1. With radio friendly… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands called 21 Guns
1. With radio friendly AOR super groups such as Bad English and Damn Yankees receiving commercial success, former Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham decided to form a similar type band and hope for stardom. Gorham recruited fellow Americans Tommy La Verdi (vocals), Leif Johansen (bass), and Michael Sturgis (drums). By 1992 they had been signed to RCA records and released a well-polished AOR album that received rave reviews, but went relatively unnoticed by the record buying public. After touring it was decided that La Verdi wasn't on the same page as the rest of the band, and with his departure the group disbanded. Gorham began appearing at Thin Lizzy tribute shows while Sturgis resurfaced with prog-rockers Asia.
In 1997 Gorham decided to reform 21 Guns around new vocalist Hans Olav Solli (ex-Sons Of Angels, ex-psycho motel). Solli had most recently been a member of iron maiden gitarist Adrian Smith's band Psycho Motel with drummer Mike Sturgis who returned to the reformed line up of 21 Guns. By the time the follow-up album Nothing's Real the music scene had completely changed, and a limited release in America killed any chance of the album breaking out commercially. A collection of demo recordings by the original line-up was released in 2002 and the band is rumored to be working on another studio recording. Solli resurfaced in the Norwegian music-project Greenhouze, Gorham hit the road with a Thin Lizzy tribute band and Sturgis became a permanent recording and touring drummer with Asia.
In 2009 it was announced that Scott Gorham and Leif Johansen have been writing and recording together again with a new singer, Peter Shoulder. Peter is the former singer/guitarist of Winterville. Scott and Peter first worked together when Winterville supported Thin Lizzy on their 2005 UK tour. In 2007 Winterville split and Peter went on to record his own solo material.
2. 21 Guns were an Australian hard rock band that released a self-titled album in 1990. Personnel: Andy McLean (lead vocals), Cameran McKenzie (guitar, backing vocals), Henry Eustacs (bass, backing vocals), Mark Herrera (drums).
3. 21 Guns were a very short-lived ska band from Coventry, United Kingdom, that released just one single: '21 Guns' on Shack Records (1981). Formed in 1980, the group consisted of The Specials roadies Trevor Evans (keyboards) and Johnny Rex (drums), plus Kevin Tanner (bass), Stuart MacLean (guitar) and Gary 'Judge' Chambers (vocals). Prior to their single at Shack Records (the label that The Specials' Neville Staple started, along with his then girlfriend, The Bodysnatchers' Stella Barker) 21 Guns recorded a three-song session for John Peel in early February 1981. They also scored a support slot opening for Hazel O'Connor.
Tell Me
21 Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They shot him down at her front gate
Her only thought his dinner's cold
Fourteen years and fear untold
Now it comes to this in her own home
Go wash your hands my little one
Talk to the policeman
And you'll hear her say
Tell me my boy will see tomorrow
Tell me why he had to die
Tell me that we'll be safe tomorrow
Tell me
They say the man next door
He watched it all
A car drove by
He saw him fall
Come take my hand my only son
We want no part and
What I know won't help
Your friend is gone
Yet you'll hear him say
(Chorus)
You know the man in blue has questions too
Like how do I sleep when this is through
He'll find their man
His fear is gone
He feels their pain
He's seen it all
Yet you'll hear him say
(Chorus)
The lyrics of 21 Guns's song Tell Me tell a heartbreaking story of a mother who receives the news that her son has been shot and killed at their own front gate. The mother's only concern is that her son's dinner will be cold, showing her shock and denial in the face of her son's untimely death. The lyrics then take us through the emotions of the community affected by the tragedy, from fear and disbelief to grief and anger. The chorus is a desperate plea for answers and assurances that such a tragedy will not happen again.
The song captures the painful reality of gun violence and its impact on individuals and communities. The lyrics are a commentary on the lack of action and political will to address the root causes of gun violence, leaving families and communities to suffer the devastating consequences. The song is a call for empathy, understanding, and justice for the victims of gun violence and their loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Her boy came home three hours late
Her son returned home after three hours of delay
They shot him down at her front gate
Her son was shot dead by someone at her doorstep
Her only thought his dinner's cold
Despite her son's death, all she can think of is his unfinished meal
Fourteen years and fear untold
She has been living in fear for the past fourteen years without anyone knowing
Now it comes to this in her own home
The fear and uncertainty she feared were always lurking, finally got to her doorstep
Go wash your hands my little one
Mother asks her child to wash their hand
Your sisters here to help your momma
Her daughter is there to support her and be with their mother in times of grief
Talk to the policeman
The only hope is to look for answers from the police
And you'll hear her say
Despite being hurt, she is still hoping to hear something positive
Tell me my boy will see tomorrow
She wants to know if her son's death was in vain, and if her family would be safe again
Tell me why he had to die
The mother seeks the reason behind the tragic event
Tell me that we'll be safe tomorrow
Looking for a silver lining in the dark clouds, hoping for a better future
They say the man next door
People in the neighborhood have been talking about the man who witnessed the event
He watched it all
The neighbor was present at the scene of the event and saw everything happen
A car drove by
A car passed by while the incident took place
He saw him fall
The man witnessed the death of the boy by seeing him fall to the ground
Come take my hand my only son
The father is offering support to his son amidst the chaos
We want no part and
The father and son don't want to have any involvement in the situation
What I know won't help
The father admits that he has no solution or answer to any of the problems
Your friend is gone
The son has lost a friend due to the violent events
Yet you'll hear him say
Even though they are muted by the situation, they still hope for answers
You know the man in blue has questions too
The police officer handling the case is equally puzzled and curious
Like how do I sleep when this is through
The police officer is struggling with the enormity of the case mentally
He'll find their man
The police officer is confident of catching the culprit involved
His fear is gone
By catching the wrongdoer, his fear of not succeeding is resolved
He feels their pain
The police officer empathizes with the pain of the victims
He's seen it all
Through his job, he has witnessed many such incidents
Yet you'll hear him say
Despite having perspective on such issues, he acknowledges that solutions are hard to come by
Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Johnty Fleming
bought this when it came out,,still an amazing piese of work,,,so underated in my opinion,,,its just so well done....
Darryl Stubbs
Used to have this album,this was one of my fave tracks.
nick nevler
im in love with this guys voice
Henry Stoll
HUNT THIS ALBUM DOWN AND BUY IT!!! IT'S AMAZING! SCOTT GORHAM IS A GOD AMONG MEN!!
Kasia Czajkowska-Aguilar
Great song... <3
Tiago Santos
GREAT SONG ....
Al Rockman
What a cracking song,it's up there with ALIAS - MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY, DANGER DANGER - I STILL THINK ABOUT YOU, POISON - EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN, the album is awesome, these guys shud have been massive
frankie deals
Was released in 92 the timing was bad. this was better than any album that was made in the whole decade of the nineties.
nick nevler
amazing
20Thomsen
Thx for upload :) amazing song :)