Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Top 100 Songs
​Song #56

Green Day
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1986 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt. For much of the band's career, they have been a trio with drummer Tré Cool, who replaced John Kiffmeyer in 1990 prior to the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1991). Touring guitarist Jason White became a full-time member in 2012, but returned to his role as a touring member in 2016.

Green Day has sold more than 85 million records worldwide. The group has won five Grammy Awards.  VH1 ranked Green Day at No. 91 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, their first year of eligibility.

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is the fourth track from Green Day's seventh studio album, American Idiot, which was released in 2004. The song's lyrics were written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and the music was composed by the band. The song is really about a fictitious character in a fantasy concept carried throughout the album, so it is doubtful that there is any homeless meaning to the song originally. However, persons experiencing homelessness can relate to broken dreams, loneliness and walking the streets. Based on these things we can relatively connect the song to homelessness and it makes the Top 100 list. 

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
Lyrics

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Til then I walk alone
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the borderline of the edge
And where I walk alone
Read between the lines of what's
f**ked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Til then I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a
I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Til then I walk alone

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