Green Day: Macy's Day Parade Meaning

Macy's Day Parade Lyrics

Today's the Macy's Day parade.
The night of the living dead is on it's way...
with a credit report for duty call.
It's a lifetime guarantee.
Stuffed in a coffin 10% more free.
Red light special at the mausoleum.

Give me something that I...

1. anonymous

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   Jan 6th 2018 !⃝

   Absolutely my favorite Christmas song. The parade marks the start of the holiday season. Night of the Living Dead refers to Jesus' birthday.
   It's a race to Black Friday, where everyone is willing to fight for that coveted item. We're taught as children to believe in Santa and expect wonderful gifts. But as we grow up and realize that the whole ritual of Christmas is a lie. We also realize the real hope does not lie within maxed out credit cards, but in the time spent with loved ones.
   (Skip the "$ale" Hug your people)
   
   ♡Green Day saved my life♡
2. anonymous

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   May 11th 2012 !⃝

   I interpret this song as a funeral procession of an army soldier who gave up his life during the war. billie-joe is very particular in writing songs about war. this certainly is a mockery of the ill effects of war. An officer who has lost his life and is being taken to the mausoleum for burial. Now that he is no more he reflects on his desires of a " brand new home " and his " consolation price for his efforts. This is tragic as he won't be able to avail all that is material. Yet he deserves and recieves all due respects.
3. anonymous

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   Mar 15th 2012 !⃝

   This is my favorite Green Day song because of how many ways each individual can interpret it.
   
   "Today's the Macy's Day parade.
   The night of the living dead is on it's way...
   with a credit report for duty call.
   It's a lifetime guarantee.
   Stuffed in a coffin 10% more free.
   Red light special at the mausoleum."
   
   The Macy's Day parade is held anually on Thanksgiving. This represents how people have lost their touch with family, and focus on material things. People are so obsessed with getting a good deal that they would look to find a sale even on their own coffin.
   
   "Give me something that I need.
   Satisfaction guaranteed to you.
   What's the consolation prize?
   Economy sized dreams of hope."
   
   People are looking out for what they want - and if they don't get it, they end up with something small, useless, and unappealing. Economy sized dreams of hope may also refer to Billie Joe's reflection on humanity; having no faith in the material nature of people.
   
   "When I was a kid, I thought...
   I wanted all the things that I haven't got.
   Oh, but I learned the hardest way.
   Then I realized what it took...
   to tell the difference between thieves and crooks.
   A lesson learned for me and you."
   
   As a child, we all want things we can't have. Again, these are material things. And then one of my favorite lines, the difference between thieves and crooks. Thieves steal your items, tangible things. Crooks (perhaps a reference to Nixon's, "I'm not a crook") steal something else - our sense of security, our trust. They are the ones who really rob us. This is something we all learn as we grow up.
   
   "'Cause I'm thinkin about a brand new hope.
   The one I've never known.
   'Cause now I know it's all that I wanted."
   
   We eventually all find the one thing that means the most to us - be it a lover, a career, or a family . Nothing else can compare to it. And you learn that this is what you wanted all along.
4. anonymous

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   Sep 16th 2009 !⃝

   this song didn't get a whole lot of play when it came out and to me this is absolutely beautiful and doesn't get enough justice. this is a more political song, "whats the consulation price, economy sized dreams of hope..." and so on and so forth. and mainly im pretty sure its about Billie Joe's younger days as a kid and him not having a lot of material items, but wanting them. and now that he's older he knows what he wants, his family to be happy and such.

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