A song where Billie Joe Armstrong sings about insomnia from methamphetamine usage. Armstrong admitted to using speed for writing most of the band’s early songs. The symptoms, especially the album’s titular ‘insomnia’ are typical of methamphetamine usage.
It’s also notable for segueing directly to t...
[Verse 1]
I'm having trouble trying to sleep
I'm counting sheep, but running out
As time ticks by, still I try
No rest for cross-tops in my mind
[Refrain]
On my own, here we go
[Chorus]
My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry, my face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room
[Refrain]
On my own, here we go
[Verse 2]
My mind is set on overdrive
The clock is laughing in my face
A crooked spine, my senses dulled
Past the point of delirium
[Refrain]
On my own, here we go
[Chorus]
My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry, my face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room
[Refrain]
On my own, here we go
[Instrumental Outro]
Brain Stew was written by Tré Cool & Mike Dirnt & Billie Joe Armstrong.
Brain Stew was produced by Green Day & Rob Cavallo.
Green Day released Brain Stew on Fri Oct 06 1995.
In a 1995 cover story for Rolling Stone, Billie Joe Armstrong explains the origin of the title:
“Brain Stew,” Armstrong explains, is the nickname of James Washburn, a longtime friend of the band. “He used to have a big mohawk; now he’s a total ratchethead [California slang for a car buff],” says Ar...
Billie said in an interview with Rolling Stone:
This song is such a dark horse. I had just gotten some recording equipment, and I came up with the riff when I was experimenting with it for the first time: “Oh, this is cool. It almost sounds like a harder Beatles song, like ‘While My Guitar Gently W...