyrics aim to create a character who is both dangerous and sympathetic, with St. Jimmy representing the voice of a generation seeking rebellion, individuality, and an escape from the mainstream.


Line by Line Meaning

St. Jimmy's comin' down across the alleyway
St. Jimmy is entering the area through the alley


Up on the boulevard like a zip gun on parade
St. Jimmy is strutting down the street like a weapon on display


Light of a silhouette
St. Jimmy's presence casts an ominous shadow


He's insubordinate
St. Jimmy refuses to conform to societal norms


Coming at you on the count of one, two (one, two, three, four)
St. Jimmy is boldly approaching with a fierce intensity


My name is Jimmy and you better not wear it out
St. Jimmy is introducing himself and warning that his name should not be overused


Suicide commando that your momma talked about
St. Jimmy is a notorious figure who is known for his reckless behavior


King of the forty thieves
St. Jimmy is a leader amongst a group of criminals


And I'm here to represent
St. Jimmy is proudly proclaiming his role in the criminal underworld


That needle in the vein of the establishment
St. Jimmy is a threat to the establishment and its values


I'm the patron saint of the denial
St. Jimmy is a symbol of refusing to acknowledge reality


With an angel face and a taste for suicidal
St. Jimmy appears innocent, but has a dangerous penchant for risky behavior


Cigarettes and Ramen and a little bag of dope
St. Jimmy indulges in hedonistic pleasures


I am the son of a bitch and Edgar Allan Poe
St. Jimmy is a troubled individual, much like Poe's literary characters


Raised in the city under a halo of lights
St. Jimmy grew up in a bustling urban environment


The product of war and fear that we've been victimized
St. Jimmy's behavior is a result of the societal trauma caused by war and fear


Are you talkin' to me?
St. Jimmy is confrontational in response to a perceived challenge


I'll give you something to cry about
St. Jimmy is violent and will cause pain to those who provoke him


St. Jimmy
St. Jimmy is a complex, multifaceted character


My name is St. Jimmy I'm a son of a gun
St. Jimmy is reintroducing himself, emphasizing his violent nature


I am the one that's from the way outside
St. Jimmy is an outsider, existing outside of societal norms


A teenage assassin executing some fun
St. Jimmy is a violent young person who takes pleasure in causing pain


In the cult of the life of crime
St. Jimmy is part of a group of criminals who are devoted to a life of crime


I'd really hate to say it but I told you so
St. Jimmy is reminding others that he predicted his own violent behavior


So shut your mouth before I shoot you down ol' boy
St. Jimmy is threatening violence against those who cross him


Welcome to the club and give me some blood
St. Jimmy is welcoming others to join him in his violent exploits


I'm the resident leader of the lost and found
St. Jimmy is a leader amongst those who are lost in society


It's comedy and tragedy,
St. Jimmy's life is both humorous and tragic


It's St. Jimmy
St. Jimmy is a complex, contradictory figure




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

christine

billie joe armstrong is the only 42 year old man that can play a punk teenager and actually get away with it

adonate43

***** I think he means look wise, like Billie for a 42 year old actually looks like a teen.

Sarah

adonate43 and then there's Gerard way who looks like he's still in high school. If only he went back to the punk look. Now that he's a dad he dresses less edgy

Rose Wolfe

Oliwia Szymańska he probably likes being called 42 more than 45

kaydence

dakota So true!

Ray

Your only as old as you feel and he feels like a teenager

58 More Replies...

Dom Mitchell

Honestly for someone who isn't known for dancing, Billy does this really well. That split to standing he does is extremely smooth

Wrap It Before You Tap It

I feel like he also just majorly downplays himself. He said in the documentary about everyone singing better than him but he's easy one of the best punk singers ever

EpiCSH0T2

No one plays st jimmy better than st jimmy himself

Carter1189

EpiCSH0T2 thats why its so funny. That when he was offered the part. He wasnt sure about it cause he isnt an actor

More Comments

More Versions