Green Day Q&A Thread

[Spike]

The way he says "as if it was 7 years later" suggests it was written a lot later than that, to me.

[Hermione]

Yeah from that, and from other times he's talked about it, it sounds like he's saying when they started writing songs for American Idiot (so like 2003) was the first time he wrote about his father dying (ie when he started writing WMUWSE).

[The Disappearing Boy]

I'd always thought that 7 years refers to the length of time between his death and the band starting. 20 years after his dad's death is obviously 02, so that could be the year wake me up was written? There's obviously 22 years between his dad's death and wake me up being released, but that doesn't really fit the melody.

[green day is]

Actually, now that I think about it, has Rotting actually been confirmed to be about his father? That's what I've always heard about it. If it is, that interview could imply that it was written at least before Dookie (I think that's what Rotting was a B-side of).

Also, a question about Rotting (I just learned it on piano, so I've been thinking about it) what does the lyric "Twenty pounds of trust" mean? The full couplet is "As my bones rust, twenty pounds of trust" if that's part of the meaning.

[Todd]

Oh, ok. I can believe that, but I'm pretty sure they never played it live, especially in England, before American Idiot came out. As for the "twenty years" bit, 20 years since Andy died was 2002, so there's that.

Either way, I'm not sure I really want to take on Tman when it comes to knowing exactly what songs they played at any given show

Dude. I told you I wasn't talking about the song being played. I was talking about them playing in England.

[Spike]

Dude. I told you I wasn't talking about the song being played. I was talking about them playing in England.

I know, but why 1997? Seems a bit random, that's all. Why not since 2004, after the song came out?

[Todd]

I know, but why 1997? Seems a bit random, that's all. Why not since 2004, after the song came out?

You said they only played the song in England 31 times, I said I wasn't talking about the song, an they had played in England a total of 31 times up through 1997, half-way backing up my post saying they've literally played in England 100 times.

[Spike]

You said they only played the song in England 31 times, I said I wasn't talking about the song, an they had played in England a total of 31 times up through 1997, half-way backing up my post saying they've literally played in England 100 times.

Oh, ok. I missed that, since all the times they played in England pre-2004 are kind of irrelevant.

[Hermione]

I'd always thought that 7 years refers to the length of time between his death and the band starting. 20 years after his dad's death is obviously 02, so that could be the year wake me up was written? There's obviously 22 years between his dad's death and wake me up being released, but that doesn't really fit the melody.

I've always thought it was so that the song relates to the JOS character (or the part of the JOS character that's actually just Billie). JOS is about 17 or so, and most of the things that happen to him on the album will have been inspired by Billie's own experiences at that age. So maybe first he was looking back at losing his father as if it was from when he was the age he wrote about on the album (around 17), and then he was looking back at it from his actual age at the time of writing the song (around 30).

Actually, now that I think about it, has Rotting actually been confirmed to be about his father? That's what I've always heard about it. If it is, that interview could imply that it was written at least before Dookie (I think that's what Rotting was a B-side of).

Also, a question about Rotting (I just learned it on piano, so I've been thinking about it) what does the lyric "Twenty pounds of trust" mean? The full couplet is "As my bones rust, twenty pounds of trust" if that's part of the meaning.

I've never heard that about Rotting, and I think it's unlikely that they've ever talked about that song in an interview. But I'm pretty sure he's said WMUWSE was the first time he ever wrote about his father dying, can't think of a specific quote but I feel like I've heard him say that or similar in relation to WMUWSE several times.

[Todd]

Actually, now that I think about it, has Rotting actually been confirmed to be about his father? That's what I've always heard about it. If it is, that interview could imply that it was written at least before Dookie (I think that's what Rotting was a B-side of).

Also, a question about Rotting (I just learned it on piano, so I've been thinking about it) what does the lyric "Twenty pounds of trust" mean? The full couplet is "As my bones rust, twenty pounds of trust" if that's part of the meaning.

Keep in mind lyrics were never released for Shenanigans, so all the lyrics we have are just interpretations, not official. Rotting was a Nimrod B-Side, not Dookie. The Songs that were written before Dookie are Don't Wanna Fall in Love, Tired of Waiting, and On the Wagon.

[The Disappearing Boy]

I've always thought it was so that the song relates to the JOS character (or the part of the JOS character that's actually just Billie). JOS is about 17 or so, and most of the things that happen to him on the album will have been inspired by Billie's own experiences at that age. So maybe first he was looking back at losing his father as if it was from when he was the age he wrote about on the album (around 17), and then he was looking back at it from his actual age at the time of writing the song (around 30).

That could be true. In short, none of us know

[green day is]

I've never heard that about Rotting, and I think it's unlikely that they've ever talked about that song in an interview. But I'm pretty sure he's said WMUWSE was the first time he ever wrote about his father dying, can't think of a specific quote but I feel like I've heard him say that or similar in relation to WMUWSE several times.

lol you just saw it a second ago, in the gifset posted. It was without a time-based context, though.

Keep in mind lyrics were never released for Shenanigans, so all the lyrics we have are just interpretations, not official. Rotting was a Nimrod B-Side, not Dookie. The Songs that were written before Dookie are Don't Wanna Fall in Love, Tired of Waiting, and On the Wagon.

Didn't even think of that. I think if the first word is even "twenty" it's probably actually twenty pounds of thrust.

[Hermione]

That could be true. In short, none of us know

True , interesting to think about though!

lol you just saw it a second ago, in the gifset posted. It was without a time-based context, though.

Yeah I know , but I think there might be more quotes from him like that which make it clearer, possibly.

[Hermione]

When did Tre deactivate his Facebook? Just noticed when he didn't pop up like usual when typing my dad's name (Trevor) into the search. Even though he hardly ever used it I find this sad, lol.

[alexandra_1039]

unrelated question: well more of a "do you agree":

after hearing billie and miranda perform, and then going back and listening to foreverly, it makes me appreicate it a LOT more seeing how well billie and norahs voice really do blend. imagine the entire record with miranda lambert instead? it wouldve been disastrous. point is, new found love for foreverly.

[Todd]

unrelated question: well more of a "do you agree":

after hearing billie and miranda perform, and then going back and listening to foreverly, it makes me appreicate it a LOT more seeing how well billie and norahs voice really do blend. imagine the entire record with miranda lambert instead? it wouldve been disastrous. point is, new found love for foreverly.

I hate Norah's vocals and I liked Miranda's a lot more.

[alexandra_1039]

I hate Norah's vocals and I liked Miranda's a lot more.

huh thats interesting, what is it you hate about norahs?

for me it was just that country "twang" to mirandas voice was a little over-powering.

[Todd]

huh thats interesting, what is it you hate about norahs?

for me it was just that country "twang" to mirandas voice was a little over-powering.

I just don't like it. I can't stand it really. Just like some people can't stand Nickelback or Green Day. Growing up listening to country, I'm more used to hearing Miranda's voice. I can't name any of her songs, but I'm sure I've heard a million of them.

[Oxymore]

for me it was just that country "twang" to mirandas voice was a little over-powering.

Same for me.

They are voices that just don't fit together. Billie's voice is so sweet -especially for this song, as it's a tribute-, and Norah's one would be just perfect because it is really harmonious too.

(and an language question, is''fit'' the good word for what I want to mean ?)

[James!]

Did Green day ever comment on "Canadian idiot" yknow the parody by weird al ?

[WhiteTim]

Did Green day ever comment on "Canadian idiot" yknow the parody by weird al ?

Ive never seen em comment but they know about it as Weird Al wont do a parody without getting permission from the artists themselves

He got sued by Coolio for Amish Paradise when the publisher okayed it but Coolio didnt know about it so since then he talks to the artists personally before doing so

[Spike]

Did Green day ever comment on "Canadian idiot" yknow the parody by weird al ?

Ive never seen em comment but they know about it as Weird Al wont do a parody without getting permission from the artists themselves

He got sued by Coolio for Amish Paradise when the publisher okayed it but Coolio didnt know about it so since then he talks to the artists personally before doing so

I'm not sure how reliable this source is, but it claims to be an exhaustive list of original artists' reactions to Weird Al's songs. Of Canadian Idiot it says:

Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day: "I think it's cool. Weird Al's a funny guy and I think sometimes he does the song better than the original. It should be funny I think. It'll probably be about food or something. And uh... Weird Al. [gives thumbs up]"

[Todd]

Ive never seen em comment but they know about it as Weird Al wont do a parody without getting permission from the artists themselves

He got sued by Coolio for Amish Paradise when the publisher okayed it but Coolio didnt know about it so since then he talks to the artists personally before doing so

Didn't Michael Jackson not let him do Black or White because the song was important, but he let him do Bad and Beat It instead

[Spike]

Didn't Michael Jackson not let him do Black or White because the song was important, but he let him do Bad and Beat It instead

Yeah, that happened.

[WhiteTim]

Didn't Michael Jackson not let him do Black or White because the song was important, but he let him do Bad and Beat It instead

Yeah said he didnt think black or white were to be made fun of