“I smell pot. Jesus is gonna git you!”- Billie Joe Armstrong onstage in Nashville, TN, 2005.

I think I’m going to test the waters and drop myself into a little bit of controversy. Well, perhaps it’s more of a touchy issue than it is controversial.
For starters, I love Green Day’s new album; it swirls and soars with great melodies, lyrics and the metaphors and symbols light up with a great flash in your mind. I’m tempted to say that they have outdone themselves again, and that’s probably true. “21st Century Breakdown” delves deeper into the human experience than “American Idiot” in my opinion; “AI” was more about turbulent political times, maybe even the revolutionary ideas bubbling beneath the surface of pacified America. “21st Century,” on the other hand, explores more of the emotions people keep inside, not necessarily just the political atmosphere, but the overall state of our lives and the lingering sense of hope we all feel. Of course, before Christian and Gloria get to the hope at the end with “See the Light,” Billie Joe throws them into turmoil.
Which brings me to “East Jesus Nowhere.”
And here comes the touchy issue. I am proud and happy to admit that this is song is my absolute favorite off the new album; I find it to be the perfect Green Day song (or one of the most perfect ones). Not only does it have kickass guitar riffs and a great drumline that gets your heart pounding, it also reveals what Green Day do best- conveying a message to us. Now, I fully understand why there are some people who could get angry with the band; after all, religion is a very personal thing. I have two good friends who are religious myself. But it’s a hallmark of Punk Rock- of all Rock and Roll- to stir up the masses and get everyone all riled up. To be honest, if Billie Joe can sing about his darkest thoughts or feelings- namely suicide and drug use- why is it so shocking for him to write about religion?
You could even see it coming. It’s not like he’s a stranger to this kind of word play, either: Jesus of Suburbia (one of the most vulnerable and tortured characters I’ve ever encountered) speaks for himself. The religious metaphors are even present in the Foxboro Hot Tubs songs, from ‘Mother Mary’ to ‘She’s a Saint, Not a Celebrity,’ and even my favorite line of ‘the Pedestrian’: “it don’t take a Jesus/to save my soul.” The new album is full of word plays as well, like “Christian’s Inferno,” which in my opinion is a very clever one.
But I still believe “East Jesus Nowhere” is the defining song of Billie Joe’s opinion on religion or even his fears about it- clearly he’s fascinated by it, in a way. The song leans more toward his disgust with the commercialism of religion rather than his dislike of the idea itself. I can understand how people are quick to judge the band for something like this, but the explanation is all there. What Billie Joe is calling ‘blasphemy’ is the fact that there is greed within the church, the one place that is supposed to be free of sin. I’m sure there are times when people like that slip through the cracks and get carried away with all the power. (But keep in mind, I’m not saying it’s true for every church out there).
As a writer, I really have to appreciate the words he uses to paint such vivid pictures; one thing that gives me the chills is the repeated shout of ’stand up! sit down!’ which I find to be a very eerie representation of the Catholic service. That is something so powerful to me.
My favorite line is what follows: ‘Say a prayer for the family/drop a coin for humanity/ Ain’t this uniform so flatterin’?’
I think Billie Joe is messing with our minds at this point, making us take the root out of what his lyrics are saying. He’s pulling you out of your comfort zone so gradually you don’t even realize it. Whether or not he meant to do this, I have no idea. I think he’s voicing his disgust in that sentence; the ‘uniform’ he speaks of is something both the church goers and religious figures would wear; all this control is giving them power- now they feel as though they have a voice, when the truth is, the church is telling them what to think, what to believe, and they mistake this attractive authority for individuality. To top it all off, they willingly accept this conformity. And Billie Joe is understandably maddened by what he now realizes.
I can understand his religious frustration, but in no way am I saying it’s all the same- that all religions and churches are hypocritical and oppressing of all personality. But I know how it can certainly throw your mind into a panic, so badly to the point where your thoughts go in continuous circles. It can make you feel terribly inadequate because your faith is lacking. Just as Billie experienced his moment of ‘oh my god, is he really saying that?!’ I did so as well. And that’s why the song speaks to me.
Which brings me (hopefully) to the point. “East Jesus Nowhere” should be taken for what it is- a rock and roll song. It’s not some kind rant that was purposefully put on the album to stir up controversy, it’s an anthem of a person’s personal view and opinion; it wasn’t directed at one religion in general, and it’s not specifying that one is better than the other. We shouldn’t hate Green Day for pronouncing their own beliefs, just as we shouldn’t hate others for having their own different beliefs. The way I see it is, if you can find something like Punk Rock- which gives you everything and asks for nothing in return except maybe a profound thought; something that everyone can share, people from all backgrounds, races and creeds…
Why let something like a simple opinion keep you from enjoying it?
I’m thankful Billie Joe shared his message with us, even if not all of us can agree with him or like him for it. If anything, just immerse yourself in the music and be taken away from your world along with it.
Choosing whether or not to take meaning from it is entirely up to you.

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