prophetx May 17th, 2009 02:21AM  

It's obviously about peace and against war. In terms of first decade of the 21st centuryas the ablum title suggested, it could be related to the war in Iraq and terrorism.

beginning:
"Do you know what's worth fighting for
When it's not worth dying for?"

chorus:
"Lay down your arms
Give up the fight"
"Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I"

War does not achieve any good, even with whatever good reasons to start one. (examples: religion, ideas) In other words, there are no good reasons to wage a war.

At the end of each verses:
"You're in ruins--"

Verse:
"When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul
Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last"

fernyhuyke May 28th, 2009 03:52PM  

The whole album is the story of Christian and Gloria, a couple living in the mess George Bush left behind. The song has 2 possible meanings. 1. The war and terrorist attacks. Green Day pleads they stop. 2. The death of Gloria. The song is named "21 guns" because of the salute with 21 guns used to honor a dead.

anonymous June 29th, 2009 01:36PM  

It is actually about 2 people finding each other in the midst of chaos. Check out the video on myspace that goes behind the scenes of the making of the music video, and that explains it as well.

blacknwhite13 July 4th, 2009 12:05PM  

Its probably about 2 people: Gloria and Christian, that are stuck in the era where Bush was still president (since these songs weren't written during Obama's time). They are dealing with all the chaos of war and terrorist attacks all mixed in with the economy issues. All the while, Gloria deals with a break up(did someone break you're heart inside? You're in ruins). But Christian meets her and they fall in love. But during a terrorist attack, Gloria is killed and Christian is left alone. 21 Guns is refering to the 21 gun salute. And after she dies, Christian is scared and confused also wishing that either they would've taked him instead or taking him with her.

Shelly July 6th, 2009 01:28PM  

"Do you know what's worth fighting for,
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?
Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins"

Because the album 21st Century Breakdown is a somewhat concept album, (to do with the story of Christian and Gloria, stuck living in the days of Bush) I think this part is referring to Gloria going through a break-up. She's in so much pain right now, which is clear from the 1st verse. Also, it seems that because of the pain, she's kind of cut herself off from the world.

"One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I"

The chorus seems to refer to the 21-gun salute when someone dies in the line of duty... I'm thinking Gloria dies.
Keeping in mind that this is the chorus, and probably isn't the chronological point where she dies.

"When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul
Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins"

Here, they're talking about hopelessness, uncertainty, and the ever-present pain.

"One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I"

Here, the chorus seems to have another significance, maybe it went over my head before but the obvious call for peace.
Of course, not many like Christian would actually see the devastating effects of war unless it affects them directly, in the case of Gloria, who he fell in love with at some point, dying.

"Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone"

Here's a dose of cynicism for you... Christian talking about Gloria hurting herself unintentionally while searching for salvation.

"When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins"

I think he's talking about himself here... line one, coming to terms with Gloria's death, line two, pretty self-explanatory: life offers no second chances--like a quarter, you can spend it any way you like, but it's not much and you can only spend it once, line three and four, he's feeling the pain over Gloria's death... He's in ruins.

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I

And the call for peace... definitely related to the war in Iraq, in my opinion.

flying_eagle August 8th, 2009 09:01PM  

the only part of the song i understand is "21 guns" its just saying that those people out there are making the ultimate sacrifice for you, the "21 guns" salute is given at most military funeral services.

anonymous August 10th, 2009 08:22PM  

I think that people are absolutely right in connecting this song to the Iraq war. I think the meaning behind the chorus is that the war was not even worth "one 21 guns," or one military funeral.

The first verse introduces the soldier who has died in Iraq, and laments his loss--asking mournfully if the war was "worth dying for." The rest of the song focuses upon the people close to this soldier whose "pain [weighed] out the pride" in their friend/brother/son/etc.

jhendl September 5th, 2009 10:04PM  

Like American Idiot, Green Day tells the story throughout the album (what makes it so compelling). I'm not sure that the video is meant to relate to the overall meaning of the album, but to me, Christian represents the Christian religion and Gloria represents the concept glory/victory/patriotism. That theme seems to resonate throughout the album. Agreed that 21 refers to the 21 gun salute. The album seems to point to the US Government using religion to coax people into believing certain things and the concept of glory as a way to justify any misgivings about the war in Iraq. Just one opinion, but it seems to fit when you look at this in the broader context of the entire album.

anonymous September 16th, 2009 12:10AM  

All honorable military members are eligible to have a military funeral and 21 gun salute (not just the president). Does anyone think this is directed at telling military members what they're doing isn't worth it? Or asking them if they think what they're doing is worth it? Haven't seen the video, so just going by hearing the song.

anonymous September 18th, 2009 02:26AM  

I think everyone needs to look past the obvious and also think about other wars we face everyday even 1 such as the war on drugs. (notice in video when bong gets shot) I thought it was pretty cool even tho I do like to occasionally indulge in recreational experiences my self. But it's a cool video for everyone to find there own meaning in, about our wars within ourselves Peace dude.

soulja September 18th, 2009 01:47PM  

I think you need to stop looking at the meaning and look at the fact that we are in a war and going to be as long as there are people that want you dead. I also think that green day wants peace but guess what cry all you want for it. it aint going to happen. Give War A Chance. I want peace just as much as the next guy. But until they stop killing my buddies in Afghanistan then we will be at war. So either get behind the troops or stand in front of them. the only reason you have the right to sleep in a warm bed and sleep in peace at night is cause hard men stand ready to do violence on your behalf.

mynameismudd September 20th, 2009 11:20AM  

You guys have it all wrong. The entire song is about overcoming alcoholism and other addictions. Then, and only then can you truly achieve happiness with one another.

anonymous September 22nd, 2009 02:59AM  

This is what makes great music...it's interpreted in so many different ways. No one is "right" or "wrong". Obviously this was written about war and battles. What kind of war/battle is left up to the listener. It all depends on their experiences in life =)

anonymous October 9th, 2009 02:42PM  

Read the poem below written about the Great War. It was written by Wilfred Owen and has similar themes to "21 Guns," written almost 100 years previously. War was no good back then; it is no good now.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares2 we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest3 began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots4
Of tired, outstripped5 Five-Nines6 that dropped behind.

Gas!7 Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets8 just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime9 . . .
Dim, through the misty panes10 and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering,11 choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud12
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest13
To children ardent14 for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori

anonymous October 12th, 2009 05:24PM  

I think that it means that they want unity and "one" 21 guns. In example, throughout trouble, come together instead of living on your own, and if you "die" or give in, only have one "funeral" or 21 guns. Only one set of 21 gunshots will be fired for two people because they were unified

anonymous October 13th, 2009 04:51PM  

It's about two people finding themselves. basically it's telling you to embrace the chaos around you.

anonymous October 13th, 2009 05:02PM  

The song is about a soldier who has died in the war and is coming home to be buried by his family. One is the person who has died and 21 guns is the salute they give all soldiers who have died in the war. The song is telling us to end the war and live in peace. When a person loses a loved one in a war it is like something has died inside of you. Your heart is broken and in seams like you can't go on living without this person. The song is telling us to end the madness that is war. When a person loses a loved one in a war it feels as if their life is in ruins and they can't live alone.

anonymous October 21st, 2009 11:45AM  

21 guns is about a 21 gun solute that they do in the military when someone important dies. They do it with 7 guns and they fire them each 3 times. And if it is someone really important they will take 21 guns and fire them once. I tis about people dying to in the military.

iheartfrankie October 23rd, 2009 11:27PM  

This song is about accepting the situation you're in and facing the consequences. "One, 21 guns lay down your arms give up the fight. One, 21 guns throw up your arms into the sky, you and I." What they're trying to say is that giving up doesn't always mean you're weak. Sometimes you're just strong enough to let go.

anonymous October 31st, 2009 10:34AM  

"Do you know what's worth fighting for,
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?"

First two lines are pretty self explanatory. do you kow what's important to you, even if it isn't worth dying or?

"Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins"

You're in pain, but you're just too proud to get help, so you're hiding your emotions. You're in pain or "ruis" becau you've lost someone very important to you.

"One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I"

This to me is like... Someone is trying to deal with pain by themselves, and thi other person is knd of sying "give up on pushing people away and just let me help you through this"

"When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul"

This person is feling really lost and hurt, and thinking about what happened and analyzing things is making everything worse.

"Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins"

Maybe they're losing their faith in love or "forever" ("Nothing's ever built to last") or even god because of what happened. Secnnd line, the pain isn't get any better. They're in ruins.

"Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone"

they're trying to do things on their own and still trying to deal with eveything by themselves, and they're taking it to an extreme by not letting anyone in ("Did you stand too close to the fire")And they just can't do it alone, like you can't get forgiveness from a stone.

"When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins"

They're realizing that they can't get that person back and they have to move on and continue living their life, but soemthing is missing in their heart, and it's never going to heal; they're never going to be quite the same. They're going to continue to be in rins for a long time, ut they know they have to move on some time.

"One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I"

Then I think when this is repeated at the end, the person is realizing they need help, and they need to stop fighting people who want to help and ind a new way to mourn their loss, mabe with someone who was also close to the deceased.

And I think taken into the context of the album it's about Christian losing Gloria.