Why Do You Want Him was the first song that Billie Joe Armstrong ever wrote, it was at the age of 14 that he wrote "Why Do You Want Him?"
Song Meaning[]
This is Armstrong's first song, he wrote it at the age of 14. This was his way to express his feelings about his mother's new partner - a person that he and his siblings had a strong dislike of.
The author believes that his mother is obsessed with this man, while he doesn't care about her that much and hurts her with his indifference. And so the author is asking why she still wants him when everyone else has already realized that he's not worth her tears or even her attention.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1] I saw you standing alone with a sad look on your face
You call him on the phone, looks like he left without a trace
Tears falling out of your eyes, he's living in a disguise
You've been feeling bad for so long, you wonder if it's right or wrong
[Chorus]
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
[Verse 2]
Now many days have gone by, you still just sit there and cry
You're feeling bad for yourself, his memory will always dwell
You're so obsessed with his love, that's why push came to shove
You've been feeling bad for so long, you wonder if it's right or wrong
[Chorus]
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
[Bridge]
I thought a way out
Throw it all away
Just think about
Yeah, something to say
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[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?
Why do you want him?