American Eulogy

Album: 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is made up of two songs, "Mass Hysteria" and "Modern World." Vocalist and chief songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong explained to Q magazine May 2009: "It swirls all the information that's going on in the record around in an emotional blender. At the end it's going to sound like a wall of TV screens. It's sensory overload."
  • Green Day were recording the drums for this two-part song on election night in November 2009, when Barack Obama was elected president. Drummer Tré Cool recalled to Q magazine May 2009: "It was pretty insane. We were running in and telling Butch (Vig, producer), Yeah, we got another state!" Cool added that the song title is "kind of fitting, especially if Obama would have lost. We'd be busy trying to start a revolution if McCain had won."

Comments: 2

  • Cage from Ottawa, KsIt is possible that the verse structure for the first part could be based on the verse structure from Deadbeat Holiday from Warning.
  • Michael from Staten Island, NyAwesome song from an overall decent album, best part has to be the ending when the two songs 'collide'.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.