Welcome to Paradise
| "Welcome to Paradise" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Green Day | ||||
| from the album Dookie and Kerplunk | ||||
| Released | October 4, 1994 | |||
| Format | CD single, vinyl | |||
| Recorded | 1992-1993 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | 3:44 | |||
| Label | Reprise, WEA International | |||
| Writer(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong / Green Day | |||
| Producer(s) | Rob Cavallo, Green Day | |||
| Green Day singles chronology | ||||
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"Welcome to Paradise" is a song by the American punk rock band Green Day. It is the fifth track from their third studio album, Dookie and was released as the second single. The original version of the song was released on the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1992) and was re-recorded for Dookie in 1994. The Dookie version was later included on the compilation album, International Superhits! in 2001. "Welcome to Paradise" is playable in the video game, Green Day: Rock Band.
Track listing
- "Welcome to Paradise" – 3:45
- "Chump" (live) – 2:44
- "Emenius Sleepus" – 1:44
- Track 2 recorded on March 11, 1994 at Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida
Song meaning and composition
The song was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. It is based on the band's experience moving out of their parents' houses and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California where the band members, along with a number of others, lived without paying rent. The house was quite broken-down but to them it became home, and this sentiment is described in the song.
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 song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are many of their Dookie songs.
The song is sung as Billie Joe Armstrong is talking or sending a message to his mother, after moving out of her house. The first verse is Armstrong talking to his mother after three weeks of leaving her place, telling her that he's scared about being on his own. The second part describes Armstrong writing to her after six months of living at his own place, now being happy to live on his own.
Music video
A video was released for the song. It features the band playing live, while the studio version from the Dookie album is playing during the band's performance. It is one of two videos not to be included on the band's first DVD, International Supervideos! (The other being "Macy's Day Parade").
In popular culture
"Welcome to Paradise" was featured in the movie Surf's Up, though was not released on the film's soundtrack. The song was also featured in the trailer for Couples Retreat.
Chart positions
| Chart (1994) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| scope="row" | Australia (ARIA)[ 1] | 44 |
| scope="row" | New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] | 21 |
| scope="row" | UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] | 20 |
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
