East Jesus Nowhere by Green Day

Album: 21st Century Breakdown (2009)

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Songfacts®:

This song was previously titled "March of the Dogs." Billie Joe Armstrong told KROQ's Breakfast with Kevin and Bean that he got the new title from the movie Juno. It's the scene when Juno gets home late after visiting the adopting parents, and her step-mom says, "Why would you drive all the way to East Jesus nowhere?" >>
Suggestion credit:
Natalie - Los Angeles, CA
Singer Billie Joe Armstrong (From Q magazine May 2009): "It's inspired by Bill Maher's documentary Religulous. It's about the hypocrisy of religion. I think any good Christian would have doubts about religion."
Armstrong told The Sunday Times April 26, 2009 that the track was inspired by "the never-ending hypocrisy of religion, all those snake-oil-salesman types, and that subliminal thing of threatening people and ripping away their individuality." He added: "I went to a Baptist church when I was, like, 14, and they basically said, 'If you do not accept Jesus Christ into your life, you're going to burn for eternity.' I was this 14-year-old kid, and I was scared s--tless. But then you start to realize, they're all hypocrites. These kids there would be saying things like, 'If you're not paying attention right now, that's Satan taking your mind away.' It was evil. And me, I have ADHD, so I'm there thinking about a million things. I mean, God forbid that you might be sitting in church thinking, 'God, I'd really like to f--k that girl.' You know, 'Satan, get out of my brain.'"
Armstrong told Kerrang! May 9, 2009 the inspiration for the line: "Join the choir we will be singing/ In the church of wishful thinking." The singer explained that he was driving in Wisconsin, alongside his wife Adrienne and her brother when he saw a chapel called The Church Of Divine Hope. Armstrong said: "We'd been driving a while and we were rambling and laughing. I was looking at it deliriously and I thought, 'Oh my God, that's like calling it the Church of Wishful Thinking.' We started laughing hysterically, so I wrote it down and it ended up being in 'East Jesus.'"

Comments: 13

George Pope from Vancouver BcIt's good to highlight hypocrisy & tear down the idols of self-aggrandizement & the whole holier-than-thou BS. . & a fun song to listen to. I heard it first time today.
Orla from New ZealandI love this song alot. And I am a Christian and know ALOT of Christians who are so self-righteous, its sickening. This song is really good where it says 'all the white boys and the black girls/ you'll be soldiers of the new world', because it shows everyone is of the same equality.
Grantners from Culver CityAs a Christian, I have to agree that much of the self-righteous, conservative, hate cultivating Christians do a better job of turning people off of Jesus than anything else. This song exposes them well. This might seem a little far out, but I actually think that since (in my belief), there is a God, then there is a devil (who is still pissed about coming out of Georgia empty handed). His finest servants use the cross in this manner, as exposed by Bono with 'Sad eyes, crooked crosses-in God's Country'. So, I just hope people don't let the haters define what is actually beautiful & available to all of us.
Trevor from San Diego, CaI'm Christian and yeah I definitely see issues with certain organized religious institutions. There are so many misinterpreations of the Bible and Christianity in general that give us a bad rap. Really heavy awesome song overall.
Shane from Westminster, MdI agree that some Christians are hypocrites (and I'm a Christian) but not all of them are. No one is perfect and no one thing is gonna send you to hell. Great song though.
Squigle from Columbus, OhDoes anybody know what the "radio" parts at the begining are from? Some parts are familiar. Anyways, this song ROCKS!! Best from 21st Centrury Breakdown.
Alan from The Meadow Of Rainbows, United KingdomI once saw a church called "The Church of the Rock". I wonder if its like that bit in School of Rock...
Laura from Bham, United KingdomIs it me or at the beginning in all the radio static and channels is there a bit of of ¿Viva La Gloria? Little Girl?
James from Indianapolis, InThis is the best song on the album. I cant believe theres not more comments!!! Also I had friends that were like that.They would say if you didnt listen to Christan music you wouldnt go to heaven
Michael from Tucson, AzI'm a Christian, but I don't consider a relationship with Jesus a religion. But I definitely have a problem with organized religion, such as Baptism, Catholicism, and most other organized churches (*shudder* Scientology).
Joey from Miami, Flone of the heaviest songs on the album. Kick-ass song!
Jared from Elkton, MdI heard that the title came from the movie Juno.
Matt from Las Vegas, NvI'm a Christian and I can relate to what he is saying. It's a shame that there's Christians out there like that.

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