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November 2009
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November 5, 2009
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 song meanings
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This section allows our visitors to share their interpretions of Green Day song meanings. Our thanks for everyone who's submitted something. Details on how to add your own can be found here.
1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours
1. At the Library
Posted by SaintJimmy1039 on September 21 2009
Billie wrote this song about a girl he saw in the library and liked. "Hey there lookin' at me. Tell me what do you see?" "Try to find the words I could use, don't have the courage to come up to you...". He thought he'd have a chance but then he found out she was seeing someone. "Staring across the room, are you leaving soon, I just need a little time. What time? AH!"

  1/4  


2. Don't Leave Me
Posted by Giorgio on June 02 2009
'This song is about how a girl dumped me' - Billie Joe live at Pinhole Valley 1990

  1/3  


3. I Was There
Posted by Sean on June 07 2009
Al Sobrante wrote the lyrics when he was still in Green Day. I think he wrote them about how he knew he was gonna leave Green Day. It seems like in the lyrics, he knew Green Day was gonna be big, and he knew that he could always say that in the beginning that he was there.

  1/10  


4. Disappearing Boy
Posted by Sexy Joe on September 01 2009
I think that this song is about how much Billie Joe and his siblings disliked their stepfather. The verses are a reflection on the emotions he felt when he or his mother were near the stepfather.

  1/5  


5. Green Day
Posted by dallasthemenace on June 02 2009
one of the most under-rated songs about pot ever written, if you ask me. billie wrote it about his early pot experience(s). im sure lots of people can identify with some of the imagry of the lyrics... i know i have at one time or another.

  1/2  


6. Going to Pasalacqua
Posted by Sexy Joe on September 01 2009
When I listen to the lyrics, to me this song is about being close to or liking someone ("infatuation touches me") when they become ill or are dying ("would you last forever?"). I think, in the chorus ("you and I together...we'll run away, far away") Billie is dreaming up what he wishes he and the person in the song could do; how they'll make it through what's happening and how he'll be there for them ("in for nasty weather, but I'll take whatever you can give that comes my way") basically, he knows it's gonna be a bumpy ride, but he doesn't care.

  1/3  


7. 16
Posted by Mato on June 01 2009
16 is a song about expressing feelings and fears of becoming 16. It's also about being nostalgic, looking into past and asking why is everything changing so fast.

  1/2  


8. Road to Acceptance
Posted by CR-Coppice Row on August 23 2009
Mike Dirnt said in a recent issue of kerrang that this is about racism

  1/3  


9. Rest
Posted by Drea on June 02 2009
I always found this song to be Billie's confusion about a girl. Is it the end of a relationship, or the start of one? He once was totally sure, but now isn't. And because of that dire confusion, he can't fall asleep and just wishes it would all go away.



10. The Judge's Daughter
Posted by Giorgio on June 02 2009
'This song is about a chick at school... here dad is a judge!' - Billie Joe live at Pinhole Valley 1990

  1/3  


11. Paper Lanterns
Posted by Niamh on June 05 2009
This song is about someone who had previously been in a relationship and is finding themselves still thinking about their ex, and they get frustrated everytime they see them with their boy/girlfriend. All they want to know is if their ex still thinks about them too.

  1/3  


12. Why Do You Want Him?
Posted by SaintJimmy1039 on September 21 2009
Billie wrote this when he was in his early teens. It was the first song he ever wrote about his new step-father that he absolutely hated, and how he didn't understand what his mom was thinking.

  1/8  


13. 409 In Your Coffeemaker
Posted by Shug on June 06 2009
Billie said this was about some prank he pulled in school where he actually put 409 in one of his teacher's coffeemakers.

  1/4  


14. Knowledge
Posted by John on May 26 2009
A cover song of an old favorite underground band operation ivy. This song is about coming into relization of having a dead end future, and not really caring at all.



15. 1,000 Hours
Posted by aylaKay on July 20 2009
A very involved picture of a love scene... As Billie himself put it, "That was some pretty sappy shit." Though at the time, it's what they had to write about. Modern day 1,000 Hours? Last Night On Earth. The best love song Billie's written to date (says him).

  1/2  


16. Dry Ice
Posted by 21guns on June 10 2009
Its about loving someone that does not love you back.



17. Only Of You
Posted by Niamh on June 02 2009
This song is about wanting someone that deep down you know you will probably never have, but yet you still can't stop thinking about them every moment of the day.



18. The One That I Want
Posted by Jnet on June 10 2009
This is a classic song of the desperate feelings of young love. The boy is sitting in his room yearning to be with the girl he wants. He can't stand to be separated from her. He's never felt this way before, and he can't stop thinking about her - even when they're apart. He believes his feelings will last, and he's wondering if anything will improve (if they'll be able to get together).



19. I Want To Be Alone
Posted by Lucky on June 03 2009
Does the title not explain it pretty well?

If not: it's about someone who's trying to deal with a problem themselves, but other people keep interfering and offering a shoulder to cry on or some support. The person with the problem, however, doesn't want their help and just wants to be left by themselves to deal with it.

  1/3  



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