Song Project

"Minority" by Green Day

I want to be the minority

I don't need your authority

Down with the moral majority'

Cause I want to be the minority

I pledge allegiance to the underworld

One nation under dog

There of which I stand alone

A face in the crowd

Unsung, against the mold

Without a doubt

Singled out

The only way I know

I want to be the minority

I don't need your authority

Down with the moral majority

'Cause I want to be the minority

Stepped out of the line

Like a sheep runs from the herd

Marching out of time

To my own beat now

The only way I know

One light, one mind

Flashing in the dark

Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts

"For crying out loud" she screamed unto me

A free for all

F*** 'em all

You are your own sight

I want to be the minority

I don't need your authority

Down with the moral majority

'Cause I want to be the minority

The song I chose is "Minority." I would say it fits under the pop punk genre like the rest of Green Day’s music. As for historical influences, it isn’t influenced by any classical European music or anything like that, but when I first heard it years ago I was reminded of the folk protest songs of the 1960’s by artists like Bob Dylan. But obviously it sounds a lot more modern and still retains that punk undertone that is ever present in Green Day songs. Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer and guitarist, wrote it and it is on the band’s sixth album, Warning, that came out in 2000. I think the song talks about having individuality and breaking away from the mold of "every day" American society to do what you want.
The song starts out with a short acoustic introduction and then immediately goes into the chorus. It then goes into the verse, the chorus again, and then there is a bridge ("Stepped out of the line…"). And then the song goes into the verse and the chorus after once more before ending with the same acoustic part at the start of the song. There are 32 stanzas.
In regards to society, "Minority" shows the struggle of people of younger generations to be different. It could be hard for them because of all of the trends that go on in our society and also with other elements (such as government, authority figures, other people, etc.) could be oppressing them as well. So, this song protests to this kind of oppression (in an upbeat way), and can inspire people to be the "minority."