"Holiday" features a spoken word segment during the bridge that is unique to Green Day songs. While it caused controversy, this speech is generally regarded as anti-fascist, with Green Day accusing George W. Bush of being a fascist.
During live performances, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong liked to introduce this song with a political agenda, or alternatively, a disclaimer. For example, on Green Day's CD/DVD Bullet in a Bible (2005), Armstrong announces, "This next song's a big 'fuck you' to all the politicians. This song's called Holiday! This song is not anti-American; it's anti-war!" Which some consider to be similar to the way in which Bono of U2 would introduce "Sunday Bloody Sunday"; "This is not a rebel song...".
"Holiday" was played in the movie Accepted and parts of the song were played in the movie Surf's Up. The song is also featured in the video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.
Holiday
Greenday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
A shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause
Just cause
Because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on Holiday
The lyrics to Green Day's "Holiday" are infused with strong anti-establishment themes and political commentary. The song's opening verse paints a picture of chaos and destruction, with the falling rain compared to an Armageddon flame. The reference to those who died without a name underscores the senseless nature of war and its impact on individual lives. The howling of dogs is a metaphor for the insanity of war, and the loss suffered by the American company that is mentioned is a reflection of the broader conflict.
The song's chorus is a call for change and action. The lead singer "begs to dream and differ from the hollow lies" and sees this moment as the dawning of a new era. The verses that follow continue with the anti-war sentiment, including a reference to a protester who has "crossed the line" and a flag wrapped "around a score of men." The line "kill all the fags that don't agree" is a direct shot at bigotry and intolerance. Through it all, Green Day encourages defiance, warning that "just cause" is not always a good enough reason to follow the rules.
Overall, "Holiday" is a powerful critique of war and the politics that drive it. It's a song that calls for change and urges people to question authority. Green Day has never shied away from making political statements in their music, and "Holiday" is a prime example of their willingness to speak truth to power.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Listen to the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
Falling down like a catastrophic event such as a nuclear explosion
A shame
Sadness and regret
The ones who died without a name
People who have passed away and are not remembered or recognized
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
Can hear the dogs barking loudly and not in tune with the music
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
To a song that represents hope and despair
And bleed, the company lost the war today
The company has experienced defeat and loss
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
I plead to have unique ideas that differ from the false statements
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is the beginning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
On vacation, enjoying a break from work or routine
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Hear the out-of-sync sounds of the drum
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
Another person has gone beyond the limits and boundaries set by authority
To find, the money's on the other side
To discover that the wealth and power is held by a different group
Can I get another Amen (Amen!)
Can I get another expression of agreement
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A flag is being used as a symbol for a group of people
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
A symbol of censorship, suppression and suffocation lies atop a monument
Sieg Heil to the president gasman
A chant of loyalty to the president who represents corporations as if they were Nazis
Bombs away is your punishment
The punishment is to initiate a war and drop bombs
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Destroy the famous symbol of France
Who criticize your government
Anyone who speaks out against the government is to be punished
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
The sound of breaking glass is accompanied by gunshots
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Eliminate all homosexuals who have opposing views
Trials by fire setting fire
Burning and causing harm to others as a way of judging them
Is not a way that's meant for me
That is not a path that I want to follow
Just cause
The reason for doing something that is just
Just cause
The reason for doing something that is just
Because we're outlaws yeah!
Because we are rebellious against what we believe is unjust
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ib5fj8gk9k
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
A shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause
Just cause
Because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on Holiday
@claudiaovalle1573
Escucha el sonido de la lluvia que cae
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Bajando como una llama de Armagedón (¡oye!)
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (hey!)
Es una pena
A shame
Los que murieron sin nombre
The ones who died without a name
Escucha a los perros aullando fuera de tono
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
A un himno llamado fe y miseria (¡hey!)
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
Y sangrar, la compañía perdió la guerra hoy
And bleed, the company lost the war today
Ruego soñar y diferir de las mentiras huecas
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
Este es el amanecer del resto de nuestras vidas.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
De vacaciones
On holiday
Escucha el tambor golpeando fuera del tiempo
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Otro manifestante ha cruzado la línea (¡oye!)
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
Para encontrar, el dinero está del otro lado
To find, the money's on the other side
¿Puedo obtener otro Amén (Amén!)
Can I get another Amen (Amen!)
Hay una bandera envuelta alrededor de una veintena de hombres (¡oye!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
Una mordaza, una bolsa de plástico en un monumento
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
Ruego soñar y diferir de las mentiras huecas
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
Este es el amanecer del resto de nuestras vidas.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
De vacaciones
On holiday
"El representante de California tiene la palabra"
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil al presidente gasman
Sieg Heil to the president gasman
@bepsis_336
When my guitar teacher taught me what a power chord is he said "congratulations. You can now play any Greenday song you want."
@DarthDestructusTheSithLord
Fucking legend
@mintsamich
wElL aCtUaLlY hOlIdAy Is BaR cHoRdS
@definitelynottheriddler9532
Lmfao
@pottergeist
Yep, any Ramones, Sex Pistols, Raimundos, NOFX (add the 3rd), Offspring, Pennywise, Frenzal Rhomb, Metallica the list goes on and on
@nathanmcguire932
@samich "iTs AKsHuAlLy 'BaRrE' cHoRds"
@trashhuman3977
This is the greatest chorus of all time
@nuke2625
For me green day has probably the best chorus catlouges in their discography than most of of artists.
Probably my best picks are..
Blvd of broken dreams
Holiday
American idiot
Redundant
Oh love
Longview
@marckovacs9468
Man, it really is.
@mareky505
Both Green Day and Foo Fighters are made for great choruses
There's no doubt about it