Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Lyrics Meaning

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" is the most frequently misunderstood of Green Day's songs. The track was written shortly after the release of Dookie in 1994, but didn't appear on an album until the band came out with their third major label release, Nimrod, in 1997. Though the song lends itself to many different interpretations, two explanations are the most prevalent. According to the first, the song was written for 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California, the club where the band got its start. After the mainstream success of Dookie, many of the band's original fans accused the group of selling out and turned their backs on Green Day. The band responded by writing this song in retaliation.

Billie Joe Armstrong has also claimed that the song was written about an ex-girlfriend who moved to Equador. In interviews, he has explained that, during the experience, he tried to remain as level-headed and understanding as possible, but his best efforts quickly turned to bitterness. The song was given two titles to express these conflicting feelings. Oddly enough, despite the tune's acidic tone, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" was the number one wedding song in 1997, the year it was released.