King For A Day
Green Day · The Studio Albums 1990-2009 [2012]
My mother went to the grocery store.
Went sneaking through her bedroom door to find something in a size 4.
Sugar and spice and everything nice wasn't made for only girls.
G.I. Joe in panty hose is making way for the one and only.
King for a day,
Princess by dawn.
King for a day
In a leather thong.
King for a day,
Princess by dawn.
Just wait till all the guys get a load of me.
My daddy threw me in therapy.
He thinks I'm not a real man.
Who put the drag in the drag queen.
Don't knock it untill you tried it.
(chorus)
King For A Day
King For A Day stands as a monumental centerpiece within Green Day's expansive discography, originating from their ambitious 2009 rock opera, 21st Century Breakdown. The track serves as a dramatic overture to the album's final act, blending the band's signature punk energy with a heavier, almost orchestral intensity. Billie Joe Armstrong's songwriting captures a sense of apocalyptic urgency, reflecting the political and social anxieties that defined the era. Musically, the recording showcases the trio's ability to shift from rapid-fire punk rhythms to a soaring, anthemic climax. As a key component of the band's later work, the song highlights their continued evolution while maintaining the raw power that established them as icons of alternative rock. It remains a powerful testament to their capacity for creating large-scale, narrative-driven rock music.