21st Century Breakdown

[Verse 1] 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 [Hook] 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 [Verse 2] I was made of poison and blood Condemnation is what I understood Video games of the tower's fall Homeland security could kill us all My generation is zero I never made it as a working class hero [Hook] We are the class of, the class of '13 Born in the era of humility We are the desperate in the decline Raised by the bastards of 1969 My name is no one, the long lost son Born on the 4th of July Raised in the era of heroes and cons That left me for dead or alive I am a nation, a worker of pride My debt to the status quo The scars on my hands are a means to an end It's all I have to show I swallowed my pride and I choked on my faith I've given my heart and my soul I've broken my fingers and lied through my teeth The pillar of damage control I've been to the edge And I've thrown the bouquet Of flowers left over the grave I sat in the waiting room wasting my time And waiting for judgement day I praise liberty, "the freedom to obey" It's the song that strangles me Don't cross the line Dream, America, dream I can't even sleep from the light's early dawn Scream, America, scream Believe what you see from heroes and cons