{{Short description|1991 song by Green Day (re-recorded as 1994 single)}} {{About|the Green Day song|other uses|Welcome to Paradise (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = Welcome to Paradise | cover = | type = song | artist = Green Day | album = Kerplunk | released = {{start date|1991|12|17}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UfMAtvcbex4C&q=On+December+17%2C+1991%2C+Green+Day+got+the+%EF%AC%81rst+%EF%AC%81nished+copies+of+Kerplunk%21+At+the+moment%2C+the+bandmates+were+in+Southampton%2C+in+southern+England%2C+gettin&pg=PA36|title=Green Day: A Musical Biography|last=Egerdahl|first=Kjersti|date=2010-01-01|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-36597-3|language=en}}</ref> | recorded = | genre = * Punk rock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.auto.com/content/top-5-punk-songs-to-jam-in-your-ride|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141208222053/http://www.auto.com/content/top-5-punk-songs-to-jam-in-your-ride|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2014|title=Top 5 Punk Songs to Jam in Your Ride|website=Chicago Automotive Magazine |access-date=December 8, 2014}}<br>- {{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2021/08/best-punk-songs-list/|title=50 Best Punk Songs Of All Time|website=Consequence of Sound|date=August 17, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> * pop punk<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-10-greatest-green-day-songs/|title=The 10 Songs Green Day Should Play At Brixton Next Week|work=Sabotage Times|author=Chicago Automotive Magazine|date=May 14, 2013|access-date=December 8, 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010060808/http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-10-greatest-green-day-songs/|archive-date=October 10, 2014}}<br>- {{cite news|last=Smith|first=Troy|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|title=The 100 greatest pop punk songs of all time|work=Cleveland.com|date=March 7, 2022|access-date=March 9, 2022|archive-date=March 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303183529/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | length = * 3:30 | label = Lookout<ref>{{cite book | first=Marc | last=Spitz | author-link=Marc Spitz | year=2006 | title=Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day | publisher=Hyperion Books | isbn=9781401302740 | url=https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spitz | url-access=registration }}</ref> | lyricist = Billie Joe Armstrong | composer = Green Day | producer = * Andy Ernst * Green Day}} {{Infobox song | name = Welcome to Paradise | cover = Green Day - Welcome to Paradise cover.jpg | type = single | artist = Green Day | album = Dookie | released = October 17, 1994 | recorded = | genre = * Punk rock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.auto.com/content/top-5-punk-songs-to-jam-in-your-ride|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141208222053/http://www.auto.com/content/top-5-punk-songs-to-jam-in-your-ride|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2014|title=Top 5 Punk Songs to Jam in Your Ride|website=Chicago Automotive Magazine |access-date=December 8, 2014}}<br>- {{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2021/08/best-punk-songs-list/|title=50 Best Punk Songs Of All Time|website=Consequence of Sound|date=August 17, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> * pop punk<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-10-greatest-green-day-songs/|title=The 10 Songs Green Day Should Play At Brixton Next Week|work=Sabotage Times|author=Chicago Automotive Magazine|date=May 14, 2013|access-date=December 8, 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010060808/http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-10-greatest-green-day-songs/|archive-date=October 10, 2014}}<br>- {{cite news|last=Smith|first=Troy|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|title=The 100 greatest pop punk songs of all time|work=Cleveland.com|date=March 7, 2022|access-date=March 9, 2022|archive-date=March 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303183529/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | length = 3:44 | label = Reprise | lyricist = Billie Joe Armstrong | composer = Green Day | producer = * Rob Cavallo * Green Day | prev_title = Basket Case | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = When I Come Around | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|OR7R9Kuw2fY|"Welcome to Paradise"}}}} }} "'''Welcome to Paradise'''" is a song by the American rock band Green Day. It first appeared as the third track on the band's second studio album, ''Kerplunk'' (1991). It was re-recorded and rereleased as the fifth track on the band's third studio album, ''Dookie'' (1994), and released as the album's third single. Its physical release was exclusive to the United Kingdom on October 17, 1994, though the song still saw radio airplay in the United States. The song peaked at number 56 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Airplay chart. The ''Dookie'' version is more popular{{Citation needed|date=June 2022|reason=Please specify which metric you are using, and substantiate}} and was later included on the band's 2001 compilation album, ''International Superhits!''.

==Song meaning and composition== The lyrics were written by Billie Joe Armstrong and the music by Armstrong with Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. It is based on the band members' experiences of moving out of their parents' houses and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California, where they, along with a number of others, lived without paying rent. The house was quite broken-down but to them it became home, and this feeling is described in the song.

Billie Joe Armstrong said this of the song, "It's about West Oakland, living in a warehouse with a lot of people, a bunch of artists and musicians, punks and whatever just lived all up and down, bums and junkies and thugs and gang members and stuff that just lived in that area. It's no place you want to walk around at night, but it's a neat warehouse where you can play basketball and stuff."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=2023-02-01 |title=29 Years Ago: Green Day Release 'Dookie' |url=https://loudwire.com/green-day-dookie-album-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Loudwire |language=en |archive-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201184943/https://loudwire.com/green-day-dookie-album-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are many of their ''Dookie'' songs.

The song is sung as Armstrong is talking or sending a message to his mother, after moving out of her house. In the first verse, he is talking to his mother after three weeks of leaving, telling her that he is scared about being on his own. The second part describes him writing to her six months later, now happy to live on his own.

==Critical reception== Martin Aston from ''Music Week'' noted that "America's latest success story have yet to explode in the UK but that could change." He complimented the song as "a good example of the band's riotous, punk-pop japery, with the added bonus of the band's first UK tour to move things along."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Martin|last=Aston|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-10-08.pdf#page=16|title=Market Preview: Alternative|magazine=Music Week|date=October 8, 1994|page=16|access-date=June 16, 2025}}</ref>

==Music video== A video was released for the song that shows the band playing the song live at Slim's in San Francisco, California, with the studio version dubbed over the performance. It is one of two videos not to be included on the band's first DVD, ''International Supervideos!'' (the other being "Macy's Day Parade").

According to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who can be seen getting kicked in the face in the video by a stage diver, the papers burned on stage in the video were local newspaper articles about Green Day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-390-matt-bettinelli-olpin-co-director-of/id940288964?i=1000550762773 |title=Turned Out a Punk: Episode 390 - Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Co-Director of Scream, Link 80, Radio Silence Collective, Delores) on Apple Podcasts |access-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207174724/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-390-matt-bettinelli-olpin-co-director-of/id940288964?i=1000550762773 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Track listing== All lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, except "Emenius Sleepus" by Mike Dirnt; all music by Green Day. # "Welcome to Paradise" – 3:45 # "Chump" (live) – 2:44 # "Emenius Sleepus" – 1:44 * Track 2 was recorded on March 11, 1994, at Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida.

==Personnel== '''Green Day''' * Billie Joe Armstrong – lead vocals, guitar * Mike Dirnt – bass, backing vocals * Tré Cool – drums

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

'''Kerplunk! version''' * Andy Ernst – production, engineering, mixing * Green Day – production * John Golden – mastering {{col-2}}

'''Dookie version''' * Rob Cavallo – production * Green Day – production * Jerry Finn – mixing * Neill King – engineering * Casey McCrankin – additional engineering {{col-end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for "Welcome to Paradise" |- ! scope="col" | Chart (1994) ! scope="col" | Peak<br>position |- {{single chart|Australia|44|artist=Green Day|song=Welcome to Paradise|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}} |- ! scope="row"| Finland Airplay (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=6|title=Chart History|publisher=Suomen virallinen lista|access-date=October 20, 2024}}</ref> | 37 |- {{single chart|New Zealand|21|artist=Green Day|song=Welcome to Paradise|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|19|date=19941023|rowheader=true|access-date=July 19, 2025}} |- {{single chart|UK|20|date=19941023|rowheader=true|access-date=July 19, 2025}} |- {{single chart|UKrock|17|date=19941023|rowheader=true|access-date=July 19, 2025}} |- {{single chart|Billboardradiosongs|56|artist=Green Day|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|7|artist=Green Day|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}} |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Welcome to Paradise"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Green Day|title=Welcome to Paradise|award=Platinum|relyear=1994|certyear=2023|access-date=October 18, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Green Day|title=Welcome to Paradise|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=May 23, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Green Day|title=Welcome to Paradise|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=18517-2001-1|access-date=November 18, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" |+Release dates and formats for "Welcome to Paradise" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |October 17, 1994 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |rowspan="2"|Reprise |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=October 15, 1994}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |April 10, 1995 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – Product Available from : 10/04/95: Singles|magazine=The ARIA Report|issue=269|page=22|date=April 9, 1995}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{YouTube|OR7R9Kuw2fY|Welcome to Paradise official video}}

{{Green Day}}{{Green Day songs}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welcome To Paradise}} Category:1991 songs Category:1994 singles Category:Green Day songs Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Songs about California Category:Song recordings produced by Rob Cavallo Category:Songs written by Billie Joe Armstrong Category:Songs written by Mike Dirnt Category:Songs written by Tré Cool