"8th Avenue Serenade" - Meaning of a Lyric?

[BCap]

In the song "8th Avenue Serenade," does the line "Meet me at the whispering wall" refer to something in Grand Central Terminal called the "Whispering Arch" (assuming the song is about New York, as I am)? Come to think of it, are there any other Green Day songs about NYC? I can't really think of any off the top of my head (unless you count "Macy's Day Parade" and "Kill the DJ").

[Z J]

In the song "8th Avenue Serenade," does the line "Meet me at the whispering wall" refer to something in Grand Central Terminal called the "Whispering Arch" (assuming the song is about New York, as I am)? Come to think of it, are there any other Green Day songs about NYC? I can't really think of any off the top of my head (unless you count "Macy's Day Parade" and "Kill the DJ").

Are We the Waiting

[Certified Nimrod]

Come to think of it, are there any other Green Day songs about NYC? I can't really think of any off the top of my head (unless you count "Macy's Day Parade" and "Kill the DJ").

It's not a Green Day song, but I Run NY by The Lonely Island features Billie Joe. That's the closest thing I can think of.

[She is Amanda]

Are We the Waiting

I don't think there's anything specific in that song that makes it about New York... I could be wrong, but I always assumed that it was just any major US city that's mentioned in all of American idiot. Just as how Jesus of Suburbia isn't about any specific town.

[BCap]

I don't think there's anything specific in that song that makes it about New York... I could be wrong, but I always assumed that it was just any major US city that's mentioned in all of American idiot. Just as how Jesus of Suburbia isn't about any specific town.

Precisely. That being said, New York City IS the quintissential example of a big city (I believe that only Tokyo is bigger).

[peppermint butler]

The songs really about the land of far far away.

[She is Amanda]

Precisely. That being said, New York City IS the quintissential example of a big city (I believe that only Tokyo is bigger).

I always thought it was about LA, Chicago, or Oakland. All these cities are known to bring disappointment and disillusionment which is what the whole album is about. There are cities like New York or San Francisco with very positive connotations among them and that's why I don't think the album has to do with either of those.

[Z J]

Billie straight up said it was about New York City

[Hermione]

Yeah, he went on a trip to NYC on his own for a couple of months while writing AI, kind of a big thing that he felt he had to do to sort his head out that apparently involved a lot of drinking, walking around and thinking. He's said Are We The Waiting was inspired by walking around the city at night and looking up at all the lights and stuff, hence the first verse.

I always just think of the "whispering wall" line as being a way of describing meeting up with someone secretly somewhere. Could be anywhere, it's the fact they're meeting in a secret/romantic way that means the place deserves such a poetic title. Cool to think it might also be referencing that specific place though, would make sense along with referencing a specific street in the title/chorus and I'm not aware of anywhere else it could be referring to.

[JDookie]

It's not a Green Day song and maybe not even an actual song for its length, but there's "Good night New York" that Billie sang while on stage for American Idiot on Broadway. Short but lovely!

Yeah, he went on a trip to NYC on his own for a couple of months while writing AI, kind of a big thing that he felt he had to do to sort his head out that apparently involved a lot of drinking, walking around and thinking. He's said Are We The Waiting was inspired by walking around the city at night and looking up at all the lights and stuff, hence the first verse.

I didn't know about it! I feel I'm a bad fan better late then never!

[BCap]

Someday, I'd like to see Green Day release a book containing lyrics to all their songs - with full annotations. There are just so many references (and it would be nice to have an official, physically-printed version of the lyrics to "Platypus"). I'd really love to see the commentary for "Dominated Love Slave" (mostly because I'd just love to see what Tre has to say about anything).

[JOE THE X-KID]

I always thought it was Wishspring wall

[Chin for a Day]

In the song "8th Avenue Serenade," does the line "Meet me at the whispering wall" refer to something in Grand Central Terminal called the "Whispering Arch" (assuming the song is about New York, as I am)? Come to think of it, are there any other Green Day songs about NYC? I can't really think of any off the top of my head (unless you count "Macy's Day Parade" and "Kill the DJ").

Actually, the fact that it is titled 8th Avenue Serenade makes me think that it is about NYC. I'm not sure about the Whispering Arch, that is no where near 8th Ave. 8th Ave does go through some famous NYC areas, such as the West Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, so who knows. The lyrics sound to me like someone fighting off some infidelity.

[UNICORN VOMIT]

Actually, the fact that it is titled 8th Avenue Serenade makes me think that it is about NYC. I'm not sure about the Whispering Arch, that is no where near 8th Ave. 8th Ave does go through some famous NYC areas, such as the West Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, so who knows. The lyrics sound to me like someone fighting off some infidelity.

I don't like the song but dam I want to go to those places

[solongfromthestars]

Yeah, he went on a trip to NYC on his own for a couple of months while writing AI, kind of a big thing that he felt he had to do to sort his head out that apparently involved a lot of drinking, walking around and thinking. He's said Are We The Waiting was inspired by walking around the city at night and looking up at all the lights and stuff, hence the first verse.

I always just think of the "whispering wall" line as being a way of describing meeting up with someone secretly somewhere, could be anywhere but it's the fact they're meeting in a secret/romantic way that means it deserves such a poetic title. Cool to think it might also be referencing that specific place though, would make sense along with referencing a specific street in the title/chorus and I'm not aware of anywhere else it could be referring to.

I didn't know this either! I also feel like a bad fan. That's really interesting though.

That's how I interpreted that line as well, except I just assumed the secret place was the actual Whispering Arch/Wall (I swear it used to be Wall back when I first Googled it, haha).

[Hermione]

I didn't know this either! I also feel like a bad fan. That's really interesting though.

That's how I interpreted that line as well, except I just assumed the secret place was the actual Whispering Arch/Wall (I swear it used to be Wall back when I first Googled it, haha).

Not at all , he just talked about it in a few interviews/articles during AI times. I wanted to find one but google didn't help me, probably quite a few scanned ones on GDA and elsewhere that mention it though.