ApologetiX- Song Lyrics: Boulevard of Both Extremes

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Chart History
From the album American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams was a #2 Pop, #1 Modern Rock hit for Green Day in 2005.

Songwriter:
Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tre Cool

J's Journal:
Quick -- name something worse for your social life in ancient Judea than having leprosy. How about having leprosy AND being a Samaritan? That's the situation faced by the main character in this song, based on Luke 17:11-19. Put yourself in this guy's sandals: Every time when you come around a group of people you have to give them a warning that you're a leper -- as if they couldn't figure that out for themselves. Then, after they've taken a long look at you as you pass by and disappear down the lonely road, you can hear them muttering things like, "Good riddance" and "Samaritan idiot!" That could tend to make a person a little jaded or even turn them into a basket case. To this guy's credit, he persevered, and found out something very cool: the Jesus of Nazareth and all Judea was also the Jesus of Samaria. When reading this story in the Bible, I've tried to use it as an inspiration to remember to thank God for answered prayers. I always liked the old Andrae Crouch song "Take a Little Time" that deals with the same topic. I don't remember where I was when I first got the idea for this song, but I know where I was when I got the last parts and the title -- on my way to get my driver's license renewed.

Stats:
Genre: Modern Rock
Length: 4:22

Boulevard of Both Extremes
Parody of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
(Luke 17:11-19)

I walk Galilee road – I know no one and I am an unknown
I’m Samaritan, though – got a known disease but I got no home
I’ve got this leprosy – all the folks who are approaching scream
Where’s their sympathy? They run and show me none, but I’m not alone
I’m not alone, I’m not alone, I’m not alone, I’m not a

My fellow homeless ones, they walk beside me
We share those marks that go with skin diseases
There’s nine Jewish among us -- they don’t mind me
With them, I’m not alone

We’re all from Palestine – race divides us but their skin’s like mine
And like Frankenstein – ugly, wretched, scarred like Al Capone
We see Jesus Christ – let’s walk up to Him He seems all right
Yet in Bible times, we know it’s not allowed, we must walk alone
But I’m not alone, I’m not alone, I’m not alone, I’m not a-

My fellow homeless ones who walk beside me
They shout “Have mercy on us, please Lord Jesus!”
Then Christ says we should turn from there and find priests
To them I’ve got to go
I'm not alone, I'm not a-

My God just set me free from a cruel, bizarre, awful disease
Went to see the priests and on the road the Lord was my doctor
My fellow homeless ones were healed just like me
I shall embark to go give thanks to Jesus
The nine all wish me luck but stay behind me
And then I walk alone

Luke 17:15-16
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.