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The Saints Are Coming

Words ByRichard Jobson
Original ArtistThe Skids
Music ByBillie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.
Recorded AtAbbey Road Studios
ProducerRick Rubin
Live Performances 25
First Played 2004-07-29
Last Played 2022-02-12
Performances By Year
Staple (80-100%)
Regular (50-79%)
Sporadic (20-49%)

Rare (1-19%)
Inactive (0%)
Performance Probability
0%
Doubtful
Odds of being played at the next show
(Calculated from the last 100 shows) ! For songs debuted recently, the percentage is calculated against total shows performed since the song's debut date rather than the full 100-show window.
Song Notes
U2 invited Green Day to perform on 'The Saints Are Coming' as a joint benefit for Music Rising, a charity co-founded by The Edge. Proceeds from the single supported the replacement of instruments lost during Hurricane Katrina. The collaboration was later included on the compilation album, U218 Singles.
Lyrics
[Billie Joe] There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun It's been the ruin of many a poor boy God, I know I'm one [Bono] I cried to my daddy on the telephone: "How long now?" Until the clouds unroll and you come down, the line went But the shadows still remain since your descent, your descent [Billie Joe] I cried to my daddy on the telephone: "How long now?" Until the clouds unroll and you come home, the line went But the shadows still remain since your descent, your descent Boom, cha, hey! [Billie Joe & Bono] The saints are coming, the saints are coming I say no matter how I try, I realize there's no reply The saints are coming, the saints are coming I say no matter how I try, I realize there's no reply [Bono] A drowning sorrow floods the deepest grief, how long now? Until a weather change condemns belief, how long now? When the night watchman lets in the thief, what's wrong now? Boom, cha, hey! [Billie Joe & Bono] The saints are coming, the saints are coming I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply The saints are coming, the saints are coming I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply
Music Video
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Spotify Spotify Streams
34,437,143
25M Club
Rank: #40 among Green Day songs
Next Milestone 50M Club
34.4M / 50M 15.6M to go

As of May 1, 2026 · Updated each Friday

Fan Rating
The Saints Are Coming
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Rating: 3.8/5  ·  60 votes

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Billboard Charts
  • #22 Alternative Airplay
  • #33 Rock Airplay
  • #51 Hot 100
GreenDay.fm Charts
#174 Green Day Songs
Week of May 1, 2026
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