What better time to listen to and watch this video than today. Being on an emotional staircase leading down right now, I feel connection to the lyrics. Some situations which befall us are hard to verbalize, until a song performs the works for you. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" does just that for me. Each line strikes a blow to each ventricle of my heart...traversing up to the hypothalamus where I grant my guards down, and just let mixed feelings flow...in the confines of my bedroom.
Trying not to let myself sulk longer into the pit, I focused on my curiosity instead. This great song, for sure, should have an equally great story behind it. I wasn't wrong.
The song was written by Billie Joe Armstrong as a tribute to his father, Andy Armstrong, who died of throat cancer in September 10, 1982 when he was still a child. Stories about that fateful event stated Billie was so hurt by his father's death that on the funeral, he ran home to lock himself up in his room. When his mother followed him, Billie tearfully said "Wake me up when September ends".
Later on, it was sung and recorded by the band Green Day. It is an American rock trio formed in 1987, consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals and guitar, Mike Dirnt onbass guitar and vocals, and Tré Cool on drums and percussion. Green Day was originally part of the punk rock scene in East Bay, CA, United States . Their early releases were under the independent Lookout! Records until they signed to a major label. It was the fourth single from their seventh album, American Idiot in June 2005. The song was originally intended on the Shenanigans. But Billie was emotionally ready to record the song, so it fortunately ended up on American Idiot. It has become Green Day's third top 10 single, peaking at number six on US charts.
Now, let us look at the lyrics:
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
summer has come and passed
the innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends
ring out the bells again
like we did when spring began
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
He said seven years has gone so fast, referring to their band formed seven years after the incident happened. (Or twenty years as a homage to when he wrote this song). Crying and hurting again several years past while saying "here comes the rain again, falling from the stars...." He may have moved on, had his own family and kids but scars turn to wounds again when he travel back to that painful memory, as it was written "as my memory rests but never forget what I lost". Wake me up when September ends, in the hopes of letting time take away his pain.
Every individual who listens and immerses himself to the song can have different interpretations to it. Guided by our own experiences, we perceive the meaning divergently. In fact, some listeners think of it as a tribute to World Trade Center bombing on September 11, 2001, or to Hurricane Katrina's aftermath in September 2005. It is also for those who loved and lost, "afraid" to lose someone, victims of war, depressed, and those who are hopeful that everything shall come to pass. For me, there is no wrong way to interpret the song. It is open-ended, a reason why it has endeared itself to the hearts of many listeners and became one of the most memorable songs of all time. Kudos to Billie Joe Armstrong for writing this song. A true talent with a heart. His rendition is also amazing. It may be on the alternative rock genre but it has crossed all borders of age, gender, cultures and socio-cultural status. Truly, his song is a concrete example that music is universal and has no boundaries.
The official music video is also an experience to behold. It is directed by Samuel Bayer, starring Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood. Superb cinematography, I may say. Set in a time when September 11 attacks were still new, it features lovers who promised not to leave each other. But the boy, wanting to make his girl proud, joined the military. It made her depressed especially upon learning that her boyfriend was ambushed during the war in Iraq.
Both videos I showed in this post are great. Going back to the song being open-ended, both videos show how we can have varied interpretations for the same song. The former is more on the rock side while the latter focuses on emotional appeal. Even some people regard the official music video as mushy. I don't think so. If you really love and miss someone, you can never be too cheesy, for that matter.
We can never really forget anything which left a mark in our lives. It can be positive or negative, but through time and proper perspective, the negative can turn into positive, as well. September 2012 has given me a challenge. It is either to fear or to hope. Fear of losing my grandmother, or hope that she will soon recover and be back to her strong persona. If I can only take at least half of her pain, I would gladly do so. My childhood memories revolve around her. She is my first fashion icon. I adore her style - so elegant and crisp. She is feisty yet so sweet and caring. My grandmother would always take me with her. While she was with other people, I would always be in awe as I witness her grace and charm which transcended through the crowd. She remained a fashionista even when she grew older and lost her sight. I would be the one, then, who would fix her hair and make-up. Her disability never constrained her to exude such radiance she had always been known for. It hurts me more now to see her in pain. I don't want to lose her. She is my inspiration. But I am very hopeful she will get better when (or even before) September ends. I won't let the incongruity with my chosen peace affect me.
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Thankful for songs like this to express what can't be elucidated with words. I believe Billie Joe Armstrong never intended it solely for fathers, but for all the role models in our lives. It is hoping for better things to come...and for moments when you just want to hide under the sheets.
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