Green Day: When I Come Around Meaning

Song Released: 1995

When I Come Around Lyrics

I heard you crying loud,
all the way across town
You've been searching for that someone,
and it's me out on the prowl
As you sit around feeling sorry for yourself
Don't get lonely now
And dry your whining eyes
I'm just roaming for the...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 8th 2009 !⃝

   This song doesn't necessarily have to be a boyfriend/girlfriend situation. I think it's about this guy and this girl who both like each other but they aren't together. The girl wants to be with the guy, and although he wants to be with her, he enjoys being single much more than he wants to be with the girl at the time. (You've been searching for that someone,
   and it's me out on the prowl)
   He knows that he would like to be with her one day but for now he just wants to relax and enjoy his life as it is. (I'm just roaming for the moment
   Sleazin' my back yard)
   He's telling her that she doesn't have to search for another guy because when he's ready he'll be right there ready to be with her. ( No time to search the world around
   Cause you know where I'll be found
   When I come around)

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   kl2789

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   Oct 30th 2010 !⃝

   In a literal sense, this song represents the period of time right after Billie Joe broke up with his girlfriend (whom he later married). She's searching for someone else to replace him, but in the end, he's the only one she's truly got. He explains to her that she has no reason to cry over him even though it hasn't been going great and he's been wandering about.
   
   He acknowledges the fact that he's been indecisive ("I'm a loser and a user"), and that ultimately the decision to leave lies with her, but he's telling her to be careful, because she can't go around trying to force what they had on someone else ("You can't go forcing something if it's just not right"). In the end, though, his message is in the chorus and it's simple; she doesn't have to look far because she has him, she just has to wait for him to be ready for that next step in their relationship ("when I come around").

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   Jason11

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   Nov 30th 2005 !⃝

   I agree with a bit of what the earlier poster said. The song seems to be about the main character not being ready to change his life or his "prowlin" ways. The girl has been contemplating a break-up but apparently has self-doubts over whether or not she can survive without this guy, whether or not she NEEDS him in her life.
   
   The guy is basically telling her to give it a shot, maybe she'll find out that the doubts were false and the relationship and he never meant as much to her as she thought they did.
   
   The narrator/guy keeps true to his credo, though, throughout the song. It doesn't matter where he is, where he'll be found, who wants him. The only time he truly will be able to be "found," and not in a geographical sense, but a spiritual/emotional sense, is when he himself decides to come around. Until then, you just can't force the relationship if it just doesn't feel right to someone.
4. anonymous

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   Jan 11th 2020 !⃝

   To me it's about a guy who loves a girl but cant be bothered with the baggage, shes searching for some ideal scenario but he knows it doesnt exist so while she is searching he is just waiting and deciding if she is worth the hassle, cos you know where I'll be found, when I come around i think means hes not mentally checked out, just thinking about it and she knows exactly where he will be because he likes a simple, no fuss life
5. anonymous

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   Oct 19th 2011 !⃝

   this song is about being high on heroin and his girlfriend not liking it and not being able to find him, the entire album "Dookie" is basically about their addiction to speed and heroin, it's very obvious once you look into it with that in mind, after Dookie their record label made them clean up and now they sing about girls....that's also how they sold out, i used to love em cause i was a big heroin addict and all their songs spoke to me.
6. anonymous

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   May 26th 2007 !⃝

   I think this song is about a guy telling a girl that there's no point going to look for another boyfriend because she has him. However he's only there to use her so she may aswell accept that fact and stop crying about it. He's being honest about the fact he's nothing but a sleeze but he knows she wants him so he's saying there's no point crying about it.
7. anonymous

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   Jul 30th 2006 !⃝

   I think this song is about this character not ready to commit to a relationship." I heard you cryin loud, all the way across town" is a lyric that means he has been avioding this girl in some attempt to move in or marry him
   
   it is an awsome song, great melody, and easy to play on the guitar

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. chump

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   Dec 30th 2005 !⃝

   This is a love sick song, when you take some space during an argument to calm down.
   AND/OR....
   Whoever has a reputation, good or bad, you'll know where they'll be, no matter what.
9. Madrox_wicked_clown

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   Oct 14th 2005 !⃝

   Wow, I never really thought about the meaning to this song. I just took it how I thought it meant.
   
   It could possibly be about a guy who uses a girl, and she crying and whining, because she wants him, but he only comes around when he wants to... Reread the lyrics, I think that fits. :)

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