Billie Joe Armstrong said this of the song:
“ It's about West Oakland, living in a warehouse with a lot of people, a bunch of artists and musicians, punks and whatever just lived all up and down, bums and junkies and thugs and gang members and stuff that just lived in that area. It's no place you want to walk around at night, but it's a neat warehouse where you can play basketball and stuff. ”
The opening riff of the song is reminiscent of the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop", if one were to take the same chords but play the progression backwards using the same rhythm. The song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are all their Dookie songs.
A live version of the song can be found on the Foot in Mouth EP and the Live Tracks EP. The song is also featured in the movie Surf's Up.
Tracklist
1. "Welcome to Paradise" - 3:45
2. "Chump (live)" - 2:44
3. "Emenius Sleepus" - 1:44
* (Track 2 recorded March 11, 1994 at Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida)
Released - October 1994
Format - CD, Vinyl
Recorded - 1993
Genre - Punk rock
Length - 3:44
Label WEA International, Reprise Records
Welcome To Paradise
Green Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been three whole weeks
Since that I've left your home
This sudden fear has left me tremblin'
'Cause now it seems that I am out there on my own
And I'm feeling so alone
Pay attention to the cracked streets
Some call it slums, some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise
A gunshot rings out at the station
Another urchin snaps and left dead on his own
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go
Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums, some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise
Dear mother, can you hear me laughing?
It's been six whole months since that
I have left your home
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go
Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums, some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise, oh paradise
In Green Day's song "Welcome to Paradise," the singer is addressing his mother and expressing his loneliness and discomfort after leaving home. He has been gone for three weeks and is struggling to navigate his new environment. The singer describes the broken and dangerous conditions of the streets and homes where he now resides, which some call slums and others call nice. Despite the harsh reality of his surroundings, he has become attached to this wasteland that he calls home. The song ends with the singer laughing and feeling at ease with his new life after being gone for six months.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear mother can you hear me whining?
The singer feels lonely and misses his mother.
It's been three whole weeks
The singer has been away from home for three weeks.
Since that I've left your home
The singer left his mother's home and feels homesick.
This sudden fear has left me tremblin'
The artist is afraid of being alone in a new environment.
'Cause now it seems that I am out there on my own
The artist is alone and on his own in a new place.
And I'm feeling so alone
The singer feels lonely and isolated.
Pay attention to the cracked streets
The singer wants the listener to notice the poor condition of the streets.
And the broken homes
The homes in the area are also run down and in need of repair.
Some call it slums, some call it nice
Some people view the area as a slum, while others see it as acceptable living conditions.
I want to take you through
The artist wants to show the listener around where he lives.
A wasteland I like to call my home
The singer is referring to the area he lives in as a wasteland.
Welcome to paradise
The artist is ironically welcoming the listener to his less-than-ideal living conditions.
A gunshot rings out at the station
There is violence and danger in the area where the singer lives.
Another urchin snaps and left dead on his own
Another person in the area has died a senseless death, leaving the singer feeling hopeless.
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
The singer is questioning why he stays in a place that is dangerous and depressing.
For some strange reason it's now feeling like my home
Despite the bleak conditions, the artist has grown attached to the area and now considers it home.
And I'm never gonna go
The artist has made the decision to stay in this place, despite its drawbacks.
Dear mother, can you hear me laughing?
The singer has come to terms with his living conditions and is now finding humor in the situation.
It's been six whole months since that I have left your home
The singer has been living in this area for six months now.
Pay attention to the cracked streets
The artist is once again pointing out the poor condition of the streets.
And the broken homes
Homes in the area are still run down and in need of repair.
Some call it slums, some call it nice
People still have differing views on the area's living conditions.
I want to take you through
The singer still wants to show the listener his home.
A wasteland I like to call my home
The artist still sees his living environment as a wasteland, but it has grown on him.
Welcome to paradise, oh paradise
The singer is once again sarcastically welcoming the listener to his less-than-ideal living conditions.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Frank Wright, Mike Pritchard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@simaopereira4884
lyrics
Dear mother
Can you hear me whining?
It's been three whole weeks
Since I left your home
This sudden fear has left me trembling
'Cause now it seems that I
Am out there on my own
And I'm feeling so alone
Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise
A gunshot rings out at the station
Another urchin snaps and
Left dead on his own
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go
Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise
Dear mother
Can you hear me laughing?
It's been six whole months since that
I have left your home
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go
Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise
Paradise
@GreenDay
Listen up motherf🦄🦄🦄ers Father Of All... is out now! Play it loud and play it on repeat 🤘https://GreenDay.lnk.to/fatherofall
@albertotheband9671
Cringe
@noviatoria2436
There's a reason we're here, listening to your good songs instead lol
@christiancampos9995
No thanks :D
@spongebobmatrix182
Sorry, but the album sucks dick, I'd rather listen to Justin beaver
@xfogscapex
Green Day your new album is garbage lol no thanks
@Fasil777
Someone build a Time Machine so I can go back to the 90s, at least for a weekend.
@ffffffuuuuuuu
Done
@jonaszeidler8804
Fasil Joshua I'll so much come with ya.
@brycepierone9873
Jonas Zeidler Count me in