Waiting by Green Day

Album: Warning (2000)

Charted: 34

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Songfacts®:

In this song, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong builds up to a big moment he's been waiting for all his life. As the song progresses, that moment gets closer and the anticipation builds, but when it finally arrives, it seems a bit of a letdown:

Color me stupid
Good luck
You're gonna need it

Green Day had a very eventful '90s when they went from playing underground clubs to arenas after waiting just a few years. But life as superstars proved challenging, and in some ways they missed those days when they were the hungry go-getters with just a small but loyal following. Rock stardom was especially hard for Armstrong, who by the end of the decade was married with two kids.
"Waiting" was the third single from Green Day's sixth album, Warning. By this time, the band had fallen out of step with popular trends, and the song didn't crack the Hot 100. Their more refined sound earned them a far larger audience in 2004 when they released their next album, American Idiot.
Green Day made a music video for this song with Marc Webb, who also did the Evanescence video for "Call Me When You're Sober." The "Waiting" video shows the band performing in a house when a gaggle of young people storm the place and start a party. There's lot's of vivid slow motion and stills, reminiscent of Green Day's video for "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)."

This was the first video Green Day made with Webb. They worked with him again on "21 Guns."

Comments: 14

Gabriel from Melbourne Australia@Emily from Kansas, idk if you'll ever see this comment but I wanted you to know that I think what you have written about the journey of transitioning is the best I have seen in a long while way of describing what the journey of self discovery and questioning yourself and finally going through with this life changing journey feels like. I want to be brave enough to transition I want to be brave enough to come out. I'm just really happy that I came across your comment. Plus you gave me a new way to view this song
Emily from KansasI'm trans, so I'm biased, but I like to think the meaning is about being trans. I think that (in regards to about being trans, which I know it's not, but I like to think it) this person's kind of talking to themselves. "It's too late, [I have to do this to better myself, whether I'm] ready or not at all. I'm so much closer than I have ever known, [and I have to] wake up [from this nightmare]." The "ready or not at all" is probably this person telling themself that I'm scared of changing, what if I do this and don't like it? But I'm so close enough to taste it. Almost, I can embrace this feeling on the tip of my tongue. I'm so much closer than I have ever known, and I have to wake up from this nightmare. Sure it's scary, but I should be thanking my lucky stars that I have a way out of this nightmare."

And then it switches to the moment where they're brave enough to start transitioning, "Dumbstuck, color myself stupid, and good luck, I'm gonna need it where I'm going if I get there at all, but I have to wake up, and I should thank my lucky stars that I'm doing this."
Ben from LondonIS THAT ALL YOU CAN DO?! Sorry. But I think there's more Songfacts than "it's about waiting for something bad".
COME ON! Does this song get ANY attention?
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnMy fave song - I just love the melody.
Cody from Wasilla, AkThis song is about waiting for so long to tell your special someone that you love them, and finally getting the chance.
Dustin from New York, NyThis song is about how far green day has come and how great they are of a band.
Rach from Toronto, Canadai love they sound on the whole warning cd but i love this song so much its amazing it brings me out of the dark places in my head
Angelica from West Liberty, KyThis song totally Rox thank god 4 green day (weed day)
I love green day and my best friend is in love w/billie joe armstrong they have alout in commen they would be perfect together i wish her the best she has all of the albums and is waiting 4 the next one I am 2 green day ROX
Tara from Somewhere, Flthis song might be about going to Heaven also because he's like, "I've been waiting a LIFETIME for this moment to come..." and "Where I'm going if I get there at all..." and "Wake Up!" for waking up and you're not alive. and "Calling... don't let it catch you falling." So he won't go to hell.

I don't know, I was just reading the lyrics and all of a sudden that poped into my head.
Eileen from San Diego, Cai've noticed, they.......kinda copied i guess. i dunno!! but it is still a great song, and i REALLY enjoy it.
Christpoher from La Verne, Cohas any1 noticed this has the same melody to downtown by petula clark?
Sarah from Sandiego, CaThis song rocks I always listen to it on the computer all the time its one of their best!!!!!
Tanya from London, United StatesI cant stand the video. I dont know why, it just really annoys me. I usually love Green Day vids n all. I've never noticed the big head though....
Tanya from London, Englandbillie joe's voice is great in all of warning. The whole album just shows how they arent just a one trick band

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