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.
Sweet 16
Green Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time stands still as the years go by
Brown-eyed girl that's throwing down a bottle of Old English
Back in the warehouse
Old days are fine, but are left so far behind
From California to Jane Street
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
'Cause you will always be my
Well, you will always by my
You will always be my sweet 16
Sleep on the floor on cardboard
Stab out my heart like a dartboard
Brown-skinned girl, I had a dream about a long, long time now
From the Midwest to the beach
Old days are fine, but are left so far behind
From California to Jane Street
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
'Cause you will always be my
Well, you will always by my
You will always be my sweet 16
Old days are fine, but are left so far behind
From California to Jane Street
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
'Cause you will always be my
Well, you will always by my
You will always be my sweet 16
The lyrics to Green Day's song "Sweet 16" seem to speak to nostalgia for young love and reckless behavior. The opening lines "Bring me back to an hour ago, time stands still as the years go by" suggest a longing to relive a moment in the past where everything seemed perfect. The lyrics go on to mention a "Brown-eyed girl" who drinks Old English and seems to embody a memory of carefree youth. The line "old days are fine, but are left so far behind" acknowledges the past but also suggests an acknowledgement that it's impossible to go back.
The second verse seems to continue the theme of yearning for something that's gone. The line "sleep on the floor on cardboard, stab out my heart like a dartboard" suggests a destructive or dangerous lifestyle. The mention of a "Brown-skinned girl" suggests that this is a diverse group of friends, perhaps from different parts of the country ("From the Midwest to the beach").
Overall, the lyrics of "Sweet 16" suggest a bittersweet reflection on youth, and the realization that those days are gone forever. The repetition of the line "you will always be my sweet 16" suggests a deep longing to hold onto that moment, even as time moves forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring me back to an hour ago
The singer is expressing a desire to relive a recent moment in time that they enjoyed and misses.
Time stands still as the years go by
The flow of time is constant and unrelenting, yet some moments seem to stick with us and remain fresh in our memories even as we grow older.
Brown-eyed girl that's throwing down a bottle of Old English
The singer is remembering a specific person they knew, who had distinctive physical features (brown eyes) and a fondness for a particular type of alcohol (Old English).
Back in the warehouse
The memory takes place in a specific location, likely a shared living space or hangout spot.
Old days are fine, but are left so far behind
The artist acknowledges that past experiences and memories are important, but recognizes that they cannot be relived or recreated in the same way.
From California to Jane Street
The singer is referencing a geographical distance that spans from one coast of the United States to a specific street, suggesting a vast range of experiences and places in between.
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
The singer is commenting on the current state of their life, acknowledging that while they may not have everything they want, they are content with where they are at the moment.
'Cause you will always be my
The artist is addressing someone directly, expressing their feelings towards them.
Well, you will always by my
Continuing from the previous line, the artist emphasizes the importance of this person in their life and how they have always been there.
You will always be my sweet 16
The artist is using the phrase 'sweet 16' as a metaphor for a cherished memory or person that will always hold a special place in their heart.
Sleep on the floor on cardboard
The singer is recalling a specific memory of having to sleep somewhere that was less than ideal.
Stab out my heart like a dartboard
The artist is using a metaphor to describe how painful this memory is to them.
Brown-skinned girl, I had a dream about a long, long time now
The singer is recalling a dream they had about someone in their past, who had dark skin.
From the Midwest to the beach
The singer is referencing a geographical distance that spans from the middle of the United States to a coastal area, suggesting a vast range of experiences and places in between.
Old days are fine, but are left so far behind
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, emphasizing the singer's acknowledgement that the past cannot be relived or recreated in the same way, no matter how fondly they remember it.
Kids alright, alright as they'll ever be
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, emphasizing the artist's acknowledgement that while they may not have everything they want, they are content with where they are at the moment.
'Cause you will always be my
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, emphasizing the artist's address to someone specific and expressing their feelings towards them.
Well, you will always by my
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, emphasizing the importance of this person in their life and how they have always been there.
You will always be my sweet 16
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, emphasizing the singer's use of the phrase 'sweet 16' as a metaphor for a cherished memory or person that will always hold a special place in their heart.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E. III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE PRITCHARD, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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