Westbound Sign

Album: Insomniac (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote "Westbound Sign" about his wife Adrienne when she moved away from home in Minnesota to come out west to California to be with him. They got married in 1994 and had their first child a year later. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tanya - London, England
  • This is one of the more hopeful songs on the Insomniac album, Green Day's follow-up to their hit-packed Dookie. They stuck to their punk-rock roots, keeping it loud and fast - the entire album runs just 33 minutes. The band had been redlining for over a year by the time they released Insomniac, and they finally burned out completely when touring for the album in Europe. They took some time to recharge and emerged in 1997 with another successful album, Nimrod.

Comments: 6

  • Joe from St. Charles, IlDad gum! Boy, I’ll tell you what, son! I’d drive my tires over a mile of busted glass just to see that picture right there!
  • Joe from Chicago, IlI think of young Billy Zane because he moved away to LA right after high school on his own.
  • Corey from West Portsmouth, Oh, AfghanistanJust has a 90's feeling to it. Nice.
  • Tiffany from Oakland, Cahmmm.......i LOVE this song! ha, yeah.....coolness!
  • Caitlin from Durham, Nclove this song love this album
  • Tanya from London, EnglandInsomniac is one of their greatest albums
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.