21 Guns (Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, 9/4/10)
Producers
21 Guns (Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, 9/4/10) Lyrics
Do you know what's worth fightin' for
When it's not worth dyin' for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocatin'?
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
Go!
[Chorus]
One, twenty-one guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Everybody
One, go! (Twenty-one guns)
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
[Verse 2]
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
One, twenty-one guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Everybody!
One, twenty-one guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
Get those hands up in the air!
[Bridge]
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?
[Guitar Solo]
[Interlude]
One, twenty-one guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, twenty-one guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
One, twenty-one guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, twenty-one guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
One, go! (Twenty-one guns)
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Everybody!
One, go! (Twenty-one guns)
Throw up your arms into the sky
I can't hear you
One, go! (Twenty-one guns)
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One more time!
One, twenty-one guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
About
“21 Guns”, the second single off 21st Century Breakdown, is a power ballad that questions war and shows a narrator looking for peace. When taken on its own out of the 21st Century Breakdown story-arc, the song’s lyrics can be interpreted as anti-war, however, when applied to the story of Christian and Gloria, its meaning is far less global, instead, they’re referring to their relationship and all its conflicts.
The name “21 Guns” comes from the 21 Gun Salute, the customary gun salutes that are performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honor.
Billie told Q Magazine:
It brings up 21st Century Breakdown in a lot of ways, and the 21-gun salute for someone that’s fallen, but done in an arena rock ‘n’ roll sort of way.
The song reached No. 3 on the Alternative Songs chart and No. 17 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Also, on the Billboard Pop Songs, it reached #7. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song in 2010.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 14.21 Guns (Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, 9/4/10)
