Wake Me Up When September Ends

Green Day

About Wake Me Up When September Ends

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released on August 31, 2005, as the fourth single and eleventh track from the group's seventh studio album, American Idiot (2004). The song was written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong about the death of his father. The song became a hit single, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top ten single in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and New Zealand, and was a number one single in the Czech Republic. In the United States, the song became symbolic after Hurricane Katrina, where it was dedicated to victims of the disaster, and also regarded as a dedication to the victims of the September 11 attacks that occurred in 2001. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song's music video depicts a couple broken apart by the Iraq War, which was intended to convey the song's central theme of loss. 


Year:
2004
4:45
3,715 
#12

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Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my fathers come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends

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Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, drummer Tré Cool and guitarist and backing vocalist Jason White, who became a full member after playing in the band as a session and touring guitarist for 13 years. Cool replaced former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990, prior to the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1992). more »

20 fans

Written by: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a track from the seventh studio album by Green Day, which is named "American Idiot". The album was released on September 20, 2004, by Reprise Records.
Song Inspiration
The song was written by the band's frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong. It was originally written as a tribute to his father, who died of cancer when Armstrong was just 10 years old, in September 1982, hence the title "Wake Me Up When September Ends".
Chart Performance
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" achieved great success on the charts. It reached the 7th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the fourth single from "American Idiot" to achieve a top 10 spot.
Music Video
The music video of the song, directed by Samuel Bayer, describes the pain associated with the Iraq War. It features a couple where the boyfriend enlists in the Marine Corps and goes to war, leaving his girlfriend behind. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography in 2005.
Misinterpretations
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many listeners wrongly thought that "Wake Me Up When September Ends" was written for the disaster, leading to Armstrong stating that while it was about his father, he felt it also represented loss in general and could be applied to various situations.
September Misconceptions
Each year, many social media users send messages to Armstrong, telling him to wake up when September ends, due to misunderstanding the real context behind the song.
Live performances
During live performances, Armstrong has been known to become emotionally overwhelmed during the song, sometimes even tearing up, due to the strong personal connection he has to it.
Popularity and Recognition
The song has remained popular over the years. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has over 400 million views on YouTube as of 2021.
Covers
Various artists have covered "Wake Me Up When September Ends". Singer-songwriter Maroon 5 performed a version of the song in 2009, and the pop group U2 also paid tribute to Hurricane Katrina victims with the song.
Cultural Sway
Due to its melancholic nature and personal subject matter, the song has become an anthem for people dealing with loss and grief. It has also been recognized for further bringing the conversation of loss due to cancer into mainstream music.

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    "Wake Me Up When September Ends Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/894835/Green+Day/Wake+Me+Up+When+September+Ends>.

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    Wake Me Up When September Ends

    155.9M
    1M     30,149

    Top Hot 100 Songs 2005

    Billboard #6


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