The Breakdown of 21st Century Breakdown

[Ila Reto]

^ oh no, i was just agreeing with you! you're doing a great job putting all of this together!

[perfectpitchrob]

It's a good job though, you touched up a lot of plot lines I even forgot or didn't realize

[Poo Flinger]

"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"

There are different analysis of this, here are two:

The stone could be a reference to looking for forgiveness from something that cannot forgive.

The stone could be a reference to biblical times when people were stoned for their misbehavior... in other words the person may have been looking for forgiveness from someone who would hurt them more and refuse to forgive.

[Kate Austen]

^ oh no, i was just agreeing with you! you're doing a great job putting all of this together!

Oh I didn't take it that way.

Sorry if my reply came off that way. Nothing but love here.

It's a good job though, you touched up a lot of plot lines I even forgot or didn't realize

I really appreciate you helping out with this man. We make a great team.

[norcalgreendayfan]

I have been thinking too about this and I really see it as the plot lines and the characters of Gloria and Christian being created by Billie in a way to tell his own experience with like and how he sees society as a whole based on his experiences and what he sees the future as for both his sons and everyone else in his sons generation so in a whole the album draws from personal experience of the past and the present of what has happened in the 21st Century

[Spark of Insanity]

^^ I live in Massachusetts. Books don't get banned in liberal states.

Catcher in the Rye isn't banned at my school and its a Republican state.

But that may be my school only.

[Kate Austen]

We read Catcher in the Rye in highschool as well.

[Juan]

We read Catcher in the Rye in highschool as well.

I read it to see what the big fuzz was, I liked it at the end

[Spark of Insanity]

I read it to see what the big fuzz was, I liked it at the end

I wish I read it when I could have, but now I cannot get a hold of it.

[Juan]

I wish I read it when I could have, but now I cannot get a hold of it.

you can download it on the interwebz

[Spark of Insanity]

you can download it on the interwebz

Ah, thanks. I just asked my mother about that and she had no clue how to get a hold of it.

[Rezurgam]

Ah, thanks. I just asked my mother about that and she had no clue how to get a hold of it.

Amazon?

[Juan]

I just realized the blatant Husker Du reference. The usage of Desert and then contrasting it to Pavement is one also used in Zen Arcade

[Teenage Kicks!]

I like how you guys breakdown this. No pun intened. Heh

[The Punk]

One thing i love from this album

It ends as it starts

Song of the Century ---> Intro of American Eulogy

21st centur breakdown intro ---> See the Light Intro

I get this as a way ti express that the story is cyclic, implying that these kinds of things happen always, there is no solution

[gd86arg]

have someone The Catcher in the Rye in *.pdf? english or spanish (El Guardian entre el Centeno)

pleaseee

[vegetarianxorgasm]

Well, I haven't fully developed my idea of what is happening, but I'm going to try and type it out to see if it becomes any clearer to me and get feedback.

I think Song of a Century is just a cute little intro.

Couple of questions regarding 21st Century Breakdown:

The lyrics say "Born into Nixon". But they also say class of '13. The class of '13 I've taken one of two ways: it's the eighth graders now, or the seniors who are graduating now. I'd like to say it's the seniors who are graduating from college in 2013, because that's when I graduate. But anyways, how can you be born into Nixon and be the class of '13? Could it be someone elese singing at the beginning and the characters don't start unfolding until "We are the class of '13"?

I'm fairly certain that this is Christian speaking in his point of view. I view him as being a factory worker wearing a jumpsuit and doing menial labor. He once had an American Dream, like everyone else, but now "he can't even sleep". I think this introduces Christian, basically.

In Know Your Enemy, I get kind of detail-y with this stuff. Know Your Enemy is essentially a protest song, but I try and fit it in the plot anyways. I see it as Christian attending a riot/rally that Gloria has set up and a random protestor is using her slogans. However, I think Gloria isn't all responsible for all the lyrics, such as "Violence is an Energy". I see her during this song as kind of watching in the background, angry at the fact that her words and ideas have been created into something destructive.

Viva La Gloria, to me, is the establishment of their relationship, but not neccessarily the beginning. I think they had previously been together and he is trying to comfort her. I think he's a little uneased by her diminishing naivete and asks her what is worrying her. Send out your message of the light / That shadows in the night. /Gloria, where's your undying love? / Tell me the story of your life.

Before the Lobotomy is Gloria's reply, more to herself than Christian, but he listens to her soliliquy. She is upset about the hardships that everyone is experiencing. She's also angry that Christian has learned that the solution to the economic and political problems is the easy way out, not the right one (violence vs. protest). And they both join together on "Like refugees", as Christian has become empathetic for Gloria.

Christian's Inferno is how he deals with the previous conversation: drugs. WOO! Either that, or he's dealing with some type of rejection letter found in the mail. (I got the rejection letter in the mail and It was already ripped to shreds.) Either way, drugs are the temporary solution for some type of frustration.

Last Night on Earth is the realization that Gloria is a calming thing for him as he's still on his inferno and needs some soft moonlight to calm the fire. That works for Gloria, too, as Christian was there to comfort her in Viva La Gloria.

East Jesus Nowhere and Peacemaker have been hard to place for me as to where they go in the plot. I figure they're just rants by Christian...but I hope there's more.

Last of the American Girls talks about Gloria in Christians eyes: a civil, intelligent objector in contrast to his anger and violence.

I'm still trying to figure out Murder City's point of view. The ending, I believe is definetly Gloria. Christian could've been the beginning, but I'm not sure. It's ambigious to me.

Little Girl is Gloria speaking to herself, jaded and angry at herself.

Restless Heart Syndrome is Christian comforting her once more, a little exasperated. Gloria confronts him about his before-tolerated violence and says they are they're own worst enemy. Christian is offended and disheartened by Gloria's cynicysm and they seperate.

I'm still trying to construct Act lll in my mind right now.

So....?

[Elis_x]

Well, I haven't fully developed my idea of what is happening, but I'm going to try and type it out to see if it becomes any clearer to me and get feedback.

I think Song of a Century is just a cute little intro.

Couple of questions regarding 21st Century Breakdown:

The lyrics say "Born into Nixon". But they also say class of '13. The class of '13 I've taken one of two ways: it's the eighth graders now, or the seniors who are graduating now. I'd like to say it's the seniors who are graduating from college in 2013, because that's when I graduate. But anyways, how can you be born into Nixon and be the class of '13? Could it be someone elese singing at the beginning and the characters don't start unfolding until "We are the class of '13"?

I'm fairly certain that this is Christian speaking in his point of view. I view him as being a factory worker wearing a jumpsuit and doing menial labor. He once had an American Dream, like everyone else, but now "he can't even sleep". I think this introduces Christian, basically.

In Know Your Enemy, I get kind of detail-y with this stuff. Know Your Enemy is essentially a protest song, but I try and fit it in the plot anyways. I see it as Christian attending a riot/rally that Gloria has set up and a random protestor is using her slogans. However, I think Gloria isn't all responsible for all the lyrics, such as "Violence is an Energy". I see her during this song as kind of watching in the background, angry at the fact that her words and ideas have been created into something destructive.

Viva La Gloria, to me, is the establishment of their relationship, but not neccessarily the beginning. I think they had previously been together and he is trying to comfort her. I think he's a little uneased by her diminishing naivete and asks her what is worrying her. Send out your message of the light / That shadows in the night. /Gloria, where's your undying love? / Tell me the story of your life.

Before the Lobotomy is Gloria's reply, more to herself than Christian, but he listens to her soliliquy. She is upset about the hardships that everyone is experiencing. She's also angry that Christian has learned that the solution to the economic and political problems is the easy way out, not the right one (violence vs. protest). And they both join together on "Like refugees", as Christian has become empathetic for Gloria.

Christian's Inferno is how he deals with the previous conversation: drugs. WOO! Either that, or he's dealing with some type of rejection letter found in the mail. (I got the rejection letter in the mail and It was already ripped to shreds.) Either way, drugs are the temporary solution for some type of frustration.

Last Night on Earth is the realization that Gloria is a calming thing for him as he's still on his inferno and needs some soft moonlight to calm the fire. That works for Gloria, too, as Christian was there to comfort her in Viva La Gloria.

East Jesus Nowhere and Peacemaker have been hard to place for me as to where they go in the plot. I figure they're just rants by Christian...but I hope there's more.

Last of the American Girls talks about Gloria in Christians eyes: a civil, intelligent objector in contrast to his anger and violence.

I'm still trying to figure out Murder City's point of view. The ending, I believe is definetly Gloria. Christian could've been the beginning, but I'm not sure. It's ambigious to me.

Little Girl is Gloria speaking to herself, jaded and angry at herself.

Restless Heart Syndrome is Christian comforting her once more, a little exasperated. Gloria confronts him about his before-tolerated violence and says they are they're own worst enemy. Christian is offended and disheartened by Gloria's cynicysm and they seperate.

I'm still trying to construct Act lll in my mind right now.

So....?

I think it has something to do with "bastards of 1969".. as far as I know, Nixon was president in 1969-1974, so I guess it's about main characters' parents...

And about KYE.. I don't think Christian has met with Gloria yet.. well, I might be wrong, cause I think there's not a single line saying' when their relationship has begun..

I see ¡Viva La Gloria! as a song where is Christian amazed by Gloria's idealistic thoughts - maybe that's why is song called Viva la Gloria..

Before the Lobotomy is in my opinion look back to Christian's earlier life without drugs and song about how world used to be..

I agree with you on Christian's Inferno... I know, that this might be a dumb question, but I'm not that good in english to know it, so I'm asking.. does inferno actually mean "hell"?

Last Night on Earth is some kind of Christian's letter or confession to Gloria

EJN is about hypocritical religion.. I think first line "And we will see, how godless nation we have become" explains it pretty well.

Peacemaker is a song, where, I guess, Christian and Gloria finally take an action, calling for revenge "Vendetta, sweet vendetta"

In Last of the American Girls is Christian talking about Gloria, he doesn't mention anything negative, that will show up as a lies, cause in ¿Viva La Gloria?, he will find out that she's into drugs, but I think it's some kind of "soft drugs".. As somebody already told here, maybe sleeping pills or sedatives, cause in Restless Heart Syndrome there is something about "pharmacy" or being addicted on well accesible medicine.. so Christian find her like a hypocrite.. "Little girl little girl, you dirty liar, you’re just a junkie preaching to the choir."

So I don't agree it's just Gloria speaking to herself.. I think this is the moment when the couple split up ..

In Horseshoes and Handgrenades Christian's getting back to his anger.. he's total mess.

I think Static Age is pretty much about how's media affecting us

In 21 Guns Christain and Gloria are back together "giving up the fight" and asking yourselves if their fight was worth fighting..

American Eulogy... well, I'm not sure about this one, but I guess they've give up the idea of making world a better place, they are saying, that "they don't want to live in a modern world".. "don't give a shit about the modern world"..

See the Light.. C. and G. are hoping for better future - seeing light at the end of the tunnel, I think this leaves a place for next album..

[Whatsername the rebel*star]

I read "The Catcher in the Rye" last summer...Our English teacher suggested us to read it!

I love that book so much that I've decided to work on the issue "REBELLION" for my final school exams!

A part from presenting the rebellion of Holden Caulfield, I've decided to make the issue more original (I hope) and personal by connecting it to the album AI where the theme of rebellion is explored, what do u think??

About the breakdown I'd say that maybe Billie has inspired himself to the Holden Caulfield in 21st Century Breakdown, as u say!

[Kate Austen]

With the help of "PerfectPitchRob" - I have made a re-vised story/time line:

ACT 1

"Song of the Century/21CBD" - This serves an introductory piece, basically lays down the foundation for the story. It examines the life that Christian and Gloria are dealing with. The war, terrorism, and the fact that they have to learn to make it on their own – as even the adults that raised them cannot be trusted. “Raised by the bastards of 1969”.

"Know your Enemy” – this song serves as a narrative piece rather then talking specifically about the plot (the couple). It's asking them, and the listener who is the person they should be angry at. – who is the enemy. It also serves as a story device, because later on in the story we return to the question – “do you know the enemy?”'

"¡Viva La Gloria!" - While it is never mentioned when Christian Gloria met, this is when he first notices her. He is inspired by her progressive spirit and ideals. It also shows how the two have banded together, as they are in the “fight of their lives” and “pushed to the edge”. He wants to stay with her since he feels she will keep him sane. It also shows a glimpse of how Christian views her. He calls her “the saint of all sinners”.

"Before the Lobotomy" – This song has two layers to it. On it’s surface, it’s about Christian slowly losing his mind. He has started to get involved in drugs to numb the pain. “Well I’m not stoned, I’m just fucked up, I get so high I can’t stand up”. It even shows how Christian is a bit in denial, as he proclaims he’s not really getting stoned. On a deeper level, the song also talks about themes of the 21st Century Breakdown world. Such as Bush's leadership, 9/11 and the Iraq war. Those events are what have pushed Christian to be so angry/destructive and mistrusting of his government - he dreams of the time before when he and the world was calmer. The title also says it all, it’s literally Christian dwelling on who he used to be – before he is about to have a Lobotomy (drugs etc).

"Christian's inferno" – This song is a look at Christian's personality. This is his biography on the album – and it shows how much rage and anger he has built up; he is a loose cannon. His drug uses is also briefly mentioned – “This bitter pill is chased with blood”. But it also brings Gloria into the equation, because he now feels like she is the spark that can ignite his fire. (Fire is a recurring theme to describe Christian) – “Maybe you're the chemical reaction, I am the Atomic Bomb, I am the chosen one. Toxin Your Reservoir”.

"Last Night on Earth" – This is Christian’s love letter to Gloria - Christian's confession to Gloria most likely via phone (I text a postcard sent to you, did it go through), of his love for her. This is their connection moment. It is a positive end to this act, and really serves as a calming point for Christian. No matter how fucked up things get, he knows he has their love. He also mentions that “if he loses everything in the fire” – he will “send all his love” to her. This is a foreshadow to the end of the story.

ACT 2

"East Jesus Nowhere" – This song tackles the hypocrisy in modern religions. It also serves as Christians and Gloria’s negative experiences with the church, although it’s mainly from Christian (there is irony in his name). This is his confession to how he feels about the state of religion, and the people who vote on religious reasons alone.

"Peacemaker" - Christian's destructive state is starting to become more organized and inspired thanks to how Gloria is having a positive effect on him. This also serves as splitting point between the couple. While they aren’t actually fighting, Gloria is more about changing things with voice and ideas/rebelling while Christian is more about physical action. This song depicts him buying a berretta.

"Last of the American Girls" – This is Christian’s take on Gloria, and her personality. He basically holds her to the highest regard, and praises her for everything she is, and he is not. “She's the last of the American girls.” He loves how she doesn’t “Cooperate” – and furthermore, he really looks up to her. She is his anchor.

"Murder City" - This song is about Christian’s insecurities, and how he feels worthless. This song is split up into two perspectives. The first part is Christian, as he stays awake after the riots not being able to sleep. - "I'm awake after the riots". He realizes he will never be as mobilized or as torch-bearing as Gloria. This also calls back to “Peacemaker” when he had a gun, and felt tough. But when push comes to shove, as they get deeper into the city, he realizes he is being overwhelmed by the evil and deceit that runs the city. Because of this, he feels useless, and wonders if anything he does makes a difference. This song also starts to show a crack in the couples relationship, and this part of the song is from Gloria's perspective: – “Christian is crying in the bathroom, and I just want to bum a cigarette”. It shows that Christian is emotionally venerable here, and Gloria is having a tough time dealing with it. The song is more about Christian being helpless, but it also ties Gloria into it when she says “We are the last call, and we're so pathetic”.

"¿Viva La Gloria?" - Surprise surprise, Gloria isn't as pure as Christian thought, as this song reveals that she is a drug addict and a wreck underneath all what Christian first saw in her. Christian now has doubts about her – as his whole life has been full of lies and deceit. Not necessarily Gloria’s fault, but Christian really held her up as inspiration, and she was the perfection that he was not. This song also serves as a “conscience” piece, as Gloria is starting to fall apart, and feel guilty for what she is doing. “Little girl little girl, you dirty liar, you’re just a junkie preaching to the choir.” “Runaway, to you’re lost tranquility, and find yourself with your face in the gutter.”

"Restless Heart Syndrome" - Drugs are affecting both characters destructively at this point. “ I got this really bad disease, it has me begging on my hands and knees. Please take me to Emergency”. “I’m elated, medicated”. They are both mad at each other and split angrily. This song acts as the big revelation in the story, and calls back to “Know Your Enemy”. The twist is that they are their own worst enemy. This whole time they were trying to fight deceit – yet they were deceiving themselves. “I'm a victim of my symptom, I am my own worst enemy, You're a victim of your symptom, You are your own worst enemy – Know Your Enemy”. As a result both characters finally realize who their enemy is (their destructiveness and the drugs they take). Unlike the last act, this one ends in a negative theme – and serves as the protagonist “lowest points”. Restless Heart is also a stab at the pharmaceutical companies, who now seem to prescribe you drugs for whatever “ails you”.

ACT 3

"Horseshoes and Handgrenades" - This is basically part two to “Christian’s Inferno”. It serves as Christian's angry rant about life, himself, and Gloria. He has reached a destructive peak. Some of this song is actually about him being physically destructive. He has become a mess. “So don't you fuck me around, Because I'll shoot you down, I'm gonna drink, fight and fuck , And pushing my luck., All the time now”. “Well, you missed me kissed me Now you better kick me down” - I'm not fucking around G-L-O-R-I-A”.

"Static Age" - Both characters, now both in shambles and living on their own realize that the media has corrupted them, and all of society. They both wonder what life would be like without all the mainstream media. This is social commentary about how bogged down/saturated the media has become. – and as a result, they can longer see or hear what is going on, because of all the static. "All I want to do is i want to breathe, Batteries are not included”.

"21 Guns" - Christian and Gloria, both (at the end of the road), the road being, their will to live, meet up again and make peace again (lay down your arms give up the fight). –“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 ” – the fire is a reference to Christian, and calls back to “Last Night on Earth” when he said if I “lose everything in the fire”. They also take a look at the fighting in the wars and are inspired to start helping others. This song also serves as a perspective of a soldier who has lost his faith in a fight – that is not his fight - a fight that has no purpose. This really sums up how Christian and Gloria have been feeling – have they been fighting a fight worth fighting?

"American Eulogy" - The two characters become inspired by what is going on and look at all the events that have happened during the Bush years, Hurricane Katrina being a main one. They are unhappy with the class war and how the rich are looked at as higher people. There is so much going on in their world that they realize it is out of their control. The song also serves as a swipe at the mainstream media, as they like to use scare tactics to cause “Mass Hysteria”. The conclusion of the song (and pretty much the album) is that they decide they have had enough, and realize the modern world is too much for them to live in. It’s too corrupted, and they don’t think they can do anything to change it. “'Cause I don't give a shit about the modern age!” – “I don’t want to live in the modern world!”.

"See the Light" - Christian and Gloria decide to settle down away from the city, working through hardships to help those in need. They still strive for people to be happy and for there to be peace. They are doubtful, but they still try to (see the light) at the end of a deep and dark tunnel. The ending is very open-ended, and does not offer solutions. Because the current climate is still going on today, there is no answer. It’s left up to the listener to think for a solution.

Summary -

Act 1- The two meet up in the post bush years and fall in love

Act 2- The two work together, but realize each other's downfalls and angrily split up

Act 3 - Angered at modern society, they reunite and move away from the city to help others and try to make it through life together.

Just re-posting, just in case people missed this back on pg 2.

[Bastard of 1967]

But if i were to take his lyrics from his early career, and compare them to something like Dylan (like Blowing in the Wind/ Times Are A Changing) - then you can see there is a big difference in writing ability. They are different kinds of genres, and Billie doesn't need to be a poet for the kind of music he makes.

I'm really interested in hearing Green Day's cover of "Like A Rolling Stone" that's supposed to be on the deluxe edition of the iTunes pre-order. Take Dylan's lyrics with Billie Joe's emotional vocals, Mike's bass, and Tre's drums? Whoa.

Great analysis of the album earlier BTW...I'm looking forward to listening to the album again with your perspectives in mind. Not much else to add at this point so I'll just say "thanks!" and leave it at that! :thanks:

[Bastard of 1967]

I imagine 21st Century Breakdown as the class of 13 looking into a photo album that is basically about Christian and Gloria. Each picture, like each song, come together to form a story. Note that there's a lot of play on words in the relationship between Christian and Gloria.

. . .

WOW. Thank you.

[Pinhead-Stew!!!]

We all know the story of AI, but what about 21CB? I know it doesn't really have a linear story but still here it goes:

Act 1:

Billie Joe acts as a detached narrator singing about the state of the nation in 2009 and a call to arms. We are introduced to Gloria, political activist and idealist frustrated with Bush's re-election in 2004 and tries to keep her hope. We're then intorduced to Christian, just getting stoned, causing trouble and is on the fringe of society. We hear about his frustration and sheer anger. Gloria has a boyfriend who's in the army in Iraq or Afganistan (references to fire and so on in LNOE) who sends his love to her.

Act 2:

Christian tries looking for answers from his faith and only sees the hypocrisy and abuse of religion. Peacemaker comes on the scene, who's a crazy neocon, advocating war and destruction (I am a caesar! etc). In LOTAG Christian and Gloria meet and he's impressed by her dedication and her left wing strength, trying to make the world better. In Murder City/?Viva la Gloria? they become increasingly desperate, unemployed, homeless and no hope. They uses drugs to cope and to block out their depression and frustration and confusion.

Act 3:

Christian just loses it and goes on a nihilistic rampage in HAH. Gloria struggles with the information overload in the Static Age. Gloria then finds out about her boyfriend's death (21 guns, military funeral) and can't see what he died for, why America is fighting these two wars. Everything comes to a conclusion in American Eulogy where there's a crisis every week, financial crisis, 2008 elections, global warming and they declare that they don't want to live in the Modern World. After the 2008 election Christian and Gloria emerge from the wreckage of the Bush era and look forward with cautious optimism.

Then again I could just be reading too much into it. It's all up for interpretation, and that's my one.

[perfectpitchrob]

With the help of "PerfectPitchRob" - I have made a re-vised story/time line:

ACT 1

"Song of the Century/21CBD" - This serves an introductory piece, basically lays down the foundation for the story. It examines the life that Christian and Gloria are dealing with. The war, terrorism, and the fact that they have to learn to make it on their own – as even the adults that raised them cannot be trusted. “Raised by the bastards of 1969”.

"Know your Enemy” – this song serves as a narrative piece rather then talking specifically about the plot (the couple). It's asking them, and the listener who is the person they should be angry at. – who is the enemy. It also serves as a story device, because later on in the story we return to the question – “do you know the enemy?”'

"¡Viva La Gloria!" - While it is never mentioned when Christian Gloria met, this is when he first notices her. He is inspired by her progressive spirit and ideals. It also shows how the two have banded together, as they are in the “fight of their lives” and “pushed to the edge”. He wants to stay with her since he feels she will keep him sane. It also shows a glimpse of how Christian views her. He calls her “the saint of all sinners”.

"Before the Lobotomy" – This song has two layers to it. On it’s surface, it’s about Christian slowly losing his mind. He has started to get involved in drugs to numb the pain. “Well I’m not stoned, I’m just fucked up, I get so high I can’t stand up”. It even shows how Christian is a bit in denial, as he proclaims he’s not really getting stoned. On a deeper level, the song also talks about themes of the 21st Century Breakdown world. Such as Bush's leadership, 9/11 and the Iraq war. Those events are what have pushed Christian to be so angry/destructive and mistrusting of his government - he dreams of the time before when he and the world was calmer. The title also says it all, it’s literally Christian dwelling on who he used to be – before he is about to have a Lobotomy (drugs etc).

"Christian's inferno" – This song is a look at Christian's personality. This is his biography on the album – and it shows how much rage and anger he has built up; he is a loose cannon. His drug uses is also briefly mentioned – “This bitter pill is chased with blood”. But it also brings Gloria into the equation, because he now feels like she is the spark that can ignite his fire. (Fire is a recurring theme to describe Christian) – “Maybe you're the chemical reaction, I am the Atomic Bomb, I am the chosen one. Toxin Your Reservoir”.

"Last Night on Earth" – This is Christian’s love letter to Gloria - Christian's confession to Gloria most likely via phone (I text a postcard sent to you, did it go through), of his love for her. This is their connection moment. It is a positive end to this act, and really serves as a calming point for Christian. No matter how fucked up things get, he knows he has their love. He also mentions that “if he loses everything in the fire” – he will “send all his love” to her. This is a foreshadow to the end of the story.

ACT 2

"East Jesus Nowhere" – This song tackles the hypocrisy in modern religions. It also serves as Christians and Gloria’s negative experiences with the church, although it’s mainly from Christian (there is irony in his name). This is his confession to how he feels about the state of religion, and the people who vote on religious reasons alone.

"Peacemaker" - Christian's destructive state is starting to become more organized and inspired thanks to how Gloria is having a positive effect on him. This also serves as splitting point between the couple. While they aren’t actually fighting, Gloria is more about changing things with voice and ideas/rebelling while Christian is more about physical action. This song depicts him buying a berretta.

"Last of the American Girls" – This is Christian’s take on Gloria, and her personality. He basically holds her to the highest regard, and praises her for everything she is, and he is not. “She's the last of the American girls.” He loves how she doesn’t “Cooperate” – and furthermore, he really looks up to her. She is his anchor.

"Murder City" - This song is about Christian’s insecurities, and how he feels worthless. This song is split up into two perspectives. The first part is Christian, as he stays awake after the riots not being able to sleep. - "I'm awake after the riots". He realizes he will never be as mobilized or as torch-bearing as Gloria. This also calls back to “Peacemaker” when he had a gun, and felt tough. But when push comes to shove, as they get deeper into the city, he realizes he is being overwhelmed by the evil and deceit that runs the city. Because of this, he feels useless, and wonders if anything he does makes a difference. This song also starts to show a crack in the couples relationship, and this part of the song is from Gloria's perspective: – “Christian is crying in the bathroom, and I just want to bum a cigarette”. It shows that Christian is emotionally venerable here, and Gloria is having a tough time dealing with it. The song is more about Christian being helpless, but it also ties Gloria into it when she says “We are the last call, and we're so pathetic”.

"¿Viva La Gloria?" - Surprise surprise, Gloria isn't as pure as Christian thought, as this song reveals that she is a drug addict and a wreck underneath all what Christian first saw in her. Christian now has doubts about her – as his whole life has been full of lies and deceit. Not necessarily Gloria’s fault, but Christian really held her up as inspiration, and she was the perfection that he was not. This song also serves as a “conscience” piece, as Gloria is starting to fall apart, and feel guilty for what she is doing. “Little girl little girl, you dirty liar, you’re just a junkie preaching to the choir.” “Runaway, to you’re lost tranquility, and find yourself with your face in the gutter.”

"Restless Heart Syndrome" - Drugs are affecting both characters destructively at this point. “ I got this really bad disease, it has me begging on my hands and knees. Please take me to Emergency”. “I’m elated, medicated”. They are both mad at each other and split angrily. This song acts as the big revelation in the story, and calls back to “Know Your Enemy”. The twist is that they are their own worst enemy. This whole time they were trying to fight deceit – yet they were deceiving themselves. “I'm a victim of my symptom, I am my own worst enemy, You're a victim of your symptom, You are your own worst enemy – Know Your Enemy”. As a result both characters finally realize who their enemy is (their destructiveness and the drugs they take). Unlike the last act, this one ends in a negative theme – and serves as the protagonist “lowest points”. Restless Heart is also a stab at the pharmaceutical companies, who now seem to prescribe you drugs for whatever “ails you”.

ACT 3

"Horseshoes and Handgrenades" - This is basically part two to “Christian’s Inferno”. It serves as Christian's angry rant about life, himself, and Gloria. He has reached a destructive peak. Some of this song is actually about him being physically destructive. He has become a mess. “So don't you fuck me around, Because I'll shoot you down, I'm gonna drink, fight and fuck , And pushing my luck., All the time now”. “Well, you missed me kissed me Now you better kick me down” - I'm not fucking around G-L-O-R-I-A”.

"Static Age" - Both characters, now both in shambles and living on their own realize that the media has corrupted them, and all of society. They both wonder what life would be like without all the mainstream media. This is social commentary about how bogged down/saturated the media has become. – and as a result, they can longer see or hear what is going on, because of all the static. "All I want to do is i want to breathe, Batteries are not included”.

"21 Guns" - Christian and Gloria, both (at the end of the road), the road being, their will to live, meet up again and make peace again (lay down your arms give up the fight). –“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 ” – the fire is a reference to Christian, and calls back to “Last Night on Earth” when he said if I “lose everything in the fire”. They also take a look at the fighting in the wars and are inspired to start helping others. This song also serves as a perspective of a soldier who has lost his faith in a fight – that is not his fight - a fight that has no purpose. This really sums up how Christian and Gloria have been feeling – have they been fighting a fight worth fighting?

"American Eulogy" - The two characters become inspired by what is going on and look at all the events that have happened during the Bush years, Hurricane Katrina being a main one. They are unhappy with the class war and how the rich are looked at as higher people. There is so much going on in their world that they realize it is out of their control. The song also serves as a swipe at the mainstream media, as they like to use scare tactics to cause “Mass Hysteria”. The conclusion of the song (and pretty much the album) is that they decide they have had enough, and realize the modern world is too much for them to live in. It’s too corrupted, and they don’t think they can do anything to change it. “'Cause I don't give a shit about the modern age!” – “I don’t want to live in the modern world!”.

"See the Light" - Christian and Gloria decide to settle down away from the city, working through hardships to help those in need. They still strive for people to be happy and for there to be peace. They are doubtful, but they still try to (see the light) at the end of a deep and dark tunnel. The ending is very open-ended, and does not offer solutions. Because the current climate is still going on today, there is no answer. It’s left up to the listener to think for a solution.

Summary -

Act 1- The two meet up in the post bush years and fall in love

Act 2- The two work together, but realize each other's downfalls and angrily split up

Act 3 - Angered at modern society, they reunite and move away from the city to help others and try to make it through life together.

Just re-posting, just in case people missed this back on pg 2.

Good to know this is still growing. I will add that I believe Mike's singing lie in "Modern world" is from the point of view of an 8th grader. "I'm the class of 13 in an era of descent". Maybe C and G are influencing the youth and this part of the song is him/her being inspired by the two of them. It shows how the leadership of Gloria and the destructive side of Christian are inspiring the youth of the class of 13, (and all citizens in general).

[fatmanjo]

This is a great Breakdown . I think neither the parts containing "Born into Nixon" or "Class of 13" are from Christian's or Gloria's point of view:

"Born into Nixon"- Billie Joe is a detached narrator, since he was born in '72 (correct me if I'm wrong), and the Class of 13 is about today's youth feeling both optimistic about the future and pessimistic about the mistakes people like Bush (just an example) have made and how they will be repeated.

I think Christian and Gloria sit somewhere inbetween this, but correct me if I'm wrong.

OT- Class of 13, Woo! Well, I would be if I was in America, so in England....Class of 11?