Whatsername
Billie Joe Armstrong/Green Day Lyrics
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Then it turned out to only be a dream
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
She went away and then I took a different path
I remember the face
But I can't recall the name
Now I wonder how whatsername has been
Did she ever marry old what's his face
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
She went away and then I took a different path
I remember the face
But I can't recall the name
Now I wonder how whatsername has been
Remember, whatever
It seems like forever to go
Remember, whatever
It seems like forever ago
The regrets are useless in my mind
She's in my head
I must confess
The regrets are useless in my mind
She's in my head
So long ago
And in the darkest night
If my memory serves me right
I'll never turn back time
Forgetting you, but not the time
The lyrics of Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Whatsername” evoke the feelings of nostalgia and regret. It talks about a man who thought he saw a familiar face down the street, only to realize that it was just a dream. He then proceeds to reflect on the past and the memory of a woman whose name he cannot recall but whose face he remembers. The refrain “remember, whatever, it seems like forever to go” emphasizes the man’s longing for the past, even though he knows it is futile. He also wonders about what happened to the woman and if she ever married another man.
The man acknowledges that the regrets that he has cannot change the past or the fact that the woman is gone. However, the memory of the woman still lingers in his mind, and he feels like he cannot forget her despite the passage of time. The final lines of the song, “forgetting you, but not the time,” shows that the man has given up on finding the woman and has accepted that the past is just a memory.
Overall, Armstrong’s “Whatsername” is a reflection on the idea of nostalgia, regret, and the bittersweet memories of the past. It is a poignant reminder that we cannot go back in time and change past events.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I ran into you down on the street
Billie thought he saw her on the street.
Then it turned out to only be a dream
It was just a dream and they didn't meet.
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
Billie destroyed all the photos with her in it.
She went away and then I took a different path
The girl went away and Billie moved on in life.
I remember the face
Billie still remembers her face.
But I can't recall the name
Billie doesn't remember her name.
Now I wonder how whatsername has been
Billie wonders how she is doing now.
Seems that she disappeared without a trace
He can't find her anywhere and it looks like she vanished.
Did she ever marry old what's his face
Billie wonders if she ended up getting married to someone else.
Remember, whatever
The singer wants us to remember that whatever happens, happens.
It seems like forever to go
It feels like a long time ago and he can't forget her.
The regrets are useless in my mind
Regrets are pointless in his mind.
She's in my head
He still thinks about her often.
I must confess
He has to admit that he still has feelings for her.
So long ago
It all happened a long time ago.
And in the darkest night
Even in his worst moments,
If my memory serves me right
If he remembers correctly,
I'll never turn back time
He knows he can't change the past.
Forgetting you, but not the time
He may forget her, but not the time they spent together.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL PRITCHARD, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE
thank you Greenday you guys are one of the best bands out there
catuzu
nice joke :3
Benjamin Schwind
man wth catuzu green day has been one of the most influential bands of all time
Colin
Best?
Zematic _
@Colin yes best
Zematic _
@catuzu I mean if you think its joke I wont say anything.
SnazzyBoxx
This song always used to get me teary because of the melodies and meaning. God, i miss high school :(
Link Hero of Spirits AKA Trains
SnazzyBoxx what's the meaning I know it's like to love and to loose but does it personally relate to any of them
SnazzyBoxx
Ted Brodhead The song is about a guy who has a dream about his ex and now he wonders how she's doing. The relationship was years ago and didn't end too well (for whatever reasons) but whilst she seemingly moved on, he was left quite hurt and still full of regret; He can't even bring himself to burn the photographs of her/them. So many years have passed that he can no longer remember her name and as more years go by, her face will gradually fade away too...Even though he knows he can't turn back time, that he'll never see her again and that he'll eventually forget her, he will always remember the memories/atmospheres/feelings of that particular time in which they were together. They'll always linger.
SnazzyBoxx
Ted Brodhead It could be a personal song to Billie Joe because he cried but im not sure.