Prosthetic Head

Track 18 from Nimrod
Released 1997
Green Day has played this song live 54 times.

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Song Meaning

In this song, the narrator describes his feelings for "fake" people. He mocks people who do whatever possible to look and feel perfect, including plastic surgery and the latest fashions. The narrators opinions on these types of people can be summed up in these lines: "All dressed up, red-blooded, a mannequin/Do or die, no reply, don't deny that you're synthetic/You're pathetic." Since these people give up their true selves to fit society's mold, the narrator feels that they have no pride, and nothing to be proud of.

Lyrics

I see you, down in the front line.
Such a sight for sore eyes, you're a suicide makeover.
Plastic eyes, lookin' through a numbskull.
Self-effaced, what's his face.
You erased yourself so shut up.
You don't let up.

You have a growth that must be treated
Like a severed severe pain in the neck.
You can smell it but you can't see it.
No explanation identified 'cause you don't know.
You don't say.

And you got no reply.
Hey you, where did you come from?
Got a head full of lead, you're a inbred bastard son.
All dressed up, red blooded, Amannequin
Do or die, no reply, don't deny that you're synthetic.
You're pathetic.

Live Performances

"Prosthetic Head" has been played 54 times live:

Sep 05, 1999 - San Francisco, CA, USA at Bottom Of The Hill
Nov 08, 1998 - São Paulo, , Brazil at Via Funchal
Nov 07, 1998 - São Paulo, , Brazil at Via Funchal
Nov 06, 1998 - Rio de Janeiro, , Brazil at Metropolitan
Nov 03, 1998 - Santiago, , Chile at Teatro Monumental
Nov 01, 1998 - Buenos Aires, , Argentina at Parque Sarmiento
Jul 13, 1998 - Anchorage, AK, USA at Sullivan Sports Arena
May 10, 1998 - Schenectady, NY, USA at Union College, Achilles Rink
May 09, 1998 - Asbury Park, NJ, USA at Convention Hall
May 06, 1998 - Myrtle Beach, SC, USA at House Of Blues
May 03, 1998 - Memphis, TN, USA at Beale Street Music Festival, Tom Lee Park
May 02, 1998 - New Orleans, LA, USA at State Palace Theatre
Apr 17, 1998 - San Francisco, CA, USA at Bottom Of The Hill
Apr 05, 1998 - Honolulu, HI, USA at Andrews Amphitheater, University Of Hawaii
Apr 04, 1998 - Brisbane, QLD, Australia at The River Stage
Mar 31, 1998 - Sydney, NSW, Australia at University of New South Wales, Roundhouse
Mar 30, 1998 - Sydney, NSW, Australia at University of New South Wales, Roundhouse
Mar 22, 1998 - Tokyo, , Japan at Akasaka Blitz
Mar 15, 1998 - Chiba, , Japan at Tokyo Bay NH Hall
Mar 14, 1998 - Chiba, , Japan at Tokyo Bay NK Hall
Feb 19, 1998 - Milan, , Italy at MTV Supersonic, MTV Studios
Feb 17, 1998 - Zurich, , Switzerland at Volkshaus
Feb 04, 1998 - Brussels, , Belgium at Ancienne Belgique
Feb 03, 1998 - Paris, , France at Élysée Montmartre
Feb 02, 1998 - London, , England at BBC Session, Maida Vale Studios
Jan 27, 1998 - Leeds, , England at Town And Country Club
Jan 25, 1998 - Glasgow, , Scotland at Barrowland Ballroom
Jan 20, 1998 - Belfast, , Northern Ireland at Ulster Hall
Dec 15, 1997 - San Francisco, CA, USA at The Fillmore
Dec 12, 1997 - Hollywood, CA, USA at The Palace
Dec 11, 1997 - Hollywood, CA, USA at The Palace
Dec 10, 1997 - Hollywood, CA, USA at The Palace
Dec 07, 1997 - Tempe, AZ, USA at Club Rio
Dec 03, 1997 - Portland, OR, USA at La Luna
Dec 02, 1997 - Seattle, WA, USA at DV8
Nov 30, 1997 - Boise, ID, USA at Bank Of America Centre
Nov 25, 1997 - Milwaukee, WI, USA at The Rave
Nov 24, 1997 - Chicago, IL, USA at Riviera Theatre
Nov 20, 1997 - Detroit, MI, USA at The State Theatre
Nov 18, 1997 - Montreal, QC, Canada at Metropolis
Nov 17, 1997 - Hartford, CT, USA at Webster Theater
Nov 15, 1997 - Providence, RI, USA at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
Nov 13, 1997 - Worcester, MA, USA at Worcester Memorial Auditorium
Nov 12, 1997 - New York, NY, USA at Roseland Ballroom
Nov 10, 1997 - Washington, DC, USA at 9:30 Club
Nov 09, 1997 - Norfolk, VA, USA at The Boathouse
Nov 08, 1997 - Charlotte, NC, USA at Tremont Music Hall
Nov 05, 1997 - Orlando, FL, USA at Embassy Music Hall
Nov 03, 1997 - Tampa, FL, USA at Jannus Landing
Nov 02, 1997 - West Palm Beach, FL, USA at WPBZ's Buzz Bake Sale, Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Oct 31, 1997 - Austin, TX, USA at Liberty Lunch
Sep 24, 1997 - London, , England at Astoria Theatre
Sep 24, 1997 - London, , England at Top Of The Pops, BBC TV Studios
Sep 20, 1997 - Hamburg, , Germany at Grünspan Club

Other tracks from Nimrod

1	Nice Guys Finish Last
2	Hitchin' a Ride
3	The Grouch
4	Redundant
5	Scattered
6	All The Time
7	Worry Rock
8	Platypus (I Hate You)
9	Uptight
10	Last Ride In
11	Jinx
12	Haushinka
13	Walking Alone
14	Reject
15	Take Back
16	King for a Day
17	Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
18	Prosthetic Head