02 - Bang Bang

[UNICORN VOMIT]

A lullaby is soothing - so perhaps broadcasting childhood memories - giving the reason behind his actions. 

[Chin for a Day]

33 minutes ago, Andres said:

What do you guys think he means with "I testify like a lullaby of memories"

I think you need to look at the whole verse as a whole:

"I testify like a lullaby of memories
Broadcasting live and it's on my radio
I got my photo bomb, I got my Vietnam
I love a lie just like anybody else"

He has all these thoughts going through his head and to him they are soothing but he is still struggling with whether the are right, his own private war (I've got my Vietnam).  He can hear (broadcasting live)  and see (photobomb) what he is thinking of doing but still has his doubts (love a lie)

Basically, I see this whole verse as his struggle between right and wrong.  He thinks that what he wants to do is wrong, but the idea of it gives him pleasure. 

[Libertine Angel]

6 minutes ago, JJ1964 said:

I think you need to look at the whole verse as a whole:

"I testify like a lullaby of memories
Broadcasting live and it's on my radio
I got my photo bomb, I got my Vietnam
I love a lie just like anybody else"

He has all these thoughts going through his head and to him they are soothing but he is still struggling with whether the are right, his own private war (I've got my Vietnam).  He can hear (broadcasting live)  and see (photobomb) what he is thinking of doing but still has his doubts (love a lie)

Basically, I see this whole verse as his struggle between right and wrong.  He thinks that what he wants to do is wrong, but the idea of it gives him pleasure. 

Put like this I don't see it as right and wrong, the first two lines seem like they should be taken together (I just got the whole thing with a jolt), he hears the reports of what he's done on the radio and it's like a lullaby to him, the photobomb/Vietnam thing is conflating social media glorification with shooting much as other bits of the song are (I can't think off the top of my head but it was discussed before), and "I love a lie" I think is about how shooters are portrayed in the media and often how their race or political leanings lead them to either be the whole "troubled, mentally ill teen" or "terrorist thug" regardless of truth.

[Chin for a Day]

7 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

Put like this I don't see it as right and wrong, the first two lines seem like they should be taken together (I just got the whole thing with a jolt), he hears the reports of what he's done on the radio and it's like a lullaby to him, the photobomb/Vietnam thing is conflating social media glorification with shooting much as other bits of the song are (I can't think off the top of my head but it was discussed before), and "I love a lie" I think is about how shooters are portrayed in the media and often how their race or political leanings lead them to either be the whole "troubled, mentally ill teen" or "terrorist thug" regardless of truth.

Most mass shooters kill themselves after committing the crime.  Therefore, he most likely would not be watching what he has done on the TV because he is dead.  Which is why I took the whole verse to be his struggle with right or wrong.  He wants to do the crime, he wants to be on TV, he likes the idea of it but he knows it isn't right.    

The fact that most of them kill themselves also adds to my theory.  He struggled with the concept of killing all those people, he wanted to do it.  After he did, the finalization of what they ahve done hits them and they have nothing left to live for.  

[Libertine Angel]

Just now, JJ1964 said:

Most mass shooters kill themselves after committing the crime.  Therefore, he most likely would not be watching what he has done on the TV because he is dead.  Which is why I took the whole verse to be his struggle with right or wrong.  He wants to do the crime, he wants to be on TV, he likes the idea of it but he knows it isn't right.    

Fair point, though I'm still not sure about him being morally conflicted, I mean he wants to be the celebrity martyr so I don't see why he'd be reluctant to die.

[Hero_Of_The_Hour]

7 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

Put like this I don't see it as right and wrong, the first two lines seem like they should be taken together (I just got the whole thing with a jolt), he hears the reports of what he's done on the radio and it's like a lullaby to him, the photobomb/Vietnam thing is conflating social media glorification with shooting much as other bits of the song are (I can't think off the top of my head but it was discussed before), and "I love a lie" I think is about how shooters are portrayed in the media and often how their race or political leanings lead them to either be the whole "troubled, mentally ill teen" or "terrorist thug" regardless of truth.

I know I gave my opinion on this a few pages back and you may already have seen it but I just wanted to say I don't think the idea is that the shooter has any conflict between right and wrong. Billie told Kerrang he was writing about mental illness and "psychotic" shooters. People like that tend not to grapple with the issue of right and wrong particularly in the heat of the moment. Since Billie himself discussed how he found it sick that shooters had an obsession with seeking glorification and fame through social media I found the lines "I got my photobomb, I got my Vietnam" to mean that despite any bloodshed, death, destruction, horror etc the shooter has caused and indeed despite the outcome he faces he got his fifteen minutes of fame and his "Vietnam", his chance to play soldier. As Billie later sings "I want to be like the soldiers on the screen". 

[Chin for a Day]

2 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

Fair point, though I'm still not sure about him being morally conflicted, I mean he wants to be the celebrity martyr so I don't see why he'd be reluctant to die.

Because he doesn't realize how the act will actually affect him until he has committed it.  Similar to Crime and Punishment.  The lead character convinced himself that what he was doing was moral because he was doing it for the good of others.  But, when he actually committed the crime he couldn't handle it. 

[Comrade]

6 hours ago, Andres said:

That's disappointing to hear. It seems like most fans have viewed the song as a great comeback song for them. It's fast, it's loud, it's the exact opposite of a lot of the stuff on the trilogy. We can agree on the lyrics. I don't mind them, they fit the song, but they could have been better. I'm curious what you're comparing it to that you'd consider it a "bad album track". For me, it's one of the best songs they've had since Horseshoes & Handgrenades. I appreciate that it doesn't sound exactly like any other Green Day song, but still familiar, and I appreciate that it has a message behind it.

What I mean is that I honestly don't think it'd have even made Dookie, Insomniac, Nimrod, Warning or American Idiot. It is a placid, middle of the road song. Telling that when a lot of my friends who know I love Green Day started the post-first listen conversation with 'even you must admit it's awful'. Which sums it up. Utter lip service to the die hards, but it just bored me senseless in every aspect. 

 

1 hour ago, Andres said:

What do you guys think he means with "I testify like a lullaby of memories"

Honestly? Nothing. The MTV article got it spot on. Sounds like a band trying to be Green Day. It's a 'cool' sounding platitude written by a 15 year old. It's such a bland line. They all are. There isn't a single line with wit in the song. The psycho line is cute at first listen though, as I've said. Sorry guys. This song leaves me so, so cold.  

[Fuzz]

26 minutes ago, Comrade said:

Honestly? Nothing. The MTV article got it spot on. Sounds like a band trying to be Green Day. It's a 'cool' sounding platitude written by a 15 year old. It's such a bland line. They all are. There isn't a single line with wit in the song. The psycho line is cute at first listen though, as I've said. Sorry guys. This song leaves me so, so cold.  

I mean, don't hold back though.

[AmyxLongview]

I think "testify like a lullaby of memories" basically means he's putting his victims to sleep (killing them) and forcing them to recount memories of their lives right before he ends it.  Similar to "close your eyes and kiss yourself goodbye, and think about the times we spent and what they meant" from Having a Blast.

Or it could mean nothing and just be a random phrase Billie made up 

[TimmyChunks]

8 hours ago, Andres said:

That's disappointing to hear. It seems like most fans have viewed the song as a great comeback song for them. It's fast, it's loud, it's the exact opposite of a lot of the stuff on the trilogy. We can agree on the lyrics. I don't mind them, they fit the song, but they could have been better. I'm curious what you're comparing it to that you'd consider it a "bad album track". For me, it's one of the best songs they've had since Horseshoes & Handgrenades. I appreciate that it doesn't sound exactly like any other Green Day song, but still familiar, and I appreciate that it has a message behind it.

I agree- I am sorry to hear you aren't feeling the same excitement over this song as some of us have. It's interesting since the vast majority of Green Day "casual" fans I've spoken with are excited about this one- they are thrilled to hear the St. Jimmy/ Horseshoes type of dynamic to this song. My same friends who are also casual Metallica fans have struggled with "Hardwired" as being too repetitive and derived, so I know they're not just riding the nostalgia train. We set a high bar for Green Day, and I am certain they've cleared it with BB- I have it on nonstop repeat and still can't get enough.

[spark in the night]

3 hours ago, Andres said:

What do you guys think he means with "I testify like a lullaby of memories"

Another example of his strange metaphorical lyrics that don't make sense. Like the river of a shadow of doubt. That one kills me.

[TimmyChunks]

2 hours ago, Andres said:

What do you guys think he means with "I testify like a lullaby of memories"

Very good question, as this is one part of the lyrics my wife and I have been a little confused about. Frankly, I've been listening very little to the lyrics and have been focused on Tre.

However, giving it some thought...to me, the lyric is a synopsis of insanity and confusion of thought. His (the protagonist, or the shooter) perspective is clouded by the blended thoughts/ hymns of his world perspective. His memories have been blended into a lullaby/ alternative world of thought and perspective, and he is creating his own consciousness and rationale for the mission upon which is he trying to accomplish. The lullaby of memory is his cherry-picked version of what to him represents reality as he embarks on his horrific quest. Reality is a dreamscape- he is hearing voices, marching orders from a lullaby/ dream state as the wheels go into motion on his mission. To me, he is being driven by insanity, and these are the voices and urges that are the driver.

[spark in the night]

46 minutes ago, AmyxLongview said:

 

Or it could mean nothing and just be a random phrase Billie made up 

This

[TimmyChunks]

1 hour ago, Andres said:

I mean, don't hold back though.

Haha, that can't be a serious take by the OP- the MTV segment was a complete troll. If you want to start dissecting lyrics (if that's all an analysis of a song is, which it certainly is not), then I challenge the OP to tackle "I've got a fever for violent behavior...I'm sweating bullets like a Modern Romeo."

One of the best lines of lyrics from any recent song I've heard. Billie's still got it.

 

[spark in the night]

2 minutes ago, TimmyChunks said:

Very good question, as this is one part of the lyrics my wife and I have been a little confused about. Frankly, I've been listening very little to the lyrics and have been focused on Tre.

However, giving it some thought...to me, the lyric is a synopsis of insanity and confusion of thought. His (the protagonist, or the shooter) perspective is clouded by the blended thoughts/ hymns of his world perspective. His memories have been blended into a lullaby/ alternative world of thought and perspective, and he is creating his own consciousness and rationale for the mission upon which is he trying to accomplish. The lullaby of memory is his cherry-picked version of what to him represents reality as he embarks on his horrific quest. Reality is a dreamscape- he is hearing voices, marching orders from a lullaby/ dream state as the wheels go into motion on his mission. To me, he is being driven by insanity, and these are the voices and urges that are the driver.

I like this. Every time I listen to the song this is the line that baffles me the most. I think about the 3 main words: testify, lullaby, and memories. To me, testify is when you defend yourself, when you explain yourself for why you did something like in a trial. Lullabies are children's songs meant to calm and soothe...could also be like mother goose rhymes or Aesop fables that teach lessons/morals. Memories- obvious enough. So putting it all together, to me it describes someone who is set in their ways of belief and morals perhaps that were taught or observed at a young age which shaped their persona and led them to be the way they are and they "testify" these beliefs in their proclamations of radicalism and why they did what they did...........man I don't know is that a stretch?

[Fuzz]

54 minutes ago, AmyxLongview said:

Or it could mean nothing and just be a random phrase Billie made up 

Thinking about it today, I thought it could mean that this person was justifying their twisted views because of the things they convinced themselves of growing up.

"testifying" = Justifying or recalling something

"lullaby of memories" = something you hear over and over, maybe as a kid or a young person, bad memories or experiences that have shaped a warped view.

 

[TimmyChunks]

8 minutes ago, spark in the night said:

I like this. Every time I listen to the song this is the line that baffles me the most. I think about the 3 main words: testify, lullaby, and memories. To me, testify is when you defend yourself, when you explain yourself for why you did something like in a trial. Lullabies are children's songs meant to calm and soothe...could also be like mother goose rhymes or Aesop fables that teach lessons/morals. Memories- obvious enough. So putting it all together, to me it describes someone who is set in their ways of belief and morals perhaps that were taught or observed at a young age which shaped their persona and led them to be the way they are and they "testify" these beliefs in their proclamations of radicalism and why they did what they did...........man I don't know is that a stretch?

I definitely agree with your interpretation. It's the most challenging line of lyrics in the song, but I think BJA beautifully and succinctly encompasses the chaotic and misguided the mind state of the killer, and does so succinctly. I believe the analysis of great lyrics can be similar to peeling back the layers of an onion- the more you dig in, the more you'll uncover. And I believe this is by design- this is a great line by BJA. It's confusing at first, it challenges the listener, and it holds a ton of meaning once your start to think critically and analyze. Many thanks to Andres for setting this exercise in motion- otherwise I would have been content to continue to listen to Tre's revival over and over nonstop.

I feel like Tre took this one over and nearly dominates this song with his insane chops- not in a bad way, but to me this song seems to be a "welcome back Tre" track given how absolutely perfect and powerful his drumming is throughout. Do you guys get the same impression?

[DookieLukie]

I think the fact that we're debating the meaning of the lyrics shows that they're pretty strong. Nothing from the Trilogy really made you think, and there weren't many standout phrases.

[UNICORN VOMIT]

3 minutes ago, DookieLukie said:

I think the fact that we're debating the meaning of the lyrics shows that they're pretty strong. Nothing from the Trilogy really made you think, and there weren't many standout phrases.

Was just thinking the exact thing.

[Karlachu]

Well, I heard the song twice on my local radio station today. I listen to the radio station about 5 days a week and i haven't heard it on there since the first morning it came out, so something must be going well. 

[shakerattleandroll]

The lyric that made me think in the Trilogy: 'We used to call it speed, but now it's crystal meth'

[inthehallwaynow]

3 hours ago, spark in the night said:

Another example of his strange metaphorical lyrics that don't make sense. Like the river of a shadow of doubt. That one kills me.

referring to Religion as a handicap, he realized he did not need his Philosophical ‘Crutches’ and got rid of them in the metaphorical river of doubt about the legitimacy of Religion.

[UNICORN VOMIT]

44 minutes ago, shakerattleandroll said:

The lyric that made me think in the Trilogy: 'We used to call it speed, but now it's crystal meth'

That one makes sense to me

[DeJennsitized]

7 hours ago, Andres said:

What do you guys think he means with "I testify like a lullaby of memories"

I know it's been said already but I take it to mean that recalling the events is soothing to him. Not necessarily the events themselves.