Eirik Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 I love this song, definitely my favorite on Insomniac. I don't really get what everyone is saying with this being a happy song, sure it has optimism in there, but it's far from happy.I agree with idiot4u, the self-deprecating is quite clear here, if only in the bridge. I agree with this being a love song, and not at all a soppy one. Billie, during this entire record, question himself and his sanity. And here he questions the thing that probably matters the most to him, Adie. Has he ruined her life? She moved away from all her family and her friends to be with her, and he's asking if that will only lead to tragedy for her. It's very, very beautiful.
Just Kate Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 i feel like this is 'hundred-percent-about-me' song. i absolutely love it, it's sound, it's lyrics, it's message... damn, that's freakin' artwork!!
justcause Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 I love this song, definitely my favorite on Insomniac. I don't really get what everyone is saying with this being a happy song, sure it has optimism in there, but it's far from happy.I agree with idiot4u, the self-deprecating is quite clear here, if only in the bridge. I agree with this being a love song, and not at all a soppy one. Billie, during this entire record, question himself and his sanity. And here he questions the thing that probably matters the most to him, Adie. Has he ruined her life? She moved away from all her family and her friends to be with her, and he's asking if that will only lead to tragedy for her. It's very, very beautiful. I think that one of the stand-out things about this song is its objectivity - Billie Joe is standing back and seeing this woman who's making a strong decision, aware that the consequences could go either way. She sees a sign, and she's taking a chance on it, even though she's scared and confused as to even her real motivation for making this move. I think that going with 'has he ruined her life?' skews it to where he's the power in this situation - but this song is not about him, it's about her. The repetetive theme is that she's 'taking off', taking flight from everything that 's crushing her, freeing herself - and if the song is apprehensive for her 'big plans', if it fears for the 'tragedy' that could come of it, it's her choice, and this song totally respects her choice.
J'net Posted June 13, 2010 Author Posted June 13, 2010 I think that one of the stand-out things about this song is its objectivity - Billie Joe is standing back and seeing this woman who's making a strong decision, aware that the consequences could go either way. She sees a sign, and she's taking a chance on it, even though she's scared and confused as to even her real motivation for making this move. I think that going with 'has he ruined her life?' skews it to where he's the power in this situation - but this song is not about him, it's about her. The repetetive theme is that she's 'taking off', taking flight from everything that 's crushing her, freeing herself - and if the song is apprehensive for her 'big plans', if it fears for the 'tragedy' that could come of it, it's her choice, and this song totally respects her choice. I could not agree more! The song is all about her, which is one thing that makes this an unusual song in Billie Joe's portfolio (so many of his songs start with the word "I" and are absolutely about his own self - which is one aspect that makes them so ... personal - identifiable - relatable... But in this song, he's singing from someone else's point of view, and he still manages to get it so totally right!
Bastard of 1967 Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 Yes, Billie's questioning of his worthiness of her--so sweet. That self-deprecating attitude seeps into so much of his work. I too love the lyrics--they hang there in your thoughts for a while even after the song is over. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yes! That! That! That's exactly what I was trying to say earlier! I had been thinking that this part of the lyrics: Strung out On confusion road And ten minute nervous breakdowns. Xanax - a beer for thought ...was Billie narrating about how *she* was handling it all. We can easily look at it as Billie discussing instead (in his usual non-judgmental, just-the-facts way) how *he* is dealing with it. While *she* is in the car heading out to live with him, he's bouncing off the fucking walls. Confused, bawling, freaked-out, taking a Xanax or throwing back a brew or two to calm down....and there it fits perfectly with the rest of Insomniac's tracks. Thanks so much for helping to draw this out from the blur!
justcause Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 It should be 'Xanex a beer', not 'Xanax - a beer for thought'. The spelling's not important - like Novacaine/Novocaine - but the punctuation is, cause it's a slick piece of writing. She xanaxes a beer - see what he did there?
justcause Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yes! That! That! That's exactly what I was trying to say earlier! I had been thinking that this part of the lyrics: Strung out On confusion road And ten minute nervous breakdowns. Xanax - a beer for thought ...was Billie narrating about how *she* was handling it all. We can easily look at it as Billie discussing instead (in his usual non-judgmental, just-the-facts way) how *he* is dealing with it. While *she* is in the car heading out to live with him, he's bouncing off the fucking walls. Confused, bawling, freaked-out, taking a Xanax or throwing back a brew or two to calm down....and there it fits perfectly with the rest of Insomniac's tracks. Thanks so much for helping to draw this out from the blur! To make that work, you have to cut off the arc of this verse - it's 'Xanex a beer for thought And she determined......she's taking off'
amy_runs Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 I absolutely love Westbound Sign. It's always been one of my favourites. I remember when I dragged my parents to take me to see the movie 'Cars' in theaters, because I read on GDA that Westbound Sign was in the movie. But..... it wasn't
Vrock09 Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 I love the lyrics and it always makes me feel so much better every time I hear it Good choice
Bastard of 1967 Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 It should be 'Xanex a beer', not 'Xanax - a beer for thought'. The spelling's not important - like Novacaine/Novocaine - but the punctuation is, cause it's a slick piece of writing. She xanaxes a beer - see what he did there? Yeah, I like that. Read that way, the phrase implies "uses a beer as if it were xanax/valium/something to take the edge off", but he "verbs" it to crystallize the image of actually doing it -- I can see Billie or Adie (or both of them?) miles apart still, and both throwing back a few 'cuz they're stressing so much about what's in store for them both. Love it when he writes like that!
*withoutadoubt* Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 To make that work, you have to cut off the arc of this verse - it's 'Xanex a beer for thought And she determined......she's taking off' I never noticed that before - thanks for pointing it out. It's not really a favorite song of mine, but I always appreciate Billie Joe's way with words - I guess I never paid much attention to these until this thread. Just one of those examples where something so simple makes a big difference.
Waffles Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 I lasted like a entire month listening to this song everyday! I love it.
Jinx1972 Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 OMG!! I'm really glad that this is the song of the week I love,love,love,love this song. Awesome lyrics,rhythm..everything ^^ And Billie's voice is SO amazing I could (and I am :DD) listen to this song over,and over,and over again and I don't get bored of it
Chiidatbe Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 Brilliant song. One of the more hopeful feeling ones from Insomniac I think too. Greatly written. One of the best!
kerplunk_chick Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 On New Years Eve, 2007 I think, I listened to this song immediately after the ball dropped in the hopes that it's meaning would come true for me that year. My mom was in a relationship with a man whose ex wife made it her life's meaning to destroy our lives. We had moved to Ohio when I was 14 so she could be with him and we were somewhat stranded with no friends and no family for miles and miles. That year, this song didn't mean moving to California to be with the one you love, it meant leaving our situation and those people behind and starting over. I wanted nothing more in my life at that moment in time than for my mom to wake up and get us out of it all. Later that year, we did end up leaving the bullshit behind to move on with our lives. This song reminds me of everything we overcame that year, and it has made such a difference in my life.
spark in the night Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 great song! "will she find her name in the California cement?" that line will always inspire me to someday move to or visit CA
Kayfabe Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 It should be 'Xanex a beer', not 'Xanax - a beer for thought'. The spelling's not important - like Novacaine/Novocaine - but the punctuation is, cause it's a slick piece of writing. She xanaxes a beer - see what he did there? oh.. damn. I had liked it like that before, in my head. It was like she sits down and it's a checklist. Xanax? Check. Beer for thought? Check. Decision? Unfortunately, check.
justcause Posted June 15, 2010 Posted June 15, 2010 oh.. damn. I had liked it like that before, in my head. It was like she sits down and it's a checklist. Xanax? Check. Beer for thought? Check. Decision? Unfortunately, check. I kind of like that too - it's like she's prepared for anything, lol!!
MrsBJArmstrong Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 Good choice! =) And, trying to answer the question made by J'net, I think, if you look at the lyrics, it doesnt fit too well with the other songs. Billie was having a very bad time back then, trying to adapt to this new status as rock star (after dookie), and most of the songs from insomniac are dark and pessimistic (like he was feeling). But I think this one is more optimistic than the others, as he's talking about Adie moving to California (and to him), and having a new start in life =) Correct me ig I'm wrong, but that's my interpretation
Nzap Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 No doubt the best song on an impressive album. I included this in my Top 10 GD song poll and I would have included it despite it would have been top 4. One of the best songs Green Day ever has made. I wonder why they really don't play these awesome songs live (e.g. this, Castaway (after 2001) and Prosthetic head(expect some minor performances)) I love the ending of this song, and I think it's the best ending ever for a Green Day song.
deadbeatbrat Posted June 18, 2010 Posted June 18, 2010 Great song on my favorite album! This is currently the ringtone I've set for my friend, who also dropped everything to move ~2000 miles to California. I think it fits in very well with the rest of the songs on this album: it's about being conflicted, questioning yourself and the world. Armatage Shanks, Stuart and the Ave, Walking Contradiction...hell, half the songs on the album have this vein in them somewhere. Much love for this song!
east cc nowhere Posted June 20, 2010 Posted June 20, 2010 Love this song!!! My favourite line is 'Blacked out the rear view mirror heading westward on' amazing. Somthing I think that alot of people can releate to - packing up your stuff and having a fresh start or simply just going on an adventure, traveling. I do have a question for you this time, though: How well do you think this song fits with the others on Insomniac, and why? I think it does. A common thread in insomnic is the change and often the fear of it, what it will bring etc. This song represents change perfictly - taking a risk and starting a fresh in a new city and importantly never turing back - no return
J'net Posted June 20, 2010 Author Posted June 20, 2010 Love this song!!! My favourite line is 'Blacked out the rear view mirror heading westward on' amazing. Somthing I think that alot of people can releate to - packing up your stuff and having a fresh start or simply just going on an adventure, traveling. I love that line, too. Who else would think of expressing "don't look back" in quite that way?
CarolineGilman Posted June 20, 2010 Posted June 20, 2010 I love this song so much. I can really relate to it. Ive lived on the same street all my life and have made such close friends and now we are moving and I have no idea how its going to turn out. I don't know anyone where im moving. So this song really speaks to me. EDIT: Love this song!!! My favourite line is 'Blacked out the rear view mirror heading westward on' amazing. Somthing I think that alot of people can releate to - packing up your stuff and having a fresh start or simply just going on an adventure, traveling. yeah, i toatlly agree with this too. i think its something that everyone should experience in their life.
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