Last of the American Girls

Album: 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • One of the inspirations for this pop-punk number was the time vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong spent in New Orleans helping build houses for those made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. He explained to Q magazine May 2009: "I started writing it for my wife, but there's elements of Hurricane Katrina and (pro-cycling activists) Critical Mass. It adds those elements to one character who has this left wing strength."

Comments: 3

  • Morgan from Fargo, Ndi don't think he meant he was singing about the hurricane itself...more like this girl surviving and helping and just being what america used to be..
  • James from Indianapolis, InSeriously. Still a great song and a great album. Rock on Green Day!!!
  • Ashley from Edmonton, Abhow does this song
    relate to katrina exactly???
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.