Hey Gloria, are you standing close to the edge?
Look out at the setting sun
Brink of your vision
Eternal youth
Is the landscape of a lie

The cracks of my skin can prove
As the years will testify
Say your prayers and light a fire
We're going to start a war
Your slogans a gun for hire
It's what we waited for

Hey Gloria

This is why we're on the edge
The fight of our lives been drawn to
This undying love

Gloria, viva la Gloria
You blast your name
In graffiti on the walls
Falling in broken glass and
Slashing through these spirits
I can hear it like a jilted crowd

Gloria, where are you Gloria?
You found a home
In all your scars and ammunition
You made your bed in salad days
Amongst the ruins
Ashes to ashes of our youth

She smashed her knuckles into winter
As autumns wind fades into black
She is the saint of all the sinners
The one that's fallen through the cracks
So don't put away, your burning light

Gloria, where are you are Gloria
Don't lose your faith
To you lost naivety
Weather the storm and don't look
Back on last November
When your banners were burning down

Gloria, viva la Gloria
Send me your amnesty down
To the broken hearted
Bring us the season
That we always will remember
Don't let the bonfires go out

So Gloria,
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, your life!



Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Track duration: 03:31

"¡Viva la Gloria!" as written by Billie Joe/wright Iii Armstrong

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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¡Viva la Gloria! song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:My interpretation is that this is Christian meeting Gloria and (as others have said) falling in love. I think it goes a little deeper than Christian simply recruiting Gloria to his cause. I think in doing so he is corrupting her anger and sense of injustice into cold nihilism (as the "static age" has done to him). Her "banners of hope" and graffiti art have done nothing to stop the Dubya administration so screw it, might as well get some revenge with Christian.

    I wrote against another track off this album that I see Christian as "Rise Up!" and Gloria as "Wise Up!". But at this point Christian turns her to the "Rise Up!" way. The layers of irony are great. Christian is now like a televangelist (one of the things that has him so angry) and Gloria is now a mindless sheep. Talk about a toxic relationship (which is why it's destined to fail).
    Flag Richomanon October 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Didn't mean to post that twice, sorry
    Flag Richomanon October 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My interpretation is that this is Christian meeting Gloria and (as others have said) falling in love. I think it goes a little deeper than Christian simply recruiting Gloria to his cause. I think in doing so he is corrupting her anger and sense of injustice into cold nihilism (as the "static age" has done to him). Her "banners of hope" and graffiti art have done nothing to stop the Dubya administration so screw it, might as well get some revenge with Christian.

    I wrote against another track off this album that I see Christian as "Rise Up!" and Gloria as "Wise Up!". But at this point Christian turns her to the "Rise Up!" way. The layers of irony are great. Christian is now like a televangelist (one of the things that has him so angry) and Gloria is now a mindless sheep. Talk about a toxic relationship (which is why it's destined to fail).
    Flag Richomanon October 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My interpretation is that this is Christian meeting Gloria and (as others have said) falling in love. I think it goes a little deeper than Christian simply recruiting Gloria to his cause. I think in doing so he is corrupting her anger and sense of injustice into cold nihilism (as the "static age" has done to him). Her "banners of hope" and graffiti art have done nothing to stop the Dubya administration so screw it, might as well get some revenge with Christian.

    I wrote against another track off this album that I see Christian as "Rise Up!" and Gloria as "Wise Up!". But at this point Christian turns her to the "Rise Up!" way. The layers of irony are great. Christian is now like a televangelist (one of the things that has him so angry) and Gloria is now a mindless sheep. Talk about a toxic relationship (which is why it's destined to fail).
    Flag Richomanon October 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:Hey Gloria,
    Are you standing close to the edge?
    Lookout to the setting sun
    The brink of your vision
    Eternal youth is
    ***the landscape of a lie***

    The cracks of my skin can prove
    As the years will testify
    Say your prayers and light a fire
    We're going to start a war
    Your slogan's a gun for hire
    It's what we waited for

    Hey Gloria,

    This is why we're on the edge
    The fight of our lives been drawn to
    This undying love

    Gloria, Viva La Gloria
    You blast your name
    In graffiti on the walls
    ***Falling in broken glass and***
    Slashing through your spirit
    I can hear it like a jilted crowd

    Gloria, where are you Gloria?
    You found a home
    In all your scars and ammunition
    You made your bed in salad days
    ***Amongst the ruins***
    Ashes to ashes of our youth

    She smashed her knuckles into winter
    As Autumn's wind fades into black
    She is the saint on all the sinners
    The one that's fallen through the cracks
    So don't put away your burning light

    Gloria, where are you are Gloria?
    Don't lose your faith
    ***To your lost naïveté***
    Weather the storm and don't look
    Back on last November
    When your banners were burning down

    Gloria, viva la Gloria
    Send me your amnesty down
    To the broken hearted
    Bring us the season
    That we always will remember
    Don't let the bonfires go out

    So Gloria,
    ***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
    Flag NigellusNTon November 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Viva la Gloria means 'live for the glory' so there not really talking about a woman named gloria? doesnt make sense
    Flag lillmissmusicon October 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think in this song it's when christian meets gloria and falls in love with her, because shes just so different from the rest shes tying to change the world to.
    Flag guitarpunk87on September 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What!?!?!?!
    Flag watzdatsmelon February 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Best song evar - gives me the creeps every time I hear it.

    Beutiful story and beginning - then hard rock. Stunning.

    Love this song.
    Flag Rockman63on January 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:first of all green day are amazinggggggg artists ....i love how each song on thier album is part of a story and its fun to figure out the story and it makes the songs a lot more interesting to listen to ... 21st century breakdown is my favorite album at the moment its awsome !!!! i loveee greenday<33333333
    Flag musicgal2020on September 19, 2009   Link

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