Whatsername reflects on the memories of a past unresolved love and the acceptance of loss. It is the closing track of Green Days 2004 album American Idiot, a rock opera that tells the story of a character named Jesus of Suburbia. Whatsername serves as a reflection on a female character mentioned in other parts of the album, but whose story is left unresolved.
Key: D
Introduction:
D
Bm
x2
D
Bm
Thought I ran into you down on the street
D
Bm
Then it turned out to only be a dream
G
D
F#
Bm
A
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
G
D
F#
Bm
A
She went away and then I took a different path
G
D
F#
Bm
A
I remember the face but I can't recall the name
G
A
Now I wonder how Whatsername has been
D
Bm
e ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- B -3----------5/7-------3---- -0------2---- -3-----------
D
Bm
Seems that she disappeared without a trace
D
Bm
Did she ever marry old what's his face
G
D
F#
Bm
A
I made a point to burn all of the photographs
G
D
F#
Bm
A
She went away and then I took a different path
G
D
F#
Bm
A
I remember the face but I can't recall the name
G
A
Now I wonder how Whatsername has been
G
D
F#
Bm
A
G
D
Remember, whatever,
A
D
It seems like forever ago,
G
D
Remember, whatever,
A
D
It seems like forever ago,
G
D
The regrets are useless,
F#
In my mind,
Bm
She's in my head,
A
I must confess,
G
D
The regrets are useless,
F#
In my mind
Bm
She's in my head,
A
From so long ago
G
D
F#
Bm
A
Go.. go.. go.. go.. Go.. go
G
D
F#
Bm
A
Go.. go.. go.. go.. Go.. go
G
A
And in the darkest night,
G
A
If my memory serves me right,
G
A
I'll never turn back time
G
A
Forgetting you but not the time
D
Bm
D
Bm
e ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- B -3----------5/7-------3---- -0------2---- -3-----------