St. Jimmy

"St. Jimmy"
Song

"St. Jimmy" is the sixth track on Green Day's 2004 rock opera American Idiot. The song's title refers to the character of St. Jimmy, who features prominently throughout the album.

"St. Jimmy" is often combined with the song "Are We the Waiting", the preceding song on American Idiot and between which there is no pause in the music. Beginning in the same key (A) as the "Are We the Waiting", "St. Jimmy" has a brisk tempo of 136 BPM. Following the intro, and a count of "1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4", the song continues in double time.

Story of St. Jimmy

The song, in keeping with the American Idiot album, is left open to interpretation by Green Day, with the band rarely discussing the record's themes and stories in detail.

A widely accepted interpretation casts St. Jimmy as the alter-ego of the Jesus of Suburbia - a character introduced earlier in the album. It is debated whether St. Jimmy is a creation of Jesus, or an aspect of a split personality disorder. He seems to be a much tougher personality than the Jesus of Suburbia, and less idealistic. The album lyrics are written in diary form, with "St. Jimmy" dated May 7 almost 3 weeks after "Are We the Waiting", creating allusions of the Jesus of Suburbia being reincarnated from the "City of the Damned" into the form of St. Jimmy.

The song deals with the initial development of Jesus's new persona, beginning with his arrival in the city, as described in the song's lyrics:

St. Jimmy's coming down across the alleyway/ Upon the boulevard like a zip gun on parade

The song continues to describe various aspects of St. Jimmy's new "life of crime" - a mixture of drug use, violence and a very rebellious attitude.

The character of St. Jimmy features prominently in the remainder of the album. His story continues as he meets and begins a relationship with "Whatsername", in the songs "She's a Rebel" and "Extraordinary Girl". His strong feelings for Whatsername create a conflict within himself, between his new lifestyle and his responsibilities. In "Letterbomb" he is reminded by Whatsername of how he used to fight for the city, and how it is his duty to continue doing so.

Where have all the riots gone/as the city's motto gets pulverised?

He then recounts his deeds and eventually disposes of the St. Jimmy persona in "Homecoming":

Jimmy died today/ He blew his brains out into the bay

Trivia

• "St. Jimmy" was featured in an episode of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide on Nickelodeon.

• It seems likely that St. Jimmy was named for the character of "Jimmy the Saint", who appears in Lost in the Flood by Bruce Springsteen.

• St. Jimmy's named might also be a reference to The Who's Doctor Jimmy. Doctor Jimmy is the alcoholic mad-man alter-ego of the protagonist Jimmy in The Who's rock opera Quadrophenia, much like St. Jimmy is in American Idiot.
• Uses the same 3 chord progression as Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones

Video

In 2005, a live video for "St. Jimmy" was completed. It was a live performance featured in the band's live DVD Bullet in a Bible.

See also

• Bullet in a Bible