Wake Me up When September Ends - wikipedia Wake Me up When September Ends `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' Single by Green Day from the album American Idiot Released June 13, 2005 Format 7 '' CD VHS digital download Recorded September 2003 Genre Alternative rock Length 4 : 45 ( album version ) 4 : 19 ( radio edit ) Label Reprise Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) Billie Joe Armstrong Mike Dirnt Tré Cool Producer ( s ) Rob Cavallo Green Day singles chronology `` Holiday '' ( 2005 ) `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( 2005 ) `` Jesus of Suburbia '' ( 2005 ) `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' is a song by American rock band Green Day, released on June 13, 2005, as the fourth single from the group 's seventh studio album, American Idiot ( 2004 ). The song was written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong regarding the death of his father. The song became a hit single, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top ten single in the United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, and was a number one single in the Czech Republic. In the United States, the song became symbolic after Hurricane Katrina, where it was dedicated to victims of the disaster and also regarded as a dedication to the victims of the September 11 attacks that occurred in 2001. The song became certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song 's music video depicts a couple broken apart by the Iraq War, which was intended to convey the song 's central theme of loss. Contents 1 Background 2 Commercial performance 3 Reception 4 Music video 5 Legacy 6 Track listing 7 Charts 7.1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 8 Certifications 9 References 10 External links Background `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' was written by Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong about his father, who died of cancer in September 1982 when Billie Joe was ten. Armstrong, at one point, dubbed the song the most autobiographical he had written to that point, considering it `` therapeutic '' but also difficult to perform. The song is largely unrelated to the storyline that is central to American Idiot. Commercial performance The single peaked at number six in the United States, becoming Green Day 's second top 10 single. It also peaked at number eight in Canada and the UK, while reaching number 13 in Australia. The song was certified Gold in the United Kingdom for sales of 400,000. The song ended the streak of Green Day 's three consecutive number - one hits on the Modern Rock Tracks chart ( `` American Idiot '', `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '', and `` Holiday '' ), but it peaked at number two on the chart, kept from number one by Gorillaz ' `` Feel Good Inc. '' The song also made it to number two on the Adult Top 40 chart and the Mainstream Top 40 chart. This was the band 's most successful song in the adult contemporary market, hitting number three on the Adult Contemporary Chart and their only song to appear on that specific chart other than `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams ''. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' had sold 1,652,000 copies as of May 2010. Reception Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone deemed the song a sequel to the group 's 1997 single `` Good Riddance ( Time of Your Life ) ''. Music video The song 's music video was directed by Samuel Bayer, best known for his work with Nirvana and Metallica. Bayer wrote the treatment for the video, which he envisioned as a mini-movie. Bayer brought the idea of an Iraq War - themed video to the trio after interviewing soldiers who had signed up to fight after being persuaded by a television advertisement. The song 's music video thus attempts to `` turn the machine on itself '' by acting as a commercial for `` free thought or peace. '' Although it was far from the song 's literal meaning, Armstrong felt it appropriate considering the song 's theme of loss. Bayer noted that he felt bored with predictable music videos, and wanted to produce a video that felt like a film. Consequently, he and a crew spent a month casting actors for the roles and conducted rehearsals, uncommon for music videos. The clip was filmed in Los Angeles in late March 2004. The video focuses on a couple in love ( played by Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood ). The boyfriend promises never to leave his girlfriend but they later argue when the boyfriend enlists in the United States Marine Corps. The boyfriend interprets his actions as a way to show her that he loves her so much that he would put his life on the line to keep her safe. However, the girlfriend is heartbroken, as he broke his vow to never leave her. The video then shows the boyfriend in battle in Iraq being ambushed by insurgents. This scene is intercut with scenes of the girlfriend tearfully mourning in a quiet field. The video ends on this juxtaposition, emphasizing the pain and heartache of losing loved ones due to the war. The clip prompted criticism from conservative media pundits. On the subject of the clip being seen as exploitive of the war for entertainment purposes, Dirnt rejected this notion : `` Rock & roll should be dangerous. (... ) It should be striking and stir questions, and I think that that video, at the end of the day, comes down to that core emotion of loss. '' Bayer considered it his best production to that point, remarking, `` ' September ' is hands down the greatest thing I 've ever done. '' The video reached number one on Total Request Live, and came in second for best video of the year in a 2005 Reader 's Poll by Rolling Stone. Legacy `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' became closely associated with Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast of the United States on August 29, 2005. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' became symbolic in the aftermath ; one online blogger paired the song with television coverage of the disaster, creating a viral video. Green Day performed the song days after the disaster on ReAct Now : Music & Relief, a benefit concert broadcast on MTV and its associated properties. A live version of the song, recorded on September 3, 2005 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was released soon after and dedicated to the hurricane 's victims. The song was performed live with U2 guitarist The Edge in the pregame show of the Monday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons ; it was the first game played in the Superdome in New Orleans after the hurricane. Track listing CD 1 No. Title Length 1. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' 4 : 45 2. `` Give Me Novacaine '' ( live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005 ) 3 : 38 CD 2 No. Title Length 1. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' 4 : 45 2. `` Homecoming '' ( live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005 ) 9 : 24 3. `` Hitchin ' a Ride '' 2 : 52 Australian CD No. Title Length 1. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' 4 : 45 2. `` Give Me Novacaine '' ( live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005 ) 3 : 38 3. `` Homecoming '' ( live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005 ) 9 : 24 Live ( iTunes exclusive ) No. Title Length 1. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( live at Foxboro, Massachusetts on September 3, 2005 ) 5 : 41 7 '' picture disc Side A No. Title Length 1. `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' 4 : 45 Side B No. Title Length 1. `` Give Me Novacaine '' ( live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005 ) 3 : 38 Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 2005 -- 06 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 13 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 15 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Brazil ( ABPD ) Canada ( Canadian Singles Chart ) 33 Canada ( MuchMusic Countdown ) Czech Republic ( Rádio Top 100 ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 22 Ireland ( IRMA ) 13 Italy ( FIMI ) 33 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 44 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 10 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 21 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 8 UK Rock and Metal ( Official Charts Company ) 5 US Billboard Hot 100 6 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 12 Chart ( 2011 ) Peak position UK Rock ( Official Charts Company ) 28 Year - end charts Chart ( 2005 ) Rank UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 53 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Platinum 80,000 Denmark ( IFPI Denmark ) Platinum 8,000 Italy ( FIMI ) Platinum 20,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold 400,000 United States ( RIAA ) Platinum 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone References Jump up ^ Matt Hendrickson ( February 24, 2005 ). `` Green Day and the Palace of Wisdom ''. Rolling Stone. New York City : Wenner Media LLC ( 968 ). ISSN 0035 - 791X. Retrieved June 3, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Song Facts. ^ Jump up to : James Montgomery ( April 19, 2005 ). `` It 's A Dark Day For Green Day In Somber ' September ' Video ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Certified Awards ''. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Chart Watch ''. Retrieved July 31, 2010. Jump up ^ Rob Sheffield ( September 30, 2004 ). `` Green Day : American Idiot ''. Rolling Stone. New York City : Wenner Media LLC ( 958 ). ISSN 0035 - 791X. Retrieved June 3, 2015. ^ Jump up to : James Montgomery ( August 9, 2005 ). `` ' Teen Spirit ' Director Calls Green Day Clip His Career Highlight ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2015. ^ Jump up to : John Colapinto ( November 17, 2005 ). `` Green Day : Working Class Heroes ''. Rolling Stone. New York City : Wenner Media LLC ( 987 ) : 50 -- 56. ISSN 0035 - 791X. Retrieved June 3, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Corey Moss ( August 31, 2005 ). `` Think Green Day 's ' September ' Clip Is Epic ? Just Wait For ' Jesus Of Suburbia ' ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ James Montgomery ( April 22, 2009 ). `` Green Day 's Greatest Video Moments ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ Andy Greene ( January 11, 2006 ). `` The 2005 Readers ' Poll ''. Rolling Stone. New York City : Wenner Media LLC. ISSN 0035 - 791X. Retrieved June 3, 2015. Jump up ^ Sarah Boxer ( September 24, 2005 ). `` Art of the Internet : A Protest Song, Reloaded ''. The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2015. Jump up ^ Corey Moss ( September 10, 2005 ). `` Reznor, Kanye, Green Day Reflect On Disaster, Inspire Relief For MTV Special ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ Uptin Saiidi ( September 30, 2005 ). `` ' Wake Me Up When September Ends ' : 10 Fun Ways To Commemorate Green Day 's Hit ''. MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Brazil '' ( PDF ). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Canada Top 20 ''. Top40 - Charts. Retrieved 17 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` CANADA 'S ( MUCH MUSIC ) WEEKLY SINGLE CHARTS FOR 2005 ''. Retrieved 17 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` ČNS IFPI '' ( in Czech ). Hitparáda -- Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note : insert 200539 into search. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Green Day Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 24, 2005 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Italiancharts.com -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Green Day '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Charts.nz -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Alternative Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Green Day Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2011 - 03 - 19 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive ''. Official Charts. 2011 - 03 - 19. Archived from the original on 2012 - 09 - 12. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 08. Jump up ^ `` 2005 UK Singles Chart '' ( PDF ). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved July 11, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Music Canada. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Guld og platin november / december / januar '' ( in Danish ). IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved February 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 6, 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter Wake Me Up When September Ends in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Green Day -- Wake Me Up When September Ends ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 10, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' music video on YouTube Green Day Billie Joe Armstrong Mike Dirnt Tré Cool Jason White ( currently a touring member ) John Kiffmeyer Studio albums 39 / Smooth Kerplunk Dookie Insomniac Nimrod Warning American Idiot 21st Century Breakdown ¡ Uno ! ¡ Dos ! ¡ Tré ! Revolution Radio Live albums Live Tracks Tune In, Tokyo... Bullet in a Bible Awesome as Fuck Compilation albums 1,039 / Smoothed Out Slappy Hours International Superhits ! Shenanigans Green Day Demolicious Greatest Hits : God 's Favorite Band EPs 1,000 Hours Slappy Sweet Children Last Night on Earth : Live in Tokyo Singles `` Longview '' `` Welcome to Paradise '' `` Basket Case '' `` When I Come Around '' `` She '' `` J.A.R. '' `` Geek Stink Breath '' `` Stuck with Me '' `` Brain Stew / Jaded '' `` Walking Contradiction '' `` Hitchin ' a Ride '' `` Good Riddance ( Time of Your Life ) '' `` Redundant '' `` Nice Guys Finish Last '' `` Minority '' `` Warning '' `` Waiting '' `` Macy 's Day Parade '' `` American Idiot '' `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' `` Holiday '' `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' `` Jesus of Suburbia '' `` Know Your Enemy '' `` 21 Guns '' `` East Jesus Nowhere '' `` 21st Century Breakdown '' `` Last of the American Girls '' `` When It 's Time '' `` Oh Love '' `` Kill the DJ '' `` Let Yourself Go '' `` Stray Heart '' `` The Forgotten '' `` X-Kid '' `` Xmas Time of the Year '' `` Bang Bang '' `` Still Breathing '' `` Revolution Radio '' Tours Pop Disaster Tour American Idiot World Tour 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 99 Revolutions Tour Revolution Radio Tour Associated acts Foxboro Hot Tubs The Network Pinhead Gunpowder The Frustrators The Lookouts The Big Cats The Influents The Longshot Related articles Discography List of songs Awards and nominations Adeline Records Cigarettes and Valentines Money Money 2020 Stop Drop and Roll ! ! ! American Edit Green Day 's American Idiot soundtrack Green Day : Rock Band songs ¡ Cuatro ! Foreverly Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wake_Me_Up_When_September_Ends&oldid=853152342 '' Categories : 2003 songs 2004 songs 2005 singles Green Day songs Song recordings produced by Rob Cavallo Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer Songs written by Billie Joe Armstrong American Idiot Songs inspired by deaths Songs in memory of deceased persons Songs based on actual events Songs about death Canadian Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in the Czech Republic 2000s ballads Rock ballads Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2016 CS1 Danish - language sources ( da ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Czech Republic Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for UKrock Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Denmark Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Čeština Dansk Eesti Español فارسی Français Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Latviešu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Suomi Svenska Tiếng Việt 中文 14 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 19 : 32 ( UTC ). 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Question: why did green day write when september ends
Answer: written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong regarding the death of his father