🎶 Song Basics

"Pulling Teeth" appears as the 6th track on Green Day’s breakthrough 1994 album Dookie
It’s often described as one of the darker, more experimental cuts on the album, memorable for its slower tempo and raw emotional tone amid the upbeat punk tracks

💡 What the Video Explains

The video shines a light on the song’s controversial subject matter: a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a toxic, abusive relationship, where the female partner physically harms the male narrator—flipping gender expectations intentionally
It emphasizes how the story is told with a mix of dark humor and biting satire.

Abusive dynamics: The narrator is physically and emotionally hurt, yet feels compelled to profess love to avoid being hurt again—a manipulation cycle underscored by pain and control
Denial and cycle: Despite recognizing his partner’s violence (“Oh God, she’s killing me”), he convinces himself that things aren’t so bad: “She takes good care of me”—revealing a trapped mindset
Real-life inspiration: The track is reportedly based on bassist Mike Dirnt’s bizarre real-life injury—breaking both elbows during a pillow fight with his ex—then dramatized into an ironic narrative by Billie Joe Armstrong

The song diverges from Dookie’s typical fast-paced punk; it’s slower, more atmospheric, built on a hypnotic two-chord progression and a harmonized vocal approach that contrasts the usual energy of the album
The tone supports the lyrical narrative—haunting, tense, and unsettling—creating emotional discomfort that enhances the song’s theme.

Element	Insight
Album	Dookie (1994)
Theme	A dark, satirical take on physical and emotional abuse
Real Inspiration	Based on Mike Dirnt’s real broken elbows incident during a pillow-fight
Delivery Style	Slower pace, dreamy chords, harmonized vocals
Narrative Hook	Repeated declarations of love used to placate toxicity and violence