I listened to Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends” on the way to school this morning. I haven’t heard that song in at least a few months. While listening to it, I realized that the song is almost timely, since September just ended a week ago today. But then I thought about how annoying this time of the year must be for Billy Joe Armstrong. Imagine yourself as Billy Joe on October 1st. Probably at least a dozen people—maybe more—will tell you, “Dude, just so you know—September ended!” and crack up laughing as though they’re the first and only person to ever point that out to you. That’s why you should never write a song with a title like “Wake Me Up When September Ends”.

But more power to Billy Joe. No matter how annoying the aftermath, that song was a hit, and he’s laughing all the way to the bank. In fact, selling out may have been the smartest thing Billy Joe ever did. Sure, it made him a punk rock pariah, and meant that other musicians could never, ever take him seriously again, but he made a pile of money. And money can buy dignity…right?