pasalaska Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 With all the hype for the new albums recently, I thought it’d be fun to go back to Green Day’s humble beginnings and have Song of the Week be Billie’s (reported) first ever song Why Do You Want Him?. While it was originally released in 1990 on the Slappy EP, and later on 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, the song was actually written when Billie was just 14 years old. It’s widely stated amongst us Green Day fans and on various Green Day biographies on the internet that WDYWH? is about Billie’s mother’s relationship with his stepfather, but this is untrue. On the 92Y interview with Michael Mayer (director of American Idiot the Musical), recorded in September of 2010 in New York, Billie stated that the song is in fact about a girl; it’s about “wanting to be with someone and they want to be with somebody else”. The lyrics describe a girl who’s clearly in a broken, possibly even abusive relationship, and while it’s clear to Billie as an outsider that she’s better off without her boyfriend, she’s still with him and wants him. Musically, WDYWH? is classic early Green Day, with simply rhymes, simple guitar with a short solo and Billie’s high vocals harmonised by Mike’s deeper, backup vocals. Here’s Billie’s hand-written lyrics to Why Do You Want Him?, taken from the enhanced version of 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours CD. This week’s video is from way back in June 1989, filmed at the Davis Community Centre in Davis, CA. The video quality is awful, and the audio’s not great, but it’s a reminder of just how long ago Green Day started, and just how far they’ve come musically. Lyrics: I saw you standing alone With a sad look on your face You call him on the phone Looks like he left you Without a trace Tears falling out of your eyes He's living in a disguise You've been feeling bad for so long You wonder if it's right or wrong Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Now many days have gone by And you still just sit there and cry You're feeling bad for yourself His memory will always dwell You're so obsessed with his love That's why push came to shove You've been feeling bad for so long You wonder if it's right or wrong Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? You find a way out... To throw it all the way But you can bet... You got someting to say Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? ********************************************************************************************************* You can nominate songs for discussion as Song of the Week in the SotW Nominations and Archive thread, which contains links to each previous Song of the Week in its first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigister Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Oh, Billie's first song It's a bit rough and simple, but to be a first song it's really great love it anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaDisapperingBoy Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 This song is AWESOME!!! nuff said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMC Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I have a question: What does "that's why push came to shove" mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anja Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I have a question: What does "that's why push came to shove" mean? According to wiktionary: When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult. Not sure if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritz Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Gotta listen to it more now. I like the lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frunsi Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 really awesome song. best song on slappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreenDayKidd Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Great decision that this song is Song of the Week! Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestboundSign! Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 This is one of these Green Day songs I simply love. Easy structured, uncomplicated but meaningful lyrics, straight to the point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMC Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 According to wiktionary: When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult. Not sure if that helps. Interesting. I interpret it as the song ends on a positive note for the girl, as she actually starts to do something about the way she feels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy_PunkRock Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 "Why do You Want Him?" is one of my favourite songs from 1039/Smoothed our Slappy Hours. The guitar solo is my second favourite after Dry Ice, I love when Billie use bendings and make that bluesy solos. Also this song is special because it was Billie's first song and it shows that he was a good songwriter at his early age. I've always thought that this song was about Billie's stepfather because I 've always read that in a lot of biographies, now I know that it wasn't. So glad that this song has been chosen song of the week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo. Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 i don't like this song very much but it's still better than the new stuff (okay this was aff-topic but i had to say that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJedi Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 really love this song. one of the best on that album! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatshername0303 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Yay! I love this song! It's one of my favorites on 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and it's easy to learn the lyrics of this song. The guitar solo is so good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChelseaDagger Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Good choice for song of the week!!!!! I always liked this song First song ever...not bad, not bad at all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie, get your gun Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 It's special for being Billie's first song, but also because he turned that worry for his mother into a good song. I like it, mostly the chorus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitechristmas Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 This song is my favorite on 1039/SOSH. It's really catchy and easy to relate to, as are many of their earlier songs. Not to mention it's an amazing first song! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrouch33 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 this is their first gig as Green Day i think!! With all the hype for the new albums recently, I thought it’d be fun to go back to Green Day’s humble beginnings and have Song of the Week be Billie’s (reported) first ever song Why Do You Want Him?. While it was originally released in 1990 on the Slappy EP, and later on 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, the song was actually written when Billie was just 14 years old. It’s widely stated amongst us Green Day fans and on various Green Day biographies on the internet that WDYWH? is about Billie’s mother’s relationship with his stepfather, but this is untrue. On the 92Y interview with Michael Mayer (director of American Idiot the Musical), recorded in September of 2010 in New York, Billie stated that the song is in fact about a girl; it’s about “wanting to be with someone and they want to be with somebody else”. The lyrics describe a girl who’s clearly in a broken, possibly even abusive relationship, and while it’s clear to Billie as an outsider that she’s better off without her boyfriend, she’s still with him and wants him. Musically, WDYWH? is classic early Green Day, with simply rhymes, simple guitar with a short solo and Billie’s high vocals harmonised by Mike’s deeper, backup vocals. Here’s Billie’s hand-written lyrics to Why Do You Want Him?, taken from the enhanced version of 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours CD. This week’s video is from way back in June 1989, filmed at the Davis Community Centre in Davis, CA. The video quality is awful, and the audio’s not great, but it’s a reminder of just how long ago Green Day started, and just how far they’ve come musically. Lyrics: I saw you standing alone With a sad look on your face You call him on the phone Looks like he left you Without a trace Tears falling out of your eyes He's living in a disguise You've been feeling bad for so long You wonder if it's right or wrong Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Now many days have gone by And you still just sit there and cry You're feeling bad for yourself His memory will always dwell You're so obsessed with his love That's why push came to shove You've been feeling bad for so long You wonder if it's right or wrong Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? You find a way out... To throw it all the way But you can bet... You got someting to say Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? Why Do You Want Him? ********************************************************************************************************* You can nominate songs for discussion as Song of the Week in the SotW Nominations and Archive thread, which contains links to each previous Song of the Week in its first post. this is their first gig as Green Day i think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CristhyneS Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 It’s widely stated amongst us Green Day fans and on various Green Day biographies on the internet that WDYWH? is about Billie’s mother’s relationship with his stepfather, but this is untrue. On the 92Y interview with Michael Mayer (director of American Idiot the Musical), recorded in September of 2010 in New York, Billie stated that the song is in fact about a girl; it’s about “wanting to be with someone and they want to be with somebody else”. Hey, you learn something new everyday! I didn't know of this interview, so up until this day I thought the song was indeed about his mother and her new boyfriend. I'll have to listen the whole interview now too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Grohl Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Right now I can't remember what the song sounds like in my head, but I don't it's one of my favorites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 this is their first gig as Green Day i think!! this is their first gig as Green Day i think Their first gig as Green Day was gilman street, the same day as operation ivy's last (official) gig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrouch33 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Their first gig as Green Day was gilman street, the same day as operation ivy's last (official) gig nooope it was as sweet children believe me, theyve said in many interviews that their first gig AS Green day was Daviiis im 90 per cent sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Hart Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 nice first song from Billie.. just simple and awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrouch33 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Their first gig as Green Day was gilman street, the same day as operation ivy's last (official) gig loooook There is some confusion as to what Green Day's first gig was. After the lyrics in the 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours booklet, it says they first played at Rod's Hickory Pitt where Billie Joe's mom worked as a waitress, but during a recent interview Billie Joe said their first gig was in Davis, California with other bands like Nasal Sex and Sewer Trout. Anyway, neither of those were as important as their fourth or fifth show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I actually really like this song and think its a shame they dont play it live these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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