Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (demo version)

All other uploads I could find had a really bad audio, so I decided to reupload this...
This is a demo version of the song "21st Century Breakdown", leaked before the album release.
Lyrics:
Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell
A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled
The last one born and the first one to run
My town was blind from refinery sun.
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
to the 20th century deadline
I was made of poison and blood
Combination is what I understood
From Mexico to the Berlin Wall
Homeland security could kill us all
We are the cries of the class of '13
born in the year of humility
we are the desperate in the decline
raised by the bastards of 1969
My name is 'No one' your long lost son
born on the 4th of July
Raised in the barnyards of heroes and cons
left me for dead or alive
There is a war that's inside my head
that questions the results and lies
I'm breaking my back till I'm better off dead
When enough ain't enough to survive
I am an agent, a worker, a pawn
my debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands and a means to an end
it's all that I have to show
I'm taking a loan on my sanity
for the redemption of my soul
well I am exempt from this tragedy
and the 21st century fall
I praise liberty
the freedom to obey
It's a song that strangles me
well don't cross the line
Oh, dream, American dream
I can't even sleep
from rainstorms till dawn
Oh, bleed, America, bleed
Believe what you read
from heroes and cons..

[@Dezsi]

I remember hearing this for the first time. I still prefer this to the version on the actual record.

[@OutFreak28]

I think it was probably december... 2010? I was sure the first version they used on mtv was different, and better

[@shhitsironic2663]

I prefer the live version

[@kennymccoy662]

OutFreak28 this leaked in 2008

[@XenuLordofTheSky]

OutFreak28 This was leaked by a Green Day fansite in 2008. The whole record would have been a year old based on your date. It was never on MTV, the official LP version was made into a video and aired on MTV. I followed this album way too closely when it came out xD

[@mattorlando415]

Agree!

[@m3mory_ram]

"From Mexico to the Berlin Wall, Homeland security could kill us all" Man, That's really powerful, I don't understand why this version is not available in the album, but I'm glad we know about it...

[@dennycezarr]

It’s because we are latinos hermano

[@cullenkarra9219]

i know that its insignificant but the way he sings "the last one born and the first one to run" in this version...beyond goosebumps

[@disasterpiece16]

Cullen Karra I know, when I first heard the album version, I wanted to toss it out the car window.

[@smosh9976]

Dude you don't get the fucking line its means this: he is the youngest child out of 6 in his family and he was the first to leave home dumbass

[@PersonMan1]

@@smosh9976 WE WERENT TALKING ABOUT THE MEANING DAMN IDIOT

[@AnakinSkypeWalker]

agree

[@trockeneiscreme7713]

@@smosh9976 Not so smartass.

[@MrSheroxxx]

I don't really know why, but this piano intro sound to me like a kind of 21st Century Breakdown album anthem.

[@anthonysclafani3963]

You can really hear the Who influence in this song

[@kennymccoy662]

Anthony Sclafani they covered A Quick One While He's Away during these sessions

[@anierrn6935]

Baba O'Riley chords at the beginning

[@brianthompson5843]

They really played with a Who sound on American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. A lot of the songs sound like something Roger Daltrey would sing.

[@piotrzmudzki7748]

One dislike is from someone Born in 1969

[@danielbrown1998]

The lyrics in this are so much better than the final album track!

[@sharkinfestedwaters97]

"From mexico to the berlin wall" is a much better quote than "From video games and the towers fall"

[@soacespacestation8556]

​@@sharkinfestedwaters97It's a story, not a quote index. Although yes, it sounds better.

[@mr7aussie7]

Love all the different lyrics changes in this demo

[@andrewmarsh1584]

I like the intro on the demo version way better.

[@gamesinabit]

I just like the demo version way better

[@soacespacestation8556]

See The Light would sound bad with that intro though

[@grxninesix]

I remembered my first year of guitar practicing.. I listened a lot of American idiot songs then finally.... I saw that a new album was coming. This is one of the best part of my musical years.

[@RobotGangstaGamer]

I grabbed this from Limewire one day and wondered why it was different than the album version

[@epichalocat]

This is badass. I love the original but this is beautiful. It's so professional and punk rock at the same time.

[@XenuLordofTheSky]

Nothing Punk Rock about Green Day.

[@rudranshsharma7064]

@@XenuLordofTheSky Anyone who says Green Day isn't Punk has barely listened to them. I suggest you take a listen to some of their discography before speaking shit.

[@parkerpeter9218]

@@XenuLordofTheSky Dawg what

[@BlameCez]

@@XenuLordofTheSky low quality bait

[@SpencerAGuitar]

tf you mean, this IS the original... thats why it's called a demo

[@ChloeNimps17]

why have i never heard this version oh my god

[@Renlarsun]

Chloe Oh that's so sad.. I heard it like 8 or 9 years ago, before the official one

[@XIIIthChu]

@@Renlarsun we gotta cool one over here!

[@Renlarsun]

@@XIIIthChu 😎

[@momokomeringue4494]

I'm so glad that people haven't forgotten about this version

[@GotohellbyAlex]

I remember when i discovered this version at the first time I listened to Green Day when I was 13 years old. And I still remember because I love the piano's intro than the official version in the album. Now I'm 16 years years old, and after 3 years I still loving to listen to Green Day like the first time. I'm sorry if I don't write the english well.

[@JaviJave3000]

Did you like Bang Bang?? :)

[@GotohellbyAlex]

Of course, now i'm 18 years old and i love Green Day already

[@thexplsn]

Check out the album Shenanigans, it has all their b-sides on one album. My favorite b-sides of Shenanigans are Do Da Da, J.A.R., Suffocate, Desensitized, Don't Wanna Fall In Love, & the new song they recorded for Shenanigans titled, Ha Ha You're Dead."

[@antonionsfw]

Alejandro Nymphador what bout now?

[@legendaryes]

Your "story" with that song is the same as mine

[@audreemaheu9675]

I had this version in my mp3 before the album came out and liked it very much.

[@SiddharthaAcharya]

Always love this version .. More than a decade of this song in my life... and still and always a gold

[@pacificrain2016]

It sounds like it was recorded on the same sessions as Hearts Collide.

[@sambourgault89]

Pacific Rain what a cool observation.

[@steffanohernandez818]

The lyrics are way better than the official ones

[@brads.3979]

"I'm taking a loan on my sanity for the redemption of my soul". Such a good line. Pity it didn't make it to the final cut.

[@alannaworthington8305]

I’m so glad that this is still circulating. I remember when it was leaked. Still prefer these lyrics overall.

[@abelwright8229]

I accidentally downloaded this instead of the regular version, years ago and have always preferred this one.

[@haywoodjablowmi3918]

Fucking same lmao 😂. Illegally downloaded this version onto my old garbage ass Wal-Mart brand MP3 player way back and have big time preferred this version since. The CD version kinda sucks lol.

[@jojofornication7324]

Man the solo on this version is way better it sounds like straight Queen and i love it

[@trevisz182]

piano intro

[@bridget6767]

Sum Blink nice icon :)

[@tobinwasabi]

i almost like a lot of the demos better that the originals

[@isamarchambers]

the whole album should have been like this (i still love the original tho)

[@tommypines1039]

love this , and this shows the marks of a great band: They already had a kickass song, but still improved upon it. so much respect for these ARTISTS.

[@SiddharthaAcharya]

This is the version, and it was like love at first sight... best version for me. That intro.. and loads of memories.

[@punkkid03]

I love the sound of the final version way more but the lyrics on the demo are way better than the album version.

[@BeStOfBaRi]

That piano intro is amazing!

[@healthiswealth1452]

Dam this takes me back, I was so excited for this album you have no idea

[@CavinLee]

I wonder if the piano intro was replaced by “Song of the Century”

[@tomm6124]

Blown away. Do miss "video games of the towers fall" though.

[@christineivins9625]

Hi Jaramir, I prefer this version than the album version without a doubt! I want to thank you for posting this, and for the lyrics. It can be hard to find the lyrics for the demo version, but I have them now, thanks to you. I don't know why they canned this version for the album, but that's how things go I guess. Again, thanks so much for this, albeit five years after the event lol!

[@nofuture_at_all]

This was the version I was listening to when I was young. Just saw this again today. I haven't heard this version for a long time. I thought they changed the intro and other lyrics for some reasons and deleted this version. I remember this was the one posted on their KZbin channel before.

[@joshuarobert6245]

I love the vocal melody on the first few lines much better than the album version

[@doriancroatia2054]

At least they could have left "from rain storms till dawn". Just love this line...

[@jdoop734]

Waiting for this record in 2029 for 20th anniversary

[@itz_jxd8033]

Fr

[@jimmylangis5113]

makes me want to cry, everytime❤

[@mathewporras6737]

I tried to download the album version of this song on limewire back in 2010, it gave me this version instead. I swear I thought this was the album version until I bought the album 6 months later😂

[@emlix1]

This sounds both more and less "produced" than the album version, but both of them have my foot flat on the floor and my car howling into the night as I play air drums and sing my little heart out while travelling at 3X the speed limit.

[@JimKnight-x8y]

Never forget when I heard this demo leaked lol now just gotta wait another 5 or 10 years for its official release on its anniversary album

[@smileprettymusic]

holy shit I remember this and black parade coming out and I downloaded them on lime wire and I totally prefer this version

[@1984rocknroll]

Isaiah De Simone I too downloaded this version off limewire back in the day.

[@cleokraus]

i like this version better

[@harrisonmcclure-womack1629]

Just discovered this version in 2024 and it’s my new favorite thing

[@punkpiratepanda]

i keep coming back, and back, and back again

[@kfcnyancat]

This leads me to believe that 21CB was either originally not going to be a rock opera, or be a completely different story.

[@PintsofGuinness]

because like 2 or 3 lines were changed?

[@CreatureQuakeRedo]

on the album, 21cb and Know your enemy aren't part of the story

[@VeteranTrack]

CreatureQuake ....yes they are

[@fadechaos8525]

@@CreatureQuakeRedo characters were introduced in the first song "i was made of poison and blood"

[@colinjamesmac]

This demo saved my life when it leaked. Gave me hope again.

[@expertplace]

the build up to the solo sounds better on the studio, but this somehow sounds more like Queen

[@MysticClaws100]

I don't understand why Green Day made the changes that they did. I love the other version but now that I've heard this version, I think this is my favourite green day song ever

[@whippybox9271]

MysticManiac100 I think the original flows much better

[@valley6969]

What the hell did I just listen to and why is it the first time? I think I really like it. Wow!

[@zxzxxzxz3303]

I bet most of us have this version on mp3 than final version...

[@NiskyMusic1]

“From Mexico to the Berlin Wall” is such a better line

[@thecrimsonskull6206]

I honestly think this one is better.

[@gfhg_507]

ngl, this one is instrumentaly superior, but Billie's voice is 1000000000000 times better in the final version

[@1223mccartney]

and a masterpiece was born

[@robertoarellanodiaz8528]

I remember hearing this from the first time on Ares and actually when you search for the lyrics on Google it showed the same version as this.

[@seanfinney6732]

This was the 1st song I heard before the album came out and thought they would again reach AI levels it didn’t quite happen but it’s almost impossible to follow up an all time top album

[@RussellRadio]

I downloaded this from some blog right around the time the album came out. Ah, youth

[@jaquesmundane248]

Holy crap the original lyrics. If it would’ve ended up as “21st century fall”, I would’ve died the first time I heard it-

[@AdrianHernandez-sw2ni]

Aún recuerdo cuando me emocione al oír el demo que se había filtrado, creía que traería la gira a México pero no fue así hasta el año 2017 que volvieron con el Revtour.

[@bruisedbug]

*They made the changes because they wanted to make it into a more "modern punk rock" style of music.*

[@PintsofGuinness]

lolwut. source?

[@bruisedbug]

Pints of Guinness That was their goal it's literally on Wikipedia

[@OutFreak28]

Well in mexico thats known as a dick move

[@06tjsr]

Green Day shoulda used this version :) The intro is better!! Still the greatest band ever tho :D

[@edg5973]

+Connor McMahon what the actual fuck does that even mean?

[@06tjsr]

+Connor McMahon Just goes better with the build up!! This Is the first version i ever heard!! Personally think the lyrics and singing melody is better than the one that was released

[@bigmac2499]

Love the piano angle here, feel like they could have done something with it in the final cut. Both great songs however

[@nataliemair3861]

How come I never heard this before now? OMG I am in love!!!!!!

[@dude_uncool_6969]

Now, imagine a 21st Century Breakdown 25th anniversary and they'd upload the demo tracks.

[@AndyZeiger-b6h]

I will literally cream pie

[@poopoopants111]

yeah the whole intro and the way he sings "last one born" etc is a lot better in this version imo. but both are great.

[@Reds-Retros]

The album version I think is the more realized and overall more epic version, but you can't go wrong with either. This was the first version I heard before the album came out and it was around the same time the Know Your Enemy single came out. I grew to love this before the album dropped, but when it did hearing the new version was like falling in love with the song all over again while having my mind blown at the same time.

[@비정한세상]

GREEN DAY - 21st century breakdown JKRules님 등록 싱크,번역:최성준 Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell Nixon시대에 태어난 나는 지옥에서 자랐지 A welfare child where the teamsters dwell 아이들의 행복은 지도자에게 있지 The last one born, the first one to run 마지막 한명의 태어남,첫번째 한명의 도망침 My town was blind from the refinery sun 그 정제된 태양으로 부터 우리 마을은 눈이 멀었어 My generation is zero 우리는 가치없는 세대야 I never made it as a working class hero 나는 노동자들의 영웅을 만들지 않았어 21st century breakdown 21세기의 몰락 I once was lost but never was found 한번 잃어버렸지 다시는 찾을 수 없어 I think I'm losing what's left of my mind 20세기의 사선에서 To the 20th century deadline 내 마음에 의해서 나는 몰락하고 있어 I was made of poison and blood 나는 독극물과 피로 이루어져있지 Condemnation is what I understood 나는 결합이라는 것을 이해했지 Videogames to the tower's fall 탑이 무너져 내리는 비디오게임 Homeland security could kill us all 조국의 보안은 우리 모두를 죽일 수 있어 My generation is zero 우리는 가치없는 세대야 I never made it as a working class hero 나는 노동자들의 영웅을 만들지 않았어 21st century breakdown 21세기의 몰락 I once was lost but never was found 한번 잃어버렸지 다시는 찾을 수 없어 I think I'm losing what's left of my mind 20세기의 사선에서 To the 20th century deadline 내 마음에 의해서 나는 몰락하고 있어 We are the cries of the class of thirteen 우리는 Class of 13을 외치지 Born in the era of humility 우리 세대는 낮은 계급에서 태어났지 We are the desperate and in the decline 1969년에 태어난 멍청이 때문에 Raised by the bastards of 1969 우리는 기울어진 이 상황에 좌절하지 My name is no one, the long lost son 난 아무것도 아냐 잃어버린 아들이지 Born on the 4th of July 7월 4일에 태어났어 Raised in an era of heroes and cons 보수주의자들과 영웅들 속에서 자랐어 That left me for dead or alive 그들은 죽거나 살기위해 날 버려 I am a nation, a worker of pride 나는 이 국가에 있는 자랑스러운 일벌레지 My debt to the status quo 전쟁에서 빚을 얻었어 The scars on my hands are a means to an end 내 손에 있는 상처는 끝을 의미해 It's all that I have to show 난 모든 것을 보여줬다고 Hey..Hey..Hey.. I swallowed my pride and I choked on my faith 나의 자존심을 삼켜버리고 내 신념은 막혔어 I've given my heart and my soul 난 내 심장과 영혼을 주었어 I've broken my fingers and 손해를 메꾸려는 날 지배하는 지주들이 말이야 lied through my teeth 내 손가락을 부러뜨리고 The pillar of damage control 이를 다문 입으로 구라를 쳐대지 I've been to the edge and I've thrown the 난 끄트머리에 박혀있어. bouquet 꽃다발을 던지지 Of flowers left over the grave 저 무덤너머 떨어진 꽃으로.. I sat in the waiting room wasting my time 난 기다림의 방에서 내 시간을 낭비하고있어 And waiting for judgement day 심판의 날을 기다리며 I praise liberty 자유를 찬양해 The "freedom to obey" "복종의 자유!" Is the song that strangles me 그 노래는 날 목 졸려 죽게해 Well, don't cross the line 음,그 선을 넘지 말라구 Oh, dream, American dream 아, 꿈... 아메리칸 드림... I can't even sleep 난 잘 수조차 없어.. From the light's early dawn 밝고 이른 새벽에서부터... Oh, scream, America scream 아, 절규... 미국인들의 절규.. Believe what you see from heroes and cons 니가 보는 것을 믿어..영웅과 보수주의자로부터..

[@epichalocat]

Where can I download this beauty?

[@vask92]

thanks, this is a nice version

[@OutFreak28]

I remember MTV played this version a couple times, idk if that was a mistake, then when I got the album I was really confused because I searched the video on youtube and I couldnt find this version of the song, only the album version, it was like a little mandela effect for me.

[@XenuLordofTheSky]

They never played this outside of the internet. Unless you have proof that statement is untrue.

[@8thFurno]

I feel like the "dun dun" riff(?) and piano opening are both good but in different ways. But I prefer the riff(?) in the final version just slightly better because it ties back into See the Light. Not to say the piano is bad, I still really like it.

[@Janruzalem]

I like this better than the final one

[@ozzywozzy4126]

i illegally downloaded this on my lg in middle school when i finally got the physical album i could not wrap my head around why it was different, almost cathartic to find it after all these years

[@Renlarsun]

Oh dream! America dream!.. Oh bleed! America bleed!.. From heroes and cons...

[@madhatressadastra8267]

Only green day can make bagpipes sound punk. 😂💕

[@wilmerrivas6713]

I love this version ...

[@joshuatilacas7029]

I was 13 at that time when hearing this. Memories!

[@punkpiratepanda]

I love this version

[@klawis]

This song is epic whether demo or final but the demo lyrics are better

[@fatihmelekis]

Better than album version.

[@haywoodjablowmi3918]

Green Day if they didn't become commercialized sellouts

[@Yunista_]

THE BEST VERSION

[@marcelomunhozdarocha5358]

Remember when this leaked

[@roxieKolczynski]

Damn this sounds nice. I have a remix of 21st Century Breakdown on my channel using this demo. I tried to make 21st CB sound more raw and punky, like something from the 90s. It's called the Lookout! Remix if anyone wants to check it out.

[@XenuLordofTheSky]

I remember when this was leaked by NimrodSt.com (or something like that) and Green Day had a damn near heart attack over it.

[@laniebugg]

Damn really? Did they actually freak out over the leak??

[@kadenjay8111]

I prefer this ones instrumentals but prefer the official ones vocals (the lyrics are great on both)

[@AdrianSanchez-tp1wt]

Hay 3 versiones de está canción La que viene en el Álbum La del vídeo Y está

[@seunglee6990]

If only they kept most of these lyrics

[@RussellRadio]

Gosh, I remember torrenting this and thinking I was the biggest outlaw ever

[@alibanshee2841]

It’s the first version that i have listened on Rock Fm when i was young and i prefer it to the newer version

[@eliskav147]

thats awesome ^^

[@DanielCh9393]

The final version is more epic.

[@Yasill_Spiritual_Lifting]

This one is more raw and real and more powerful

[@vincentjames2150]

Who’s here in 2024, on the 15 year anniversary to be exact!

[@jasonshaneyfelt1039]

I want to hear the demos for the entire album. American Idiot demos too!

[@abrahamrocha3344]

I rather this version than the original

[@Jbromankid]

I prefer this one, 100%

[@greendaysidiotx]

i love other version

[@RockTuner]

Spotify When?

[@devilsoffspring5519]

In some ways this one's better! The 21CB version sounds a little bit better to me, just in terms of sound quality, but this has a bit more 'soul' for some reason.