When I Come Around By Green Day - Songfacts

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When I Come Aroundby Green Day

Album: Dookie (1994)Charted: 27 6 License This Song  artistfacts

Songfacts®:

• A track from Green Day's first major-label album, "When I Come Around" is a very personal song lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wrote about being away from his girlfriend, Adrienne Nesser, and the frustrations they both felt when he was on the road. Billie Joe met Adrienne in 1990 when Green Day performed in Minnesota, where she lived. He was just 18, and found it difficult to maintain a long distance relationship, especially with his touring schedule. In this song, he affirms his devotion for her, assuring her that when he does get to see her (when he "comes around") he will make it up to her. Billie Joe and Adrienne got married in July 1994, a few months after Dookie was released and right in the midst of the band's rapid ascent to stardom (the band was touring at the time). The marriage endured, and couple had two children together.
• MTV aired two different videos for this song. A concept video for the song was directed by Mark Kohr, and MTV also showed a live version from Green Day's infamous Woodstock '94 performance (lots of mud was in the air). They used this video to promote the MTV Woodstock '94 retrospective video tape. >> Suggestion credit: George - Islip Terrace, NY
• Jason White, who sometimes played as a second guitarist for Green Day, is in this video. He's the guy kissing the girl.
• When performing this song at Woodstock '94, a fan threw a clump of mud onstage and Billie Joe stuck it in his mouth. This caused the fans to keep throwing mud and started the infamous mud fight. A security guard (in a rush to get fans off of the stage) accidentally slammed bassist Mike Dirnt into an amplifier, causing him injuries to his arm and three of his teeth.
• This song was not released as a single, which was a strategic move by Green Day's label (Reprise) to goose sales of the album. Airplay pushed the song to #6 in America.
• The Woodstock '94 version is included on the festival's live album, Woodstock 1994.

• More songs from Green Day
• More songs about being away from loved ones
• More songs about long-distance relationships
• More songs from 1994
• Green Day Artistfacts

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Comments: 36

• Josh from Champaign, IlDoes anyone else remember this riff being used in a Cablevision commercial before this song was recorded? I do.
• Colt’s Python from AmericaYou know, being thirty-forty something these days is a bittersweet symphony… although we got to be kids when Saturday morning cartoons were at their best and they had that almost kismet relationship with the toy aisle, and teens when the Grunge craze changed the world, it seems we never fathomed how hard the comedown would be when we finally crashed. By that I mean it’s soul crushing to see so much of what we grew up with slowly become classified as an oldie in today’s high tech world.I was in high school when Green Day’s “When I Come Around” was at it’s peak, it had been out for around two summers, but it was still topping the airwaves. I listened to this album frequently back in those days, but my most impactful memory of this song goes something like this: It occurred on a warm Spring day my Sophomore year and as always I had been on again/off again with my girlfriend at the time, and as a result I had this feeling of melancholy that day. We had a history of breaking up for petty reasons, the main issue always being she was the popular cheerleader, I was the high school rebel (think Claire and Bender). But I distinctly remember driving to Taco Bell that day after class, sitting there in the driver seat of my dark green Mustang, daydreaming if we’d get back together this time or if this was the final nail in the coffin. Anyway, while I was driving this song came on the radio and as those first four (monster) power chords rang out, I began to have this feeling of hopefulness and euphoria (some songs will do that to you). You see, there’s just something about this song that gives you a feeling of what’s to come, but can also pull you right back to where you were.So it’s crazy, now in my late thirties, every time I hear this song it brings me right back to that day in the 90’s when my biggest worry was my girlfriend and what Gordita I would order for lunch. It’s crazy how some music can do that to us… that feeling of nostalgia can draw us right back to a time in our lives when everything seemed so fresh and inspiring. In the end that pretty blond cheerleader and I didn’t make it, she’s now married with two kids, but thankfully I can sometimes close my eyes while listening to this song, and it time travels me right back to that warm Spring day where my single thought was, “You can’t go forcing something if it’s just not right.”
• Zero from The Abyss, NjBy Staind? Haha, that's kind of a hard mistake to make, Spencer, I guess if you were just a kid it makes sense, though. I used think "Unsung" by Helmet was Pennywise ('Seriously, man?' Yeah I did!).I also think it's an easy mistake to think Green Day sang "Closing Time", as that song has a similar if not Identical chord progression to this song.I also used to think that "Glycerine" by Bush had the same chord progression until I learned both songs on the guitar. (Glycerine uses different chords but probably the same melodic progression, This song is tuned a half step down while Glycerine is in standard)
• Spencer from Eugene, OrWhen I was a kid I thought this was by Staind now I realize it's from Green Day.
• Maddy from Boston, MaMy favorite Green Day song hands down. It has such simplicity but so catchy! I figured this song is about a young man wanted to live a little and have fun but really loves this girl and he will return when he matures and is ready..and he's just saying to her not to worry about it...it'll happen :)
• Megan from Stevenson, AlThis is so dang catchy! "WHEN I COME AROUND!!!"
• Phoebe from Belchertown, MaSometimes I listen to this when I'm feeling crummy and then I don't feel all too bad anymore afterward. It's strangely uplifting, in a way.A ballad you can mosh to?? Hahahahahaha :D
• Dustin from New York, Nythis song is about how a girl really needs a guy but he just comes around when he feels like it. its about a girl who needs this guy and he doesnt come to her but he will "when he comes around".
• Sara from Austin, Txfirst off the song is:F#, C#, D#, B (verse)and G# and B (chorus)you dont have to tune down. play it standard if ur lazy like me.solo isF# C# F# C# G# C# G# C# F# C# F# G# F# F# F# F# G# F# F# F# F# G# F# F# F# D# single notes played around the second and fourth frets of the 1st and 2nd strings (e and B)second of all...THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SONG!!!!!11 play count's about 300 on my year old iPod :pso far, this is the only real song my little band and i can play. (we're working on it! we're just kids) but we love it. this is some of BJ's best vocals and Tre's drumming is wickedly awesome and can you believe the bass riffs? crazy!to say i love this song is an understatement. it is gorgeous.thanks for your time and please excuse my long rant! peace & love, brothers and sisters!