Longview

Green Day

About Longview

"Longview" is the lead single and fourth song from American rock band Green Day's third album, Dookie. The song was the band's first single to top the Modern Rock chart in the U. S. The music video for this song received heavy airplay on MTV and is largely credited for breaking Green Day into mainstream popularity. The video was directed by the Bay Area music video director Mark Kohr who collaborated with the band on many music videos. The song describes intense boredom. Lyrically, the song is about a day spent sitting around the house, doing absolutely nothing of importance, masturbating, and smoking marijuana until the days are no longer fun. The song captured the attention of many youth at the time with its overt allusions to masturbation. Bassist Mike Dirnt has stated that the famous bass line intro to this song was written one night while he was high on LSD, and what remains on the album is what he and lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong could recall in the morning. At most shows in the 21st Century Breakdown World Tour and Revolution Radio Tour, Billie Joe picked a random audience member to sing the song or play the song on electric guitar onstage. The song is named after the city of Longview, Washington, where it was first performed in 1992. The band had already written the song prior to arriving in the city. In 1995, Green Day received four Grammy Award nominations, including Best Hard Rock Performance for "Longview". The band won Best Alternative Music Performance for Dookie. The song was ranked at number 3 on the list of the Best Singles of 1994 by Rolling Stone. The song can also be found as the third track on their 2001 greatest hits collection International Superhits!, and a live performance can be found on the Bullet in a Bible CD and DVD. 


Year:
2001
3:54
460 
#1

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I sit around and watch the tube but, nothing's on
I change the channels for an hour or two
Twiddle my thumbs just for a bit
I'm sick of all the same old shit
In a house with unlocked doors
And I'm fucking lazy

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored, I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

Peel me off this Velcro seat and get me moving
I sure as hell can't do it by myself
I'm feeling like a dog in heat
Barred indoors from the summer street
I locked the door to my own cell
And I lost the key

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored, I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

I got no motivation
Where is my motivation
No time for motivation
Smoking my inspiration

I sit around and watch the phone, but no one's calling
Call me pathetic, call me what you will
My mother says to get a job
But she don't like the one she's got
When masturbation's lost its fun
You're fucking lonely

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored, I'm going blind
And loneliness has to suffice
Bite my lip and close my eyes
Slipping away to paradise
Some say, quit or I'll go blind
But it's just a myth

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Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, drummer Tré Cool and guitarist and backing vocalist Jason White, who became a full member after playing in the band as a session and touring guitarist for 13 years. Cool replaced former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990, prior to the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1992). more »

20 fans

Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Frank E. III Wright, Mike Ryan Pritchard

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Longview" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day. The band was formed in 1986 by vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt.
Album
It is the lead single from their third studio album "Dookie" released in 1994.
First Major Label Release
"Longview" was Green Day's first single to be released through a major label, marking their transition from local punk musicians to mainstream pop-punk artists.
Inspired By Boredom
The song was written by Green Day during a period of boredom; its lyrics reflect the band's attempt to stave off ennui.
Unique Basis
The basis of the song is defined by its distinctive bass line, which was composed by bassist Mike Dirnt while he was under the influence of LSD.
Instrument Acquisition
The drum set that is played in the song's music video was reportedly stolen from the University of California, Berkeley.
Awards
The song helped Green Day win the 'Best Breakthrough Video' at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1994.
Chart Performance
"Longview" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, their first single to top these charts.
Title Origin
The song is named after the city of Longview, Washington, where the song was first performed in 1992.
Rolling Stone Ranking
Rolling Stone ranked it among the top 500 greatest songs of all time.
Songwriting Credits
All of the band members, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool, are given songwriting credits for "Longview".
Controversial Lyrics
The song contains explicit lyrics dealing with boredom, masturbation, and apathy, which were controversial at the time of its release.
Cultural Impact
"Longview" is often credited with helping to bring punk rock music into the mainstream in the mid-1990s.
Multi-Dimension Lyrics
Despite its controversial, explicit lyrics, some fans and critics have described "Longview" as a deep introspection of youth.
Live Performances
"Longview" often invites audience participation in live performances, with band inviting fans onstage to sing along.

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