Macy's Day Parade

Album: Warning (2000)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is Billie Joe Armstrong's commentary on commercialism, and how people want materialistic things all the time. Macy's is a big department store that sponsors a Thanksgiving day parade in the US that is the height of commercialism, with branded floats and inflatables reminding us of all the great stuff we should buy for Christmas.

    In the song, Armstrong sees through the veneer and won't be spellbound by the giant Snoopy. He wants something, but you can't buy it. All he wants is to have hope in his life.
  • Armstrong explained in a promotional interview for the album: "It's sort of about the lies and deceptions that you have growing up and how you have to find your own way around." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Salinda - Portland, ME, for above 2
  • "Macy's Day Parade" is the last track on Warning, Green Day's sixth album. Commercially, it was a flop, merely going Gold when their previous three albums had all gone Double Platinum, but artistically it was a success, leading the way for their next album, American Idiot, in 2004.
  • Mark Kohr, who directed many of Green Days early videos, returned to helm "Macy's Day Parade." Kohr staged a parade when he made Alanis Morissette's "Hand In My Pocket" video, but he didn't go the parade route with this one, instead showing the band at an abandoned factory, following Armstrong in one continuous shot.

Comments: 12

  • AnonymousSomeone knows the location of this video?
  • Jake from OregonTim, how'd you associate chaos with the song?!
  • Lacey from Chicago, Ili could listen to this song for hours.
  • Blake from Redhook, Nyby the way life's been good was a song by the eagles that was written by joe walsh and i'm suprised he even remember's he wrote it i mean he admitts he doesn't remember a lot from his past anyway. but i like this song i think it's music video was exilent and it is an all around good song.
  • September Heaven from Lawton, MiSo why is there a Green Day Basher comment on here again? ne way I think it's very melodic which is great. .One of the reasons why I love Green day's songs is becuz you can listen to them at ne given time whether it be to PARTY or to just relax and be easy going. ♥☺
  • Tom from Mead County, KyI think Greenday put this song on warning just to show people that there not just punk rocker.

    I think this song is about billie stated that he wants to take a break from the media and trying to find the price for true hope in his life.
    -tom, ky
  • Erik from Willow Hill, Pait kind of sounds like he's talking about maturing and growing up to me
  • Tim from Dalton, MaThis song sounds like dying children, I rather listen to 24 straight hours of Gregorian Chants.
    You want a poetic song about the dangers of materialism, try Hotel California or Life in The Fast Lane or Life's Been Good
  • Ben from London, EnglandPart of it seems to criticise the way that the corporate world cash in on people's deaths "Its a lifetime guarantee, stuffed in a coffin 10% more free, the red light special at the mausoleum"
  • Tanya from London, United StatesThis is one of my fave green day songs
  • Ben from London, EnglandThis song is great and finishes the International Superhits album off nicely. 2nd best acoustic song by greenday behind Good Riddance IMO
  • Erik from Willow Hill, Pathis is a great song. it's lyrics are so poetic and nothing is flawless. i never saw the video.
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