Wake Me Up When September Ends

Its been 8 years since Wake Me Up When September Ends, a song by American Rock band Greenday was released to the world! It was their 4th single from album American Idiot. The song did well worldwide being in the top ten in numerous countries despite being the 4th single.

 

The video focuses on a loving couple and the boyfriend enlists to the US Marine Corps and shows the pain and worry in a relationship when one is fighting in war. The video includes Billy Elliot star, Jamie Bell, his first big appearance in an acting role since the film. It was around this time when the Iraq war was in full ferocity and shows the pain and heartache of losing loved ones due to the war. The song became a tribute song to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in which 1833 people were killed and the city of New Orleans almost destroyed on August 23rd 2005.

 

The song is dedicated to Billie's father who died of throat cancer when Billie was a child on September 1st, 1982. It is unconfirmed that at his father's funeral, Billie cried, ran home and locked himself in his room. When his mother got home and knocked on the door to Billie's room, Billie simply said, "Wake me up when September ends," hence the title.

 

 

 

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

like my father's come to pass
seven years has gone so fast
wake me up when September ends

here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are
as my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when September ends