J.A.R.
Green Day
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My friend drove off the other day And now he's gone and all they say Is you gotta live 'cause life goes on But now I see I'm mortal too I can't live my life like you Gotta live it up while life goes on And I think it's alright That I do what I like 'cause that's the way I wanna live And so I give And I'm still giving And now I wonder about my friend If he gave all he could give 'Cause he lived his life like I live mine If you could see inside my head Then you'd start to understand The things I value in my heart And I think it's alright That I do what I like 'cause that's the way I wanna live And so I give And I'm still giving You know that I know that You're watching me And I think it's alright That I do what I like 'cause that's the way I wanna live And so I give And I'm still giving Gotta make a plan Gotta do what's right Can't run around in circles If you want to build a life But I don't want to make a plan For a day far away While I'm young and while I'm able All I wanna do is
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Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
21 facts about this song
Song Origins"J.A.R." stands for "Jason Andrew Relva," an old friend of Green Day's bassist Mike Dirnt who passed away in a car accident in 1992.
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SongwriterUnlike many Green Day songs that are written by lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong, "J.A.R." was written entirely by bassist Mike Dirnt.
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CharityThe song was released in memory of Jason Relva and all proceeds from the royalties went to an AIDS charity that was asked for by the Relva family.
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Chart SuccessDespite being a non-album single, "J.A.R." went on to peak at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995.
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Album InclusionEven though "J.A.R." wasn't initially part of any of Green Day's albums, it was later included in the band's 2001 compilation album, "International Superhits!"
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Movie Soundtrack"J.A.R." was first released on the soundtrack of the 1995 film 'Angus', a coming-of-age comedy-drama film.
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Difference in StyleThe song illustrates a slight departure from Green Day's typical punk rock sound for a more ska-inflected pop-punk style.
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Song MessageLyrically, "J.A.R." deals with individuality, rebellion, and living life to the fullest, themes inspired by Jason Relva's life.
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Rare Live PerformancesDespite being a chart-topping single, "J.A.R." is rarely played live during Green Day concerts.
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Music VideoThe music video carries a dark theme and includes footage from the movie 'Angus'. It was filmed in black and white.
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Band Information"J.A.R." is a song by the American punk rock band Green Day, widely known for their distinctive punk rock and pop punk music style.
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Song BackgroundThe song is an acronym for "Jason Andrew Relva", a close friend of Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, who died in a car accident in 1992.
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Release DetailsAlthough not included in any of Green Day's studio albums, "J.A.R." was released as a single in 1995 on the soundtrack to the movie "Angus".
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Song PerformanceThe song reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming Green Day's most successful single.
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Songwriting CreditsThe song itself was written by bassist Mike Dirnt and is one of the few Green Day songs that he has written entirely.
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High Chart RankingDespite not appearing on Green Day's original album, the song "J.A.R." became hugely popular, ranking higher on the charts than any song from the band's album "Dookie."
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Music VideoThe music video features clips from the film "Angus" intercut with footage of Green Day performing the song.
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Track Inclusion"J.A.R." was later included on their compilation album "International Superhits!" and the collection album "God's Favorite Band."
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Distinctive InstrumentalsThe song is known for its prominent bass line, which is played in unison with the melody of the song during the verses.
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Personal Connection“J.A.R.” is a tribute to Mike Dirnt’s friend Jason Relva, making it a deeply personal song for the band.
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Fan FavoriteDespite not being from any of their studio albums, the song remains a fan favorite for the band's deep lyrics and high-energy music.
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