Green Day Question and Answer Thread

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

I think your interpretation is going to change depending on who you think is singing to who -- and even this is left an open question. It could be Jesus singing to Whatsername (probably the most likely interpretation -- "don't bother calling me unless you're coming back home to me"), Jesus singing to his mother or vice-versa, OR (and I came up with this after seeing the show last weekend) St. Jimmy, knowing that Jesus/Johnny has now had enough of Jimmy's influence and is about to rid himself of his self-destructive impulses, is singing to Jesus/Johnny in a pleading, last-ditch effort to convince him not to straighten up his act. In the show, it's Jimmy, not Johnny, singing these lines (my heart is beating from me . . . "please call me only if you are coming home") -- and then at the end of Homecoming Part I he offs himself, falls off the ladder, and is carried off the stage. What do the rest of y'all think about this possibility? Does it have any lift or am I smoking dope?

I never considered the St. Jimmy speaking to Jesus option... that's interesting.

I'm not sure how well it fits with the rest of the verse, or the rest of the Death of St. Jimmy part (especially because of the "you taught me how to live" part), but it definitely is interesting.

I'd almost think it's Jesus talking to himself. Then again, I am a supporter of the St. Jimmy is part of JOS theory, so it could still be Jimmy talking to Jesus. Or kind of changing parts in the "conversation" (or having an internal conflict - refer to the St. Jimmy is part of Jesus), or just Jimmy influencing Jesus' thoughts for the last time. Also inspired by the show - Jimmy's suicide could be some sort of temporary thing, him leaving the stage, but not forever (inspired because Jimmy does the waving thing while being carried off stage). Jimmy's leaving JOS so he can sort his shit out, but he's asking him to call him when he's home.

The whole Death of St. Jimmy part shows both that Jimmy did help JOS (he's the spark in the night etc), and JOS wanting Jimmy to go away ("do you think what you need is a crutch", "but we're not the same"). Jimmy rids himself of JOS, but asks him to call him when he's home.

Well I hope that makes sense. So many things to say about that part and I don't know where to put everything

edit: awww damn, double post. I'd hoped it'd merge with my other post.

[Metanoia]

I never considered the St. Jimmy speaking to Jesus option... that's interesting.

I'm not sure how well it fits with the rest of the verse, or the rest of the Death of St. Jimmy part (especially because of the "you taught me how to live" part), but it definitely is interesting.

I'd almost think it's Jesus talking to himself. Then again, I am a supporter of the St. Jimmy is part of JOS theory, so it could still be Jimmy talking to Jesus. Or kind of changing parts in the "conversation" (or having an internal conflict - refer to the St. Jimmy is part of Jesus), or just Jimmy influencing Jesus' thoughts for the last time. Also inspired by the show - Jimmy's suicide could be some sort of temporary thing, him leaving the stage, but not forever (inspired because Jimmy does the waving thing while being carried off stage). Jimmy's leaving JOS so he can sort his shit out, but he's asking him to call him when he's home.

The whole Death of St. Jimmy part shows both that Jimmy did help JOS (he's the spark in the night etc), and JOS wanting Jimmy to go away ("do you think what you need is a crutch", "but we're not the same"). Jimmy rids himself of JOS, but asks him to call him when he's home.

Well I hope that makes sense. So many things to say about that part and I don't know where to put everything

edit: awww damn, double post. I'd hoped it'd merge with my other post.

its disturbing if you look at all the Jimmys in that post

[November's Storms]

So this might be a really stupid question but today I listened to 21 Guns and it was the first time I realized that in the chorus when he sings "lay down your arms give up the fight"..I always thought of arms as the bodypart but now I realized that it could also mean arms like weapons which would be even more logical,but both makes sense...so Im just wondering what definition he meant. anyone knows??

It actually really shocked me I maybe wasnt right with thinking of arms as body parts all the time

Yeah arms is a word used for weapons and other military things. Lay down your arms meaning stop fighting, throw away your guns. Would be a bit silly if he was telling people to lay down their arms and the telling them to throw them up into the sky, sounds more like a dance!

[Hermione]

So this might be a really stupid question but today I listened to 21 Guns and it was the first time I realized that in the chorus when he sings "lay down your arms give up the fight"..I always thought of arms as the bodypart but now I realized that it could also mean arms like weapons which would be even more logical,but both makes sense...so Im just wondering what definition he meant. anyone knows??

It actually really shocked me I maybe wasnt right with thinking of arms as body parts all the time

I've always thought of it as arms meaning weapons. I think of "lay down your arms, give up the fight" as an anti-war statement, and also as a metaphor for two people in a relationship to stop arguing/fighting.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

its disturbing if you look at all the Jimmys in that post

wait what?

So this might be a really stupid question but today I listened to 21 Guns and it was the first time I realized that in the chorus when he sings "lay down your arms give up the fight"..I always thought of arms as the bodypart but now I realized that it could also mean arms like weapons which would be even more logical,but both makes sense...so Im just wondering what definition he meant. anyone knows??

It actually really shocked me I maybe wasnt right with thinking of arms as body parts all the time

Woah that is kind of creepy, I realized exactly the same today on the way to school.

I think it could be both. It could be about the body part, it could be about weapons, it could be exactly about that it can stand for both. I think the entire song could be interpreted in different ways, depending on whether you think about arms as body parts or arms as weapons.

Would be a bit silly if he was telling people to lay down their arms and the telling them to throw them up into the sky, sounds more like a dance!

I disagree. It's not literally waving your arms, doing some sort of dance (though the image of someone doing that dance is quite amusing. Should introduce that at concerts, waving your arms up and down. hmm, that's almost like some kind of worshipping thing.... I digress).

Laying down your arms as in stop being all upset and hysterical (not the words I'm looking for), give up the fight (argument, discussion). Fix the shit up, and throw up your arms in joy, throw them up in new-found confidence, or just generally being good again - together (You and I).

[Metanoia]

Yeah arms is a word used for weapons and other military things. Lay down your arms meaning stop fighting, throw away your guns. Would be a bit silly if he was telling people to lay down their arms and the telling them to throw them up into the sky, sounds more like a dance!

lol I never had a problem with thinking of arms of the body but now you say it: it'd really be more like

mh..now that kind of bothers me. its so disturbing when you have a thought on something for such a long time and suddenly you find out you were totally misunderstanding xD

thanks for answering!

I've always thought of it as arms meaning weapons. I think of "lay down your arms, give up the fight" as an anti-war statement, and also as a metaphor for two people in a relationship to stop arguing/fighting.

thanks you for answering thats actually a good point!

wait what?

Woah that is kind of creepy, I realized exactly the same today on the way to school.

I think it could be both. It could be about the body part, it could be about weapons, it could be exactly about that it can stand for both. I think the entire song could be interpreted in different ways, depending on whether you think about arms as body parts or arms as weapons.

I disagree. It's not literally doing some sort of dance (though the image of someone doing that dance is quite amusing. Should introduce that at concerts, waving your arms up and down. hmm, that's almost like some kind of worshipping thing.... I digress). Laying down your arms as in stop being all upset and hysterical, give up the fight (argument, discussion). Fix the shit up, and throw up your arms in joy, together.

yeah if you look at your post it looks like jimmy jimmy jimmy jimmy jimmy when you take and overall look hes everywhere ok sorry im really stupid today

But yeah its just so weird that i first thought of arms before weapons, even though that is more likely...probably just because I only have known the word arms as weapons since I saw Bowling for Columbine and arms as bodyparts is way more familiar to me. and I've known it that way for almost 7 years now.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

yeah if you look at your post it looks like jimmy jimmy jimmy jimmy jimmy when you take and overall look hes everywhere ok sorry im really stupid today

But yeah its just so weird that i first thought of arms before weapons, even though that is more likely...probably just because I only have known the word arms as weapons since I saw Bowling for Columbine and arms as bodyparts is way more familiar to me. and I've known it that way for almost 7 years now.

Ohh haha

Yeah exactly! And it's probably also got to do with the facts that the Dutch word for arm (body part) is "arm" as well, so it's definitely the first thing I think of when hearing the word arms. I guess it's just that the first time I heard it I interpreted it as an arm as in a body part, which makes perfect sense too in the song, and never realized that arms has another meaning.

[Katarina.]

I can't believe I didn't completely realize he meant arms as in weapons, until a few days/weeks ago. You know we were posting Dutch translations, and when I was translating 21 Guns, I realized it didn't make sense to lay down your arms (as in body parts) and give up the fight. Well yeah, it could make sense if those arms were holding arms.

[Metanoia]

Ohh haha

Yeah exactly! And it's probably also got to do with the facts that the Dutch word for arm (body part) is "arm" as well, so it's definitely the first thing I think of when hearing the word arms. I guess it's just that the first time I heard it I interpreted it as an arm as in a body part, which makes perfect sense too in the song, and never realized that arms has another meaning.

yeah exactly same here..didnt realize it till today and yeah it does make sense as the body part as well, since when you give up for example against the police you also have to raise your arms up high, its kind of a symbol to show youre giving up. idk. And in german "arm" (body) is also "Arm" so that still stays in my mind.

[Stormy Haze]

I have a question: during Homecoming, in the We're Coming Home part, around 8:40 minutes in song, it seems like someone (Tré?) is shouting something while Billie is singing home, we're coming home again , but I never could figure out what it is. Then, when I listened to that acapella version, it sounded like "No, just go, I don't care!" or something like that repeated and mixed with some other things I couldn't figure out. I've looked in different lyrics sites but they didn't have anything. Does anyone here have an idea of what it's said?

[Katarina.]

I have a question: during Homecoming, in the We're Coming Home part, around 8:40 minutes in song, it seems like someone (Tré?) is shouting something while Billie is singing home, we're coming home again , but I never could figure out what it is. Then, when I listened to that acapella version, it sounded like "No, just go, I don't care!" or something like that repeated and mixed with some other things I couldn't figure out. I've looked in different lyrics sites but they didn't have anything. Does anyone here have an idea of what it's said?

Someone should so ask this question whenever there's a new Green Day interview I'm also still wondering what Mike (I still think it's Mike) is exactly saying. Yeah, I hear "No, just go, just go, I don't care, no, I know, I know,____phone(?)" Maybe they are voices inside of Jesus's head when he's going home, telling him they don't care anyone he's going away from them, while they secretly still care. Or it's the St. Jimmy inside of him that he's thinking of that moment. Idk.

[Stormy Haze]

Someone should so ask this question whenever there's a new Green Day interview I'm also still wondering what Mike (I still think it's Mike) is exactly saying. Yeah, I hear "No, just go, just go, I don't care, no, I know, I know,____phone(?)" Maybe they are voices inside of Jesus's head when he's going home, telling him they don't care anyone he's going away from them, while they secretly still care. Or it's the St. Jimmy inside of him that he's thinking of that moment. Idk.

Maybe it is Mike, indeed. I couldn't figure that one out either

But that theory about the voice inside his head actually makes sense...

[Jaymee!!]

Thanks for all your responses guys, I never knew it would be such a deep question

And I really like that question about the yelling at the end of the song...I shall add it to my list of things to ask Beej, should I get the chance, in New York I agree about the voices in his head bit though.

[Clayish]

I have a question: during Homecoming, in the We're Coming Home part, around 8:40 minutes in song, it seems like someone (Tré?) is shouting something while Billie is singing home, we're coming home again , but I never could figure out what it is. Then, when I listened to that acapella version, it sounded like "No, just go, I don't care!" or something like that repeated and mixed with some other things I couldn't figure out. I've looked in different lyrics sites but they didn't have anything. Does anyone here have an idea of what it's said?

It is FOR SURE Tre, and in Green Day Rock Band, they have the lyrics along the lines of, " I dont care. fuck it. I smashed my phone. i dont care, etc."

[Liam]

Does any one know where I can buy the Pinhead Gunpower reissued CD's? Recess Records use to have all 5 CD's on there website for $10 each. I know I can get them from ebay or amazon but I was hoping if I could get them from any where like an official website like that. If any wants the GDA link to the story was it says it its here. Thanks

[Stormy Haze]

It is FOR SURE Tre, and in Green Day Rock Band, they have the lyrics along the lines of, " I dont care. fuck it. I smashed my phone. i dont care, etc."

Oh it's Tré? I've always thought it was him, but I had no confirmation Thanks!

[Katarina.]

I just listened to that part again and again, and yeah, it does sound more like Tre. So then it's like "No, just go, I don't care, I know, I know, no, I smashed my phone."

So what would that mean? If one of the first lines is "Please call me only if you are coming home", and he smashed his phone, could that mean that it's (like in the musical) really St. Jimmy singing the first verse, telling Jesus that he should only call if he's coming home, but Jesus decides that's not home for him (it's where he came from at first, and not his life as/with St. Jimmy), and therefore he smashed his phone? As in, not wanting any contact with St. Jimmy anymore? Ah, so many ways to interpret this. What do you guys think? It makes sense to me.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

That is sure interesting I never linked the screaming to the "please call me only" line.

I think that indeed St. Jimmy asked Jesus to call him when he's "home" (home as defined here), and the screaming part would be Jesus being angry at fragments of St. Jimmy still being there (because St. Jimmy was part of him/in his head all along, and while he killed Jimmy off ("in my own private suicide"), he's not entirely gone, because Jesus apparently feels the need to scream at Jimmy that he should fuck off), and he is screaming at Jimmy that he needs to go, and that he smashed his phone so he really isn't going to call him anymore (meaning he definitely decided he isn't going back to his life as it was with Jimmy there. He smashed his phone, and by doing that he cut off the connection and "availability" to Jimmy). Jesus doesn't want any more influence of Jimmy now that he's finally coming home.

Then the "please call me only" line would be interpreted as "please call me, and me only, when you're home".

[Jaymee!!]

We are getting SO deep into Homecoming

[Bastard of 1967]

That is sure interesting I never linked the screaming to the "please call me only" line.

I think that indeed St. Jimmy asked Jesus to call him when he's "home" (home as defined here), and the screaming part would be Jesus being angry at fragments of St. Jimmy still being there (because St. Jimmy was part of him/in his head all along, and while he killed Jimmy off ("in my own private suicide"), he's not entirely gone, because Jesus apparently feels the need to scream at Jimmy that he should fuck off), and he is screaming at Jimmy that he needs to go, and that he smashed his phone so he really isn't going to call him anymore (meaning he definitely decided he isn't going back to his life as it was with Jimmy there. He smashed his phone, and by doing that he cut off the connection and "availability" to Jimmy). Jesus doesn't want any more influence of Jimmy now that he's finally coming home.

Then the "please call me only" line would be interpreted as "please call me, and me only, when you're home".

+1 for you there!

I was able to isolate the vocals and here's what I came up with:

No!

Just go!

I don't care!

I know!

I know!

No!

I smashed my phone!

Just go!

I don't care!

I know!

I know!

No!

I smashed my phone!

What you noted about Jimmy not being "completely" dead (maybe more like "dormant" instead?) is definitely borne out in the show. When Jimmy is carried off, he sits up for a moment and waves goodbye...and then in the next scene for Whatsername, he lurks in the shadows up on the stage-right stairway for a few seconds before disappearing again. He's definitely still around, still a part of Jesus' (Johnny's) psyche. He might not be actively fucking shit up at the moment, but he's still there -- and needs to be kept in check, his voice needs to be kept as quiet as possible to keep Johnny from destroying himself again. And that feeds into your interpretation perfectly: metaphorically, how do you cut off Jimmy if, in the opening lines of Homecoming, he asked you to please call him if you want him back? You smash your phone.

[Anja]

Prepare for a REALLY random question, but I've always stopped to question myself about it whenever I listen to it.

So y'know at the beginning of Homecoming when Billie sings 'Please call me only if you are coming home'?

a) Does he mean please call me only if you're coming home as in, don't bother if you're not coming home

or

b) Please only call me, and no one else, if you come home

It doesn't make a difference either way, I've always just been curious as to which which way it was meant to be taken It's probably leaning more towards option A, but one never knows.

I've always wondered about that myself but I thought it was just a language thing I didnt get But if you as a native dont understand it either, then apparently I'm not as stupid as I thought

I thought it would be B though for some reason because the emphasis is on "me"

[Bastard of 1967]

We are getting SO deep into Homecoming

Ok so where the fuck were all of us (myself included) when it was SOTW??

[Katarina.]

I was able to isolate the vocals and here's what I came up with:

That's what I posted as well, lol. And yeah, that's a better way to describe the "cutting off any contact with St. Jimmy".

Now I love Homecoming even more.

[green day is]

+1 for you there!

I was able to isolate the vocals and here's what I came up with:

No!

Just go!

I don't care!

I know!

I know!

No!

AAAAAHHHH

I smashed my phone!

Just go!

I don't care!

I know!

I know!

No!

AAAAAHHHH

I smashed my phone!

No!

Just go!

I don't care!

I know!

I know!

No!

AAAAAHHHH

I smashed my phone!

Fix'd. Also, when I listened to the acapella, I thought it sounded more like, "I scratched up my phone". But it mixed with the part where Billie and Mike are singing, "Home" the first time, the second time where they said, "We're Coming Home Again" and the third time it was just unintelligible.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

Fix'd. Also, when I listened to the acapella, I thought it sounded more like, "I scratched up my phone". But it mixed with the part where Billie and Mike are singing, "Home" the first time, the second time where they said, "We're Coming Home Again" and the third time it was just unintelligible.

Not sure what Homecoming you listen to, but my version only has the whole thing two times, not three.