Opening Verse:
In the opening verse, Green Day sings about "the world ending tonight." It signifies a feeling of despair and impending doom. This despair could result from any personal struggle, significant loss, or global crisis.
Chorus:
The recurring chorus is about looking for and needing "21 guns" when you don't have "any bullets left." The "21 guns" can be interpreted symbolically as hope, resilience, and fighting one's battles courageously despite feeling vulnerable and lacking resources.
2nd Verse:
The verse addresses a sense of hopelessness and the desire to escape. It evokes imagery of a fire and asks where one can hide from an impending catastrophe.
3rd Verse:
This verse reflects the emotional anguish, with lines referring to a "blackened soul filled with lies" and the protagonist searching for "truth when everyone I see seems so dead."
Bridge:
In the bridge, the song offers the message that "one nation under God" was meant to signify hope and inclusion but often feels like a place of conflict and fear.
4th Verse:
This verse speaks of feeling abandoned and desperate, with metaphors like being tossed overboard and abandoned in dark waters. Green Day sings about losing something so valuable that everything else pales in comparison.
Conclusion:
Finally, Green Day repeats the refrain, reinforcing the idea that when it feels there's nothing left, finding strength through symbolic "21 guns" is essential.
So, while the song 21 Guns doesn't provide explicit answers or solutions, it explores themes of despair, the longing for strength, and the search for hope when confronted with seemingly overwhelming loss and desperation.