Homecoming (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Homecoming" | ||
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| Song by Green Day | ||
| from the album American Idiot | ||
| Released | 21 September 2004 | |
| Recorded | 23 February 2003-January 2004 | |
| Genre | Punk rock, Pop Punk | |
| Length | 9:18 | |
| Label | Reprise | |
| Writer(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, and Mike Dirnt | |
| Producer(s) | Rob Cavallo and Green Day | |
| American Idiot track listing | ||
| Wake Me Up When September Ends (9) |
"Homecoming" (12) |
Whatsername (13) |
Homecoming is the second of two "Rock opera" songs on Green Day's seventh album, American Idiot. It is a full nine minutes and eighteen seconds long, and is made up of five parts. While frontman Billie Joe Armstrong writes most of the songs, this compilation features one part written and sung by drummer Tré Cool (entitled Rock and Roll Girlfriend), and another part written and sung by bassist Mike Dirnt (entitled Nobody Likes You).
Contents |
[edit] The Death of St. Jimmy
This first section narrates the story of how Jesus of Suburbia abandoned his alter ego, St. Jimmy, through usage of the imagery of St. Jimmy "blowing his brains out into the Bay".
"The bay" probably refers to The Bay Area of California, where Green Day grew up, which hints that the Jesus of Suburbia character is autobiographical for Billie Joe, who wrote the lyrics.
[edit] East 12th St.
The second section talks about how Jesus of Suburbia is filling out papers at the 'facility on East 12th St.'*. There is a police station located here where Billie Joe Armstrong had to fill out papers for a DUI (in Oakland, California), leading us to believe Jesus of Suburbia has been arrested for some charge of his past deeds or something not mentioned in the song. The track Shoplifter is billed as a "non-album track", but it may be explaining the reason why St. Jimmy (Jesus of Suburbia) had to do that paperwork. Altetrnatively, the section could be explaining to the listener how the Jesus Of Suburbia has chosen to settle down and get a job after the demise of his alter ego.
[edit] Nobody Likes You
Written by Mike Dirnt, this song was one of the thirty-second songs the band mates wrote to relieve stress while working on the album. Mike Dirnt sings the lead vocals of this song live . Billie Joe Armstrong is generally credited with the vocals. It fits into the storyline by showing the mental processes of Jesus of Suburbia and the mental abuse that he inflicts upon himself. Many also believe that this has little to do with the story, and was just put in as a segue into "Rock and Roll Girlfriend". The song is a short about a man, that while staying up late into the night, watching Spike TV and drinking coffee, starts reflecting on his own social life ("nobody likes you, everyone left you, they're all without you, havin' fun"). These lyrics also form the intro to the song in the same album Letterbomb, where they are sung by Kathleen Hanna in the voice of Whatsername, in which she breaks up with Jesus of Suburbia.
[edit] Rock and Roll Girlfriend
Written and sung by Tré Cool, and reportedly based on his own lifestyle, This song is in the form of a postcard sent to Jesus of Suburbia by an old friend, signed as "Tunny" (this postcard appears in the album art of American Idiot). The postcard seems to state that Tunny is leading his ideal life; has nothing to do with Jesus's problems; and doesn't want to hear about them (the last line is "So get off of my case!") although interpretations of the meaning of this song may vary. When Tré says "I haven't drank or smoked nothin'In over 22 days So get off my case" Listen in the backround, Billie Joe sings backround vocals and says "Don't Want To Be An American Idiot."
[edit] We're Coming Home Again
The final part of the song is a chant about how Jesus of Suburbia decides to return to his hometown after his ex-girlfriend Whatsername sends him a letter(Letterbomb). However, the mood of this song isn't depressed and angry. It sounds like Jesus of Suburbia is pleased to finally return home. As a note, you can hear the screaming of St. Jimmy at the end of the song. Perhaps he seems angry, and may reflect on how Jesus looks back on his life, and chooses to ignore Jimmy.
