The song begins with the narrator describing the physical and mental effects of being in a state of shock. He is so overwhelmed with emotion that he can hardly walk and is holding on for life. The narrator then moves on to describe the internal struggle of wanting to go to heaven, but not wanting to die. He then expresses his confusion and fear through metaphors of rolling eyes, being black and blue, and singing out the alphabet. The chorus emphasizes the idea that life is fragile and we should make the most of it by defying judgement and demons and saving our last goodbye. The song ends with the chorus repeating the idea that no one wants to die, but everyone wants to go to heaven.
Themes:
- Death
- Anxiety
- Escapism
Analysis
The themes of death, anxiety and escapism are all common themes in Green Day's songwriting. In this particular song, death is explored through the lyrics "We want to go to heaven/But no one wants to die". The theme of anxiety is present in the chorus, where the singer expresses his fear and confusion with the line "Should I be concerned?". The theme of escapism is explored through the idea of going into a "state of shock" and using anesthesia to escape reality. These themes are similar to those explored in other Green Day songs such as "21 Guns" and "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams", which both explore the idea of death and the need to escape from reality.