Version 1.3: Extraordinary Girl and Boulevard of Broken Dream both
have changes to their chorus.
Version 1.2: Changed first chord in the Holiday intro.
Version 1.1: Added more accurate 'chorus' bit for Letterbomb and
changed some 'D's to 'Dm's in Extraordinary Girl. Also took out
an extra repeat of a chord or two in the chorus to Tales of Another
Broken Home. Guess I got a little cut and paste happy.
This is a tab for the entire American Idiot Album, front to back,
lyrics included. If you want to post this somewhere, or use parts
of it, just keep my name and e-mail on it and you can do whatever
I am extremely confident about the accuracy of each tab, and I tried
to make each one as easy to understand as possible. But given the
structure of some of the songs, that was a little difficult. Just
pay close attention to the "Order" section of each tab and you'll be
For most of the tabs, the strumming pattern/timing is not included.
All tuning is standard (E A D G B E) except for Whatsername, which
is in drop D (D A D G B E).
V. Tales of Another Broken Home
4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
11. Wake Me Up When September Ends
I. The Death of St. Jimmy
IV. Rock and Roll Girlfriend
V. We're Coming Home Again
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The xxx000 in the Main Riff/Verse is often overlooked.
Listen to the song carefully; it often replaces the final F#5.
As far as I've seen, though, they don't bother with it while
playing live, so you can just play an F#5 instead.
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----F#5----------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|------6---------6-----------------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6---4---------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6---4---------|
E|-4---------2--------4---2---------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----0---------|
B|------------------------0---------|
G|------6---------6-------0---------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6-------------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6-------------|
E|-4---------2--------4-------------|
e|---------------G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----F#5-----|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------6---------6------------|
D|--(drums)------6----6----4----6---6---4----|
A|---------------6----4----4----4---6---4----|
E|---------------4---------2--------4---2----|
e|---------------G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----0-----|
B|--------------------------------------0-----|
G|--------------------6---------6-------0-----|
D|--(drums)------6----6----4----6---6---------|
A|---------------6----4----4----4---6---------|
E|---------------4---------2--------4---------|
e|---------------G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----F#5-----|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------6---------6------------|
D|--(drums)------6----6----4----6---6---4----|
A|---------------6----4----4----4---6---4----|
E|---------------4---------2--------4---2----|
e|---------------G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5---------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------6---------6------------|
D|--(drums)------6----6----4----6---6--------|
A|---------------6----4----4----4---6--12---|
E|---------------4---------2--------4--------|
e|-C#5-----G#5-----D#5-----G#5------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|-6---------8----------------|
D|-6----6----8----6-----------|
A|-4----6----6----6-----------|
E|------4---------4-----------|
e|-C#5-----G#5-----D#5---------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|-6---------8--------------|
D|-6----6----8--------------|
A|-4----6----6--------------|
E|------4-------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-6---8-8-8-8-8-8/10-8-6-5-----------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--6-4---6-6-6-6-6-6/8--6-4-3-----------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------6----8----6----------------------|
B|-------------------------9-----------------9v------------------|
G|--3-3-3-3-3-5-6-5-3---66---66---66---66--6---------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-6---8-8-8-8-8/10-8-6-5-------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--6-4---6-6-6-6-6/8--6-4-3-------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--3-3-3-3-3-5-6-5-3-8/13v--------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5-----0--------|
B|-------------------------0--------|
G|------6---------6--------0--------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6-------------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6-------------|
E|-4---------2--------4-------------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----F#5----------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|------6---------6-----------------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6---4---------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6---4---------|
E|-4---------2--------4---2---------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----0---------|
B|------------------------0---------|
G|------6---------6-------0---------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6-------------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6-------------|
E|-4---------2--------4-------------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5----F#5----------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|------6---------6-----------------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6---4---------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6---4---------|
E|-4---------2--------4---2---------|
e|-G#5-----C#5-----F#5-----C#5----G#5--------------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|------6---------6-----------------|
D|-6----6----4----6---6-------------|
A|-6----4----4----4---6-------------|
E|-4---------2--------4-------------|
Chorus w/ Solo (no lyrics)
Second part of Main Riff x5
Don't wanna be an American idiot
Don't want a nation under the new media (Verse 1)
Hey, can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind-fuck America
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Everything isn't meant to be OK (Chorus)
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
Well that's enough to argue
Well, maybe I'm the faggot, America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda (Verse 2)
Now everybody do the propaganda
And sing along in the age of paranoia
Don't wanna be an American idiot
One nation controlled by the media (Verse 3)
Information age of hysteria
It's going out to idiot America
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
Track 2: Jesus of Suburbia
------------------------------------------------------------
The song is split up into 5 parts as describe by the CD booklet,
and I've tabbed each one as it's own song.
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
e|-C#5-----------A#5-----------F#5-----------------G#5-----------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-6-6-6-------------------------------------------------|
D|-6-6-6-6----8-8-8-8----444444444444444--666666666666666--|
A|-4-4-4-4----8-8-8-8----444444444444444--666666666666666--|
E|------------6-6-6-6----222222222222222--444444444444444--|
e|----------------------|
B|----------------------|
G|-6-6------------------|
D|-6-6--6-6--4-4444444--|
A|-4-4--6-6--4-4444444--|
E|------4-4--2-2222222--|
e|-C#5-----------F5-----------A#5-------G#5-------F#5---|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|-6-6-6-6--------------------------------|
D|-6-6-6-6----3-3-3-3----8-8-8--6-6-6--4--|
A|-4-4-4-4----3-3-3-3----8-8-8--6-6-6--4--|
E|------------1-1-1-1----6-6-6--4-4-4--2--|
I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of Suburbia (Verse 1)
From the Bible of none of the above
No one ever died for my sins in hell (Verse 2)
At least the ones I've gotten away with
And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be (Chorus)
In a land of make believe
Sitting on my crucifix (Verse 3)
The living room in my private womb
While the moms and brads are away
To fall in love and fall in debt
To alcohol and cigarettes (Verse 4)
And Mary Jane to keep me insane
And doing someone else's cocaine
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------| Come in from final F#5 of Jesus of Suburbia
e|-C#5--------A#5----G#5-------F#5----G#5----|
B|----------------------------|
G|-6---6----------------------|
D|-6---6---8---6------4---6---|
A|-4---3---8---6------4---6---|
E|---------6---4------2---4---|
e|-A#5------G#5------C#5------F#5------A#5------G#5------F#5----|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-------------6---------------------------|
D|-8-----6-----6-----4-----8-----6-----4---|
A|-8-----6-----4-----4-----8-----6-----4---|
E|-6-----4-----------2-----6-----4-----2---|
At the center of the earth
In the parking lot (Verse 1)
Of the 7-11 were I was taught
It says home is were your heart is
But what a shame (Verse 2)
Cause everyone's heart doesn't beat the same
We're beating out of time
At the end of another lost highway
Sign misleading to nowhere (Chorus)
Lost children with there dirty faces today
No one really seems to care
In the bathroom stall (Verse 3)
Like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall
And so it seemed to confess
But it only confirmed that (Verse 4)
The center of the earth is the end of the world
And I could really care less
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
G#5 C#5 G#5 C#5 F#5 C#5 G#5 x5
e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|--------6------------6------------6------------|
D|-6------6-----6------6-----4------6-------6----|
A|-6------4-----6------4-----4------4-------6----|
E|-4------------4------------2--------------4----|
e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------6-----7-7-77-6-------9v---|
G|--------6-6-6----------8-6----------8-6-8------|
D|-6-6-66-------6-6-66---------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
e|--------|---------------|
B|--------|---------------|
G|--------|--6------------|
D|-4-6----|--6-----7-6----|
A|-4-6----|--4-----7-6----|
E|-2-4----|--------5-4----|
e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|-------(bass)------------------|
D|------------------------7-6----|
A|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4----7-6----|
E|------------------------5-4----|
e|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|
G|-----------6--------------------|
D|-4----6----6-6--------4----6----|
A|-4----6----4-6--------4----6----|
E|-2----4------4--------2----4----|
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't (Intro) x4
I don't care if you don't care
Everyone is so full of shit
Burn and raised by hipocrits
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave (Verse)
We are the kids of war and peace
From Anaheim to the Middle Mast
We are the stories and disciples
And it don't believe in me (Chorus)
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
The first time, a distorted electric guitar strums each
chord once. After that, an acoustic strums through them
with the electric palm muting.
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|------5----6-------8---|
D|-6----5----6----6--8---|
A|-6----3----4----6--6---|
E|-4--------------4------|
Dearly beloved are you listening?
I cant remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or are we disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my beat excuse
------------------------------------------------------------
V. Tales of Another Broken Home
------------------------------------------------------------
e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|--------(bass)------------6----|
D|-6--------------------4---6----|
A|-6--------------------4---4----|
E|-4---4-4-4-4-4-4-4----2--------|
e|-G#5---------------------F#5----C#5-----|
B|-------------------------------|
G|--------------------------6----|
D|-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6----4---6----|
A|-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6----4---4----|
E|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4----2--------|
C# G# C# G# C# D# G# D# G# D# x2
e|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|-6-----6-----6-----8-----8-----8-----|
D|-6--6--6--6--6-----8--6--8--6--8-----|
A|-4--6--4--6--4-----6--6--6--6--6-----|
E|----4-----4-----------4-----4--------|
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------|
D|-10-13---13-15-11-13------11-10--10-11-8-10---|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9p8p6-9p8p6-9p8p6-9p6---11p9p8-11p9p8-11p9p8-11p9p8-11p8---|
D|----------------------8----------------------------------10-|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
C#I don't feel D#any shame
C#When there ain't D#nowhere you can G#go
C#Running aD#way from pain
When yG#ou've been victimC#ized
C#Tales from aD#nother broken...
To live and not to breathe
Is to die in tragedy (Verse 1)
This hurricane of fucking lies
This town that don't exist (Verse 2)
This hurricane of fucking lies
Walked this line (Chorus 2)
A million and one fucking times
When there ain't nowhere you can go (Piano Interlude)
When you've been victimized
Tales from another broken...
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
e|-F5----C#5----G#5----D#5----|
e|-F5----C#5----G#5----D#5-------F5----C#5----G#5----C5------F5----C#5----G#5----D#5-----C5----|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|-10--6-------8------10--6-------5------10--6-------8---5---|
D|-10--6---6---8------10--6---6---5------10--6---6---8---5---|
A|-8---4---6---6------8---4---6---3------8---4---6---6---3---|
E|---------4------------------4------------------4-----------|
e|-F5-------C#5-------G#5-------D#5-------F5-------C#5-------G#5-------C5----|
B|------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-------------8-------------6-------------5---|
D|-3------6------6------8------3------6------6------5---|
A|-3------4------6------6------3------4------6------3---|
E|-1-------------4-------------1-------------4----------|
F5 G#5 C# A# D# F F5 G# D# C F x2
e|------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|---------6-----8---------------8-----10---|
D|-3---6---6--8--8--10----3---6--8--10-10---|
A|-3---6---4--8--6--10----3---6--6--10-8----|
E|-1---4------6-----8-----1---4-----8-------|
e|-C#5----------G#5-------------C5---------F5--------D#5-------|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|-6----------------------5--------10------8------|
D|-6---------6------------5--------10------8------|
A|-4---------6------------3--------8-------6------|
E|-----------4------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------8------8----|
B|-----------8-9----------8----------------8---8--|
G|-10-10-10------8-6-5--5---9-5--5/10---10--------|
D|------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|
C#5 G#5 C5 (strum through)
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-6----------------------5-------------------------------------------|
D|-6---------6------------5-------------------------------------------|
A|-4---------6------------3-------------------------------------------|
E|-----------4--------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------------12-12-12-12-12/13---|
B|-----------8-9-------------------------13-13-13---------------------|
G|-10-10-10------8-6-5-55/12-12-12-12-12------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------4-----6----------------------6-----8------|
E|--1-1-1--4-4-4-----6-----81---1-1-1--4-4-4-----8-----1--|
e|---------------------------------------------D#---C5---F5-------|
B|---This-is-played-on--------------------------------------|
G|--------the-sixth-repeat:--------------------8-----10-----|
D|---------------------------------------------8--10-10-----|
A|---------------------------------------------6--10-8------|
E|------------------------------------------------8---------|
e|-F5----G#5----D#5----C5----F5-----F5---|
B|-------------------------|
G|-10--6---8-------10------|
D|-10--6---8---10--10---3--|
A|-8---4---6---10--8----3--|
E|-------------8--------1--|
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!) (Verse 1)
The shame, the ones who die without a name
There's a song sounding out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (Hey!) (Verse 2)
A plead, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives (Chorus)
There's a drum pounding out of time
Another protestor has crossed the line (Hey!) (Verse 3)
The line, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around the score of men (Hey!) (Verse 4)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
The representative from California has the floor:
"Sieg Heil!" to the president gasbag
"Bombs away!" is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel Towers
Criticize your government (Interlude)
"Bang Bang!" goes the broken glass man
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Triumph by fires, setting fires
It's not a way that's meant for me
Just cause... just cause - because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
Track 4: Boulevard of Broken Dreams
------------------------------------------------------------
e|-----------------------|
B|--8-9---9/13-11---8-9--|
G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|
e|------------------------------|
B|-------8-9---9/13-11---8-9--9-|
G|-10-10------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------|
B|--------8-9--9/13-11-13-13-13-13-13-13-|
G|-10-10---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------|
B|-13-13-13-13-13-13-13------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
e|--F1----G#4----D#6----A#6---|
C#5 G#5 D#5 F5 x3 C#5 G#5 C5
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|--6---------8------------6---------5---|
D|--6----6----8----3-------6----6----5---|
A|--4----6----6----3-------4----6----3---|
E|-------4---------1------------4--------|
e|--------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|-------4-4-4-6-6-6-5-5-5--------------|
E|-1-1-1-------------------4-4-4-0-0-0--|
e|--------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------6-6-2-2-----|
A|-------4-4-4-6-6-6-5-5-5--6-6-2-2-----|
E|-1-1-1--------------------4-4-0-0-----|
Verse (2x alone, 1x w/Riff 1)
Verse (2x alone, 2x w/Riff 1)
Verse (4x alone, 1x w/Riff 1)
Verse (2x alone, 2x w/Riff 1)
Chorus (w/end of Riff 2 after 2nd repeat)
The only one I that have ever known
But its home and I walk alone
On the boulevard of broken dreams
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone I walk alone
My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I'll walk alone
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
Read between the lines of what's
Fucked up and every things all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
I walk alone I walk alone
My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I'll walk alone
On the boulevard of broken dreams
And I'm the only one and I walk a-
My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I'll walk alone
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
Track 5: Are We The Waiting
------------------------------------------------------------
The song is mostly just arpeggios, it's very simple.
Throughout the whole song, another guitar strums the chord
once while the main guitar goes through the arppeggios.
Main Riff (Intro/Verse/Chorus):
e|-A--------------------------D------2-----------2-------|
B|-------2-----------2-----------3---3-------3---3-----|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-------2-------2---2-------2---|
D|---2-------2---2-------2---0-----------0-------------|
A|-0-----------0---------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
(This dirty town, is burnin' down, in my dreams)
e|-Fm-------------------E--------------D--------------------------|
B|---------11---------------8------/7-----7-----------7-------|
G|------10----10----------9---9----/7---7---7-------7---7-----|
D|---10----------10-----9-------9-----7-------7---7-------7---|
A|-9------------------7-------------------------5-------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
^This slide is actually played by
the second guitar, but you can play
Starry nights city lights
Coming down over me (Verse 1)
Skyscrapers and stargazers
Are we we are, Are we we are
This dirty town was burning down in my dreams (Pre-Chorus)
Lost and found city bound in my dreams
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting (Chorus)
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
Forget me nots and second thoughts
Heads or tails and fairytales (Verse 2)
Are we we are, Are we we are
The rage and love, the story of my life (Pre-Chorus)
The Jesus of suburbia is a lie
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
Are we we are, Are we we are the waiting
************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Second guitar is palm muting the open A string.
e|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|----------7------------7------9--7---|
D|-7--------7--7---------7------9--7---|
A|-7--------5--7---------5------7--5---|
E|-5-----------5-----------------------|
e|-D5--------A5--------D5--------E5----|
B|-----------------------------|
G|-7---------------7-------9---|
D|-7-------7-------7-------9---|
A|-5-------7-------5-------7---|
E|---------5-------------------|
e|-A5----------D5----------E5----------A5--------------|
B|---------------------------------------------|
G|-----------7-7-7-7---9-9-9-9---14-14-14-14---|
D|-7-7-7-7---7-7-7-7---9-9-9-9---14-14-14-14---|
A|-7-7-7-7---5-5-5-5---7-7-7-7---12-12-12-12---|
E|-5-5-5-5-------------------------------------|
e|-A5--------------D5----------E5--------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------|
G|-14-14-14-14---7-7-7-7---9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|
D|-14-14-14-14---7-7-7-7---9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|
A|-12-12-12-12---5-5-5-5---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|----------7-------------7--------|
D|-7--------7--------5----7----7---|
A|-7--------5--------5----5----7---|
E|-5-----------------3---------5---|
Behind the first repitition of the bridge is a second guitar
-RoA5ck Ve Ötesi KolD5onisi-A5 D5 G5