Dear mother,
Can you hear me whining?
It's been three whole weeks
Since I left your home
This sudden fear has left me trembling
'Cause now it seems that I
Am out here on my own
And I'm feeling so alone

Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise

A gunshot rings out at the station
Another urchin snaps and
Left dead on his own
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go

Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise

Dear Mother,
Can you hear me laughing?
It's been six whole months since that
I have left your home
It makes me wonder why I'm still here
For some strange reason it's now
Feeling like my home
And I'm never gonna go

Pay attention to the cracked streets
And the broken homes
Some call it slums
Some call it nice
I want to take you through
A wasteland I like to call my home
Welcome to paradise

Paradise



Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:44

"Welcome To Paradise" as written by Billie Joe/wright Iii Armstrong

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Welcome to Paradise song meanings
Add your thoughts

62 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the Woodstock version. During the second verse, BJ starts death screaming, and it's awesome xD
    Flag Tig45on April 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:While listening to a 1992 live performance of the band, Billie Joe Armstrong said it's about living in West Oakland. :P
    Flag NoEulogyon July 17, 2012   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Either jail or the recording studio (station). Very sarcastic song and I love it!
    Flag apcfan22on November 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:He leaves home and can only afford a place that richer people would call slums. He, at first, also thinks this. But then it grows on him after a while. And he says he never wants to leave.

    MCRgreenday
    Flag MCRgreendayon May 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:i think this is fairly obvious, basically a kid leaves home and moves into the slums, and either, depending on your point of view, enjoys it and realises he likes being independent, or, hates it but refuses to go home.
    Flag bfsfan101on April 27, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I have always viewed it from a different perspective. I know it's about moving out of home and going to a place outsiders call ugly but seeing it as beautful. But it could also be a conciet (very big metaphor) about a girl.(Wow, that's a shock.) He sees her as beautiful despite being misunderstood. I am unaware if this song was written with this interperatation in mind.
    Flag GoodBadBoyon December 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Including the trailer for the new movie "Couples Retreat", this is the 2nd time I've heard this song played in a movie where the setting is an actual paradise - a sunny beach. I think "Surf's Up" may have been the other movie. I guess movie execs don't understand they're being sarcastic in the song and the "paradise" in the song is a really horrible place.

    Sigh... old Green Day is so good. I don't understand their obsession now with making big, important songs about important worldly subject matter and wearing guyliner.
    Flag ikickedagirlon December 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:creo que tanto la versión del Kerplunk! como la del Dookie son estupendas, sin embargo prefiero la del Dookie, considero que es más alegre y con algo en el riff principal que me prende
    although the kerplunk's version sounds to a young band surviving to new bands
    Flag taraalmaon November 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:WHOA ! GREEN DAY'S MY FAV. BAND . NEED I SAY ANYTHIN MORE?
    Flag super1rockeron May 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's pretty much about a guy wo moves away from his mom, hates his new home, and after 6 months loves it.

    Self explanitory. Doesn't take a genius to figure this one out.

    If you own the album and look in the little booklet with lyrics in it, it says "Oakland" with a little drawing of a town next to the lyrics. Just pointing out something.
    Flag IloveRotelleon April 18, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain