Release Date: November 13, 2001
Length: 60:44
Label: Reprise Records
Notes: Green Day’s first greatest hits collection. Contains two new songs, ‘Maria’ & ‘Poprocks And Coke’, along with ‘J.A.R.’ which had previously only been available on the Angus Soundtrack.
Tracklist:
- Maria (New)
- Poprocks & Coke (New)
- Longview (Dookie)
- Welcome To Paradise (Dookie)
- Basket Case (Dookie)
- When I Come Around (Dookie)
- She (Dookie)
- J.A.R. (Angus Soundtrack)
- Geek Stink Breath (Insomniac)
- Brain Stew (Insomniac)
- Jaded (Insomniac)
- Walking Contradiction (Insomniac)
- Stuck With Me (Insomniac)
- Hitchin’ A Ride (Nimrod)
- Good Riddance (Nimrod)
- Redundant (Nimrod)
- Nice Guys Finish Last (Nimrod)
- Minority (Warning)
- Warning (Warning)
- Waiting (Warning)
- Macy’s Day Parade (Warning)
New Songs:
1. Maria
There are different theories about the meaning of the song since its lyrics are far from obvious. Some people believe that Maria is about a girl that was in a relationship with the narrator, but then left him, and now he's wondering where she went. Others believe the song is about punk and Maria is just a random name, and by asking "Maria, where did you go?" the narrator is wondering about what happened to true punk, where it went.
It's possible that Maria stands for anything good that disappeared into nowhere - it may be a girlfriend, it may be punk, it may be a better government or rebellious times. The narrator is wondering where all the good stuff went and why.
- Song meaning courtesy of GeekStinkBreath.net
She smashed the radio with the board of education
Turned up the static left of the state of the nation
Turn on the flame, step on the gas
Burning the flag at half mast
She's the rebel forgotten son
An export of the revolution
She is the first voice of the last ones in the line
She'll drag the weights to keep the vendetta alive
Bring in the head of the government
The dog ate the document
Someone shot the president
And no one knows where Maria went
Maria
Maria
Maria
Where did ya go
Be careful what you're offering
Your breath lacks the conviction
Drawing a line in the dirt
Because the last decision is no
It's No
She smashed the radio with the board of education
Turned up the static left of the state of the nation
Turn on the flame, step on the gas
Burning the flag at half mast
She's the rebel forgotten son
An export of the revolution
Maria
Maria
Maria
Where did ya go
2. Poprocks & Coke
The narrator of this song is telling his friend or partner that he will be there for them no matter what, no matter where they go and what they do - he's willing to catch them when they fall. Sometimes people reject all help and want to walk a difficult road alone because they don't want to hurt people they care about, don't want to get them in trouble - but if they're lucky, there will be someone who cares about them enough to follow them and be there for them no matter how difficult the road and how far they go. A true friend will be there "not far behind", like a guardian angel.
It's difficult to say what the title of the song implies. There is a myth about a guy who consumed a bag of Pop Rocks and a six-pack of coke, and that caused his stomach to explode. However, it's hard to tell what this has to do with the meaning of the song - it might be a private joke that means something to the author and the person he had in mind when he was writing this song. Maybe that's his way of showing who the song is actually about, but so that only they know.
- Song meaning courtesy of GeekStinkBreath.net
Wherever you go, you know I’ll be there
If you go far, you know I’ll be there
Oh I’ll go anywhere
So I’ll see you there
You place the name, you know I’ll be there
You name the time, you know I’ll be there
I’ll go anywhere
So I’ll see you there
I don’t care if you don’t mind
I’ll be there not far behind
I will dare, keep in mind
I’ll be there for you
When there’s truth
You know I’ll be there
Amongst the lies
You know I’ll be there
I’ll go anywhere
So I’ll see you there
I don’t care if you don’t mind
I’ll be there not far behind
I will dare, keep in mind
I’ll be there for you
If you should fall
You know I’ll be there
To catch a call
You know I’ll be there
I’ll go anywhere
So I’ll see you there
[Outro Chorus]
I don’t care if you don’t mind
I’ll be there not far behind
I will dare
Keep in mind
I don’t care
I’ll be there for you
I’ll be there for you
8. J.A.R.
"He was going 95, I think he committed suicide."
- Mike Dirnt
In the song, the narrator is talking about his friend who is now gone and about what it makes him feel. He's saying that this death made him face the fact that he's mortal and his life could end any second. The narrator is saying that he's living life just like his friend did, but now his friend is gone and maybe he didn't give all that he could, but it's too late now. And so he starts to wonder whether it's time to make a plan for life so he can do as much as he can while he still has a chance, "can't run around in circles if you wanna build a life". Yet, he thinks it's too early to make plans for the rest of his life because he wants to make the best of his youth and have fun for as long as he can.
- Song meaning courtesy of GeekStinkBreath.net
My friend drove off the other day
Now he's gone and all they say
Is "you gotta live cause life goes on"
But now I see I'm mortal too
I can't live my life like you
Gotta live it up while life goes on
And I think it's all right
That I do what I like
Cause that's the way I want to live
It's how I give, and I'm still givin'
And now I wonder 'bout my friend
If he gave all he could give
Cause he lived his life like I live mine
If you could see inside my head
Then you'd start to understand
The things I value in my heart
And I think it's all right
That I do what I like
Cause that's the way I want to live
It's how I give, and I'm still givin'
You know that
I know that
You're watchin' me
And I think it's all right
That I do what I like
Cause that's the way I want to live
It's how I give, and I'm still givin'
Gotta make a plan, gotta do what's right
Can't run around in circles if you wanna build a life
But I don't want to make a plan for a day far away
While I'm young and while I'm able, all I want to do is...