Although written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong before the release of the band 's third album `` Dookie '' ( 1994 ) , the song was not released until Green Day 's fifth album , `` Nimrod '' ( 1997 ) , and was the second single released from that album .
The song was first written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong before the release of the band 's third album `` Dookie '' in 1994 but the song was not released until Green Day 's fifth album , `` Nimrod '' in 1997 .