Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell
A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled
The last one born and the first one to run,
My town was blind from refinery sunMy generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadlineI was made of poison and blood
Condemnation is what I understood
Video games of the Tower's fall
Homeland security could kill us allMy generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadlineWe are the class of the class of thirteen
Born in the era of humility
We are the desperate in the decline
Raised by the bastards of 1969My name is no one, your long lost son
Born on the fourth of July
Raised in the era of heroes and cons
That left me for dead or aliveI am a nation, a worker of pride
My debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands there a means to an end
Is all that I have to showI swallowed my pride and choked on my faith
I've given my heart and my soul
I've broken my fingers and I've lied through my teeth
The pillar of damage controlI've been to the edge
And I've thrown the bouquet of flowers left over the grave
I sat in the waiting room, wasting my time
And waiting for Judgment DayI praise liberty
The freedom to obey
Is the song that strangles me
Well don't cross the lineOh, dream, America, dream
I can't even sleep
From the light's early dawn
Oh, scream, America, scream
Believe what you see
From heroes and cons
Songwriters
ARMSTRONG, BILLIE JOE/WRIGHT III, FRANK EDWIN/PRITCHARD, MIKE RYANPublished by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.