Revolution Radio is the third and title track of Green Day's twelfth album of the same name, Revolution Radio. It was released as the final single for the album on May 16, 2017.
Song Meaning[]
The song first originated as an experience with Billie Joe Armstrong at a Black Lives Matter movement, him stating that the values of people from the 50's were breaking and felt like he was on the right side of history. The song tackles various topics like being anti-establishment, activist movements, and showing support for what you believe in. The story mentions a movement willing to be fighting for what's right, and calling out people who were indoctrinated by the media to believe everything they say. However, the protest escalates as the peaceful rebels are being countered by violence, and the song mentions again that the truth is seen but will not be heard by the media.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Scream, with your hands up in the sky
Like you wanna testify
For the life that's been deleted
Sing, like a rebel's lullaby
Under the stars and stripes
For the lost souls that were cheated
[Pre-Chorus]
We will be seen, but not be heard
[Chorus]
We are Revolution Radio
Operation "No Control"
And the headline (Headline)
"My love's bullet proof"
Gimme cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
And the headline (Headline)
"Legalize the truth!"
[Verse 2]
(Gimme) Rage, like there's tear gas in the crowd
Do you wanna live out loud?
But the air is barely breathing
Rise, of the slums to the obsolete
The dawn of the new airwaves
For the anti-social media
[Chorus]
We are Revolution Radio
Operation "No Control"
And the headline (Headline)
"My love's bullet proof"
Gimme cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
And the headline (Headline)
"Legalize the truth!"
[Guitar Solo]
[Pre-Chorus]
We will be seen, but not be heard
We are the songs of the disturbed
[Chorus]
We are Revolution Radio
Operation "No Control"
And the headline (Headline)
"My love's bullet proof"
Gimme cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
And the headline (Headline)
"Legalize the truth!"