Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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From album: "American Idiot" (2004)

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” is the only song on American Idiot that has no direct connection to the album’s story arc.

Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this about his father, who died of oesophagal cancer on September 1st, 1982. The title allegedly comes from what 10-year-old Billie Joe Armstrong told his mother after his father’s funeral. He had locked himself in his room and when his mother knocked on the door, he replied, “Wake me up when September ends”.

This was originally supposed to be on Shenanigans, but Billie wasn’t emotionally ready to record it, so it was put onto American Idiot.

LYRICS



[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
Summer has come and passed, the innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass, twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

[Outro]
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends...