I mentioned this song a few days ago about how the intro sounds a lot like The Kinks Picture Book. It’s a good song that was on their album of the same name.
That song peaked at #31 in the Billboard 100 and #27 in the UK in 2000. Green Day recorded Warning at Studio 880 in Oakland. The facility was directly beneath a freeway, and, according to Billie Joe, each time a truck passed overhead “you could feel the console vibrating.”
The album peaked at #4 in the Billboard Album Charts, #2 in Canada, and #4 in the UK in 2000. The lead single Minority spent over a month at the top of the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The album was a turning point for Green Day as they introduced a sax, harmonica, and mandolin and limited Billy Joe’s distorted solos. Punk fans didn’t like the change but it setup their huge next album American Idiot that was released in 2004.
From Songfacts
This song is about how rules are made to be broken and warnings can be ignored. You live your own life, you make your own choices. Says bass player Mike Dirnt: “You gotta make your own decisions and choices. It’s not so much about what to think, it’s just to think. Question everything.”
Warning
This is a public service announcement
This is only a test
Emergency evacuation protest
May impair your ability to operate machinery
Can’t quite tell just what it means to me
Keep out of reach of children
Don’t you talk to strangers
Get your philosophy from a bumper sticker
Warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
Without, Alright
Better homes and safety-sealed communities
Did you remember to pay the utilities?
Caution: police line: you better not cross
Is the cop or am I the one that’s
Really dangerous?
Sanitation, Expiration date, Question everything
Or shut up and be a victim of authority
Warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
Without Alright!
Better homes and safety-sealed communities
Did you remember to pay the utilities?
Caution: police line: you better not cross
Is the cop or am I the one that’s
Really dangerous?
Sanitation, Expiration date, Question everything
Or shut up and be a victim of authority
Warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
I say a warning, live without warning
This is a public service announcement
This is only a test
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I think I got this CD kicking around downstairs somewhere. Going by my memory it was a good album. For some reason I got off the Green Day bus after this release or wait it was after American Idiot. Yeah it was that one.
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I got off after American Idiot as well for the most part.
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I think I went one album further with 21st Century whatever and haven’t really listened to anything since.
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they evolved pretty well , I think I like ‘american Idiot’ best of their albums, but there was a bit of a down period between the first three or so albums and that one. But they seldom put out any real dogs.
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You said it well…they evolved. I don’t know much after American Idiot but yea to me that is their best album.
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I really like the bass guitar in this song.
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I thought I might as well finish the comparison up…I do like the song and Green Day.
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What is your favorite bass line in a song?
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I don’t even have to think…it’s simple not complicated at all. Brown Eyed Girl…
My favorite bass playing in a song is Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
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I was just listening to the Rolling Stones song Live With Me the other day and I love the bass intro in that one.
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I like it – a quite pop-oriented tune for Green Day, though even in many of their grungy rockers, they’ve had a good ear for catchy melodies.
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That is what set them apart…that ear for melody
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