Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in … Read Full Bio ↴Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career they have been a power trio with drummer Tré Cool, who replaced John Kiffmeyer in 1990 before the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1991). Before taking its current name in 1989, Green Day was called Blood Rage, then Sweet Children and they were part of the late 1980s/early 1990s Bay Area punk scene that emerged from the 924 Gilman Street club in Berkeley, California. The band's early releases were with the independent record label Lookout! Records. In 1994, their major-label debut Dookie, released through Reprise Records, became a breakout success and eventually shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. Alongside fellow California punk bands Bad Religion, the Offspring, Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise and Social Distortion, Green Day is credited with popularizing mainstream interest in punk rock in the U.S.

Though the albums Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997) and Warning (2000) did not match the success of Dookie, they were still successful, with the first two reaching double platinum status, while the last achieved gold. Green Day's seventh album, a rock opera called American Idiot (2004), found popularity with a younger generation, selling six million copies in the U.S. Their next album, 21st Century Breakdown, was released in 2009 and achieved the band's best chart performance. It was followed by a trilogy of albums, ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, released in September, November, and December 2012, respectively. The trilogy did not perform as well as expected commercially, in comparison to their previous albums, largely due to a lack of promotion and Armstrong entering rehab. Their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio, was released in October 2016 and became their third to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The band's thirteenth studio album, Father of All Motherfuckers, was released on February 7, 2020, and was their final album released by Reprise. On October 24, 2023, the band announced that their fourteenth studio album, 'Saviors', will come out January 19, 2024.

In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway. The musical was nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design, winning the latter two. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, their first year of eligibility. Members of the band have collaborated on the side projects Pinhead Gunpowder, The Network, Foxboro Hot Tubs, The Longshot and The Coverups. They have also worked on solo careers.

Green Day has sold roughly 90 million records worldwide, them one of the world's best-selling artists. The group has been nominated for 20 Grammy awards and has won five of them with Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and Best Musical Show Album for American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording.

Forever Now
Green Day Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My name is Billie and I'm freaking out
I thought before I was now I can't really figure it out
I sit alone with my thoughts and prayers
Screaming my memories as if I was never there

Standing at the edge of the world
It's giving me the chills
Looking down the edge of the world

Lost in a tangle, it's freaking me out
Burning lights and blackouts

From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world

I'm like a punk rocker on Labor Day
How the hell did I work so hard to perform this way
I've never learned to read or write so well
But I can play the guitar until it hurts like hell

Standing at the edge of the world
It's giving me the chills
Looking down the edge of the world
Lost in a tangle, it's freaking me out
Burning lights and blackouts

From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world

If this is what you call the good life
I want a better way to die
If this is what you call the good life
I want a better way to die

Oh I
Don't wanna think about tomorrow
Don't wanna think about the road
It doesn't matter anyway

Oh I
I wanna start a revolution
I wanna hear it on my radio
And put it off another day

I want a new conspiracy
And the silence of a thousand cries
So hurry up
I wanna a better way to die

I'm running late to somewhere now where I don't want to be
Where the future and promises ain't what it used to be
I never wanted to compromise or bargain with my soul
How did a life on the wild side ever get so full

Somewhere now
Somewhere now
Somewhere now
Somewhere now

Oh I
Don't wanna think about tomorrow
Don't wanna think about the road
It doesn't matter anyway

Oh I
I wanna start a revolution
I wanna hear it on my radio
And put it off another day

Oh I (I ain't gonna stand in line no more!)
Don't wanna think about tomorrow
Don't wanna think about the road
It doesn't matter anyway

Oh I
I wanna start a revolution

I wanna hear it on my radio
And put it off another day

Overall Meaning

The song Forever Now by Green Day is about being lost and uncertain, and feeling like you're on the edge of the world. The singer, Billie, is struggling to make sense of himself and the world around him. He's questioning his place in the world and expressing his anxiety about the future. He speaks about his past and memories, screaming them out as if he was never there. This might indicate a feeling of being disconnected from his past and feeling like he doesn't belong to it anymore.

Billie compares himself to a punk rocker on Labor Day, who worked hard to perform the way he did, but is still unsure about his direction in life. He's good at playing the guitar, but he's not accomplished in other areas of his life. The song touches on the frustration and confusion of youth, and how difficult it can be to find your way.

The song culminates with Billie expressing a desire to start a revolution and to hear it on the radio. He wants to be heard and make a change, but he's not sure how to do it. The song ends with Billie determined to move forward, but still feeling uncertain.

Overall, this song is a reflection on the struggle of growing up, finding your place in the world, and figuring out what you want to do with your life.

Line by Line Meaning

My name is Billie and I'm freaking out
I'm feeling really overwhelmed and unsure of what's going on

I thought before I was now I can't really figure it out
I used to feel like I had things figured out, but now I feel lost

I sit alone with my thoughts and prayers
I spend a lot of time reflecting and asking for guidance

Screaming my memories as if I was never there
I'm haunted by my past and struggle to come to terms with it

Standing at the edge of the world
I feel like I'm on the brink of a major transition or change

It's giving me the chills
I'm scared and uncertain about what's to come

Looking down the edge of the world
I'm contemplating the unknown and trying to prepare for it

Lost in a tangle, it's freaking me out
I'm overwhelmed and struggling to make sense of my situation

Burning lights and blackouts
I feel both energized and drained at the same time

I'm like a punk rocker on Labor Day
I feel like an outsider, and like I don't fit in with 'normal' society

How the hell did I work so hard to perform this way
I'm questioning whether the effort I've put in has really paid off

I've never learned to read or write so well
I haven't always followed conventional wisdom and societal expectations

But I can play the guitar until it hurts like hell
I have a passion and a talent that I pour myself into fully

If this is what you call the good life
If this is the best that life has to offer

I want a better way to die
I want something more meaningful and fulfilling than this

Don't wanna think about tomorrow
I'm trying to live in the moment and not worry about the future

Don't wanna think about the road
I don't want to excessively plan or strategize for the future

It doesn't matter anyway
Ultimately, the future is beyond my control

I wanna start a revolution
I want to create real change and make a difference

I wanna hear it on my radio
I want to be a part of something big and have it broadcast to the world

And put it off another day
I'm not quite ready to take on this challenge yet, but I will soon

I want a new conspiracy
I'm searching for a new sense of purpose and direction

And the silence of a thousand cries
I'm deeply affected by the pain and suffering in the world

So hurry up
I'm eager and impatient for things to change

I'm running late to somewhere now where I don't want to be
I'm realizing that I've lost my way and I'm not where I want to be

Where the future and promises ain't what it used to be
The future seems uncertain, and the things that once drove me no longer do

I never wanted to compromise or bargain with my soul
I'm someone who values authenticity and staying true to my principles

How did a life on the wild side ever get so full
I'm struggling to understand how I got to where I am, and whether it's really what I wanted

Somewhere now
At this moment in time

Oh I (I ain't gonna stand in line no more!)
I'm no longer willing to just go along with the status quo

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS