Warning (Green Day song)

"Warning" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It is the second single and title track from their sixth album of the same name. The song was a number-three modern-rock hit in the United States. The song also peaked at No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

"Warning"
Single by Green Day
from the album Warning
B-side	"Scumbag" "Outsider"
Released	December 11, 2000
Genre	Acoustic rock[1] pop[2]
Length	3:41
Label	Adeline Reprise
Composer(s)	Green Day
Lyricist(s)	Billie Joe Armstrong
Producer(s)	Green Day
Green Day singles chronology
"Minority" (2000) "Warning" (2000) "Waiting" (2001)
Music video
"Warning" on YouTube

Composition

The main guitar riff of "Warning" has been compared to the Kinks' song "Picture Book".^[3]

Music video

The music video for "Warning" premiered on MTV in January 2001. It was directed by Francis Lawrence and shows the life of a rather oblivious young man who does dangerous, socially unacceptable and trivial things during his day. His punch-in card reveals his name to be John Earle.

Live performances

Despite being included in the band's greatest hits albums International Superhits! and God's Favorite Band, as well as appearing as a playable track in the video game Green Day: Rock Band, the band did not perform the song live for 21 years since 2001, until it was performed during a warm-up show before their performance at the 2022 Lollapalooza.^[4]

Track listings

US 7-inch single[5] A1. "Warning" B1. "Scumbag" B2. "Outsider" UK CD1[6] "Warning" (album version) – 3:42 "Scumbag" – 1:44 "I Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" – 3:08 UK CD2[7] "Warning" (album version) – 3:42 "Outsider" – 2:17 "Suffocate" – 2:57

UK 7-inch single[8] A. "Warning" (album version) – 3:42 B. "Suffocate" Australian CD single[9] "Warning" – 3:42 "Minority" (album version) "Scumbag" – 1:44 "Outsider" – 2:17 Japanese CD single[10] "Warning" – 3:42 "Scumbag" – 1:44 "Outsider" – 2:17 "I Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" – 3:08

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Warning" Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 19 Canada (BDS)[12] 54 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 46 Italy (FIMI)[14] 49 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 37 Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[16] 12 Scotland (OCC)[17] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 27 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[19] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[20] 14 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 7 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[22] 31 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23] 3 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[24] 24

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Warning" Chart (2001) Position US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[25] 30 US Triple-A (Billboard)[26] 48

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Warning"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	December 5, 2000	Active rock radio	Reprise	[27]
United Kingdom	December 11, 2000	7-inch vinyl CD		[28]
Japan	December 20, 2000	CD		[29]
Australia	January 15, 2001			[30]