Lyric discussion by davidecoyote 

Cover art for Wake Me Up When September Ends lyrics by Green Day

Good interpretation on the date, September 10th: the last day of innocence. I like it. I like it a lot.

Billie-Joe said himself this song was the first he wrote about his father's death, but I think it's that and a whole lot more. To me it's about the realization of inevitably losing everything you care about, and so in that way it also is the heartache over Whatsername (who breaks up with him in Letterbomb).

It's a realization that can depress you enough to make you want to sleep for an entire month.