Often (sarcastically) referred to as Green Day’s best song, “Nightlife” offers a confusing blend of one of the band’s coolest instrumentals with their absolute worst lyrics. The song tells the story of a lonely train operator whose favorite color is “candy apple, girl” and wishes to return to an old...
[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Taking a ride to my old haunts
She's in my blood, I reside in my nightlife
My favorite color's candy apple, girl
And she resides in my mind of my nightlife
[Verse 1: Lady Cobra]
What's that I hear? You want to go for a ride?
Oh, don't be afraid, boy, to come inside
I got that thing that you want, the fix that you need
And chase this with a little lust and greed
I'll be the devil on your shoulder saying, "Hey, boy, come over"
For my black heart beats crimson and clover
So operator, operator, patch my boy in
This is nightlife, and I'll get under your skin
[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Taking a ride to my old haunts
She's in my blood, I reside in my nightlife
My favorite color's candy apple, girl
And she resides in my mind of my nightlife
[Verse 2: Lady Cobra]
Short of breath, heartbeat fast
Sounds like love but you know it won't last
Cheap champagne stain on an even cheaper suit
Hope there's more in your pants than a bus route
Red velvet halls line these sugar-coated walls
Girls hang on bar stools for late last calls
This town is full of snakes, mistakes, and whiskey shakes
It's too late, I already cut the brakes
[Pre-Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong & Lady Cobra]
Well, I am rolling, strolling into town (Come inside)
Is it me, or am I going crazy? (It's just you)
This dirty city is my sugar town (Sugar town)
My little angel of death is my nightlife
[Bridge: Lady Cobra]
Come inside...
It’s just you...
Sugar town...
[Verse 3: Lady Cobra]
Gonna make a move before I get bored
If you wanna explore my vocal chord
Baby girl coco dancing the cooch
One hand on my knee, one hand on the hooch
Why don't you stick around for one more round?
This place is a circus and I know you'll be my clown
'Cause I'm a ringleader, I run the show
And only when I tell ya it will be time to go
[Chorus: Billie Joe Armstrong]
Taking a ride to my old haunts
She's in my blood, I reside in my nightlife
My favorite color's candy apple, girl
And she resides in my mind of my nightlife
[Outro: Billie Joe Armstrong & Lady Cobra]
(Hey, boy) She is my nightlife
(Hey, boy) She is my nightlife
(Hey, boy) She is my nightlife
(See you later) She is my nightlife
Nightlife was written by Billie Joe Armstrong & Lady Cobra.
Nightlife was produced by Rob Cavallo & Billie Joe Armstrong & Jason White & Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong explained to MTV News:
There’s this band called Mystic Knights of the Cobra, and they come from the same small town we do, around Crockett, California. [They have a singer] named Monica Painter, aka Lady Cobra […] and she’s a good rapper, so we ended up collaborating w...