The 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' meme is inspired by Green Day's 2004 hit song written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong about the passing of his father. Despite the song's somber and personal meaning, internet culture has transformed the title into a recurring annual tradition. Every year on September 1st, social media users post memes featuring Armstrong or other characters sleeping, signifying a desire to hibernate through the month. The trend culminates on October 1st with follow-up memes about finally being 'awake.' It is widely used to express dread about the end of summer, the start of school, or simply to participate in the long-standing web tradition of seasonal music-based humor.