Geek Stink Breath

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Insomniac.jpg
Geek Stink Breath
Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong
Song length: 2:15
Album: Insomniac (1995)
International Superhits! (2001)
Foot in Mouth (1997)
Single chronology
Album chronology
Previous song: "Stuck with Me"
Next song: "No Pride"

"Geek Stink Breath" is the fourth track and lead single of Insomniac. It follows after "Stuck with Me" and is followed by "No Pride". The song was later included as the ninth track on International Superhits!. A live performance of "Geek Stink Breath" was included as Track 3 on Foot in Mouth. It was performed at Stockholm, Sweden on September 2, 1995. A different performance, from the 21st Century Breakdown World Tour, was included as Track 11 on Awesome as F**k. "Geek Stink Breath" was also featured on its live DVD.

Song meaning[edit | edit source]

The song is about the narrator leading a "path of self-destruction" from using methamphetamine, and describing the effects of this drug on his body. The lyrics were inspired by Billie Joe's own experiences, as well as the people around him whom he saw lose control of their lives because of their addiction. "Geek" is one of the slang terms for meth. Heavy meth usage is very bad for dental hygiene, which gives you "stink breath".

Track listing[edit | edit source]

CD:

# Name Track length
1 "Geek Stink Breath" 2:15
2 "I Want to Be on TV" 1:17
3 "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" 1:40

Cassette:

# Name Track length
1 "Geek Stink Breath" 2:15
2 "I Want to Be on TV" 1:17

7" vinyl:

# Name Track length
1 "Geek Stink Breath" (Side A) 2:15
2 "I Want to Be on TV" (Side B) 1:17

Vinyl Box Set

# Name Track length
1 "Geek Stink Breath" (Side A) 2:15
2 "Stuck with Me" (Side A) 2:15
3 "86" (Side B) 2:48

Promo:

# Name Track length
1 "Geek Stink Breath" (Version #1) 2:13
2 "Geek Stink Breath" (Version #2) 2:13

Release and promotion[edit | edit source]

Green Day first played "Geek Stink Breath" on December 3, 1994, during their first performance on Saturday Night Live. The word "shit" in the line "wish in one hand and shit in the other" was left uncensored since the show's production team could not understand the lyrics to the new song (closed caption typed it as "unintelligible lyrics") and were not aware that the band had sworn on TV.[citation needed] About a year later, on September 25, 1995, "Geek Stink Breath" was released as the lead single of Insomniac.

Music video[edit | edit source]

"Geek Stink Breath" has a music video, where Green Day plays the song in a basement while one of their friends has a tooth pulled. This footage is relevant to the song, as it features the lyrics "and it's rotting out my teeth". The video was directed by Mark Kohr. The video was initially banned from television because it showed dentistry in great detail.

This music video was included on International Supervideos!.

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Geek Stink Breath/lyrics