In late 2008 the band began recording their first album at Beach House Studios in Malmö, Sweden, with producer Anders Hallbäck. The album was completed in 2009 and all songs were mixed at ToyTown Studios by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Europe, Def Leppard, Backyard Babies, Deathstars, etc.).
In 2009 Royal Republic signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia and a record deal with Bonnier Amigo Music. The first single, All Because of You was released in September 2009 and is currently being aired on Swedish radio stations, including Sveriges Radio and Bandit Rock. Their debut album, We Are the Royal was released in Sweden in February 2010 and was well received by critics, fans and rock radio. Their second album was released on on the 24th of August of 2012.
Official website: www.wearetheroyal.com
Tommy-Gun
Royal Republic Lyrics
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I know I misbehaved
I never meant to hurt you
I humbly beg forgiveness
Hope that my soul be saved
And if I had a final wish, pretty miss, I would only ask this
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
With a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
Use a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
There ain't no use appealing
Your justice will prevail
This time I must be punished
No lawyer, no attourney
No chance of breaking bail
So won't you grant this final wish pretty miss, won't you save a last kiss?
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
With a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
Use a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
Gun-tommy
Gun-tommy
Gun-tommy
Ah, shoot me, whoo
I guilty stand before you
I know I misbehaved
I never meant to hurt you
I humbly beg forgiveness
Hope that my soul be saved
But if I had a final wish
I would only ask this
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
With a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
Use a tommy-gun baby, do me
Gun-tommy
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
Gun-tommy!
The lyrics of "Tommy-Gun" by Royal Republic tell a story of a man standing before his judge, guilty of his misbehavior, and begging for forgiveness. He knows that he must be punished for his mistake and affirms that he never meant to hurt anyone. However, instead of asking for mercy or redemption, he requests a strange and almost absurd final wish. He asks the judge to use a Tommy-gun, a type of submachine gun, to kill him if necessary or to use it to "do" him if possible. This request can be interpreted in few ways. Perhaps he just wants to be punished with a quick death rather than languishing in jail, or maybe he is expressing his attraction to his judge who he uneasily refers to as "pretty miss." Regardless of the interpretation, the lyrics convey a sense of desperation and surrender.
The lyrics of "Tommy-Gun" have a tongue-in-cheek quality about them. They are mocking the gangster and femme fatale tropes of the classic film noir era. Indeed, the music video for the song shows the band members dressed in pinstripe suits, fedoras, and carrying Tommy-guns. The ironic lyrics and upbeat tempo of the song suggest that Royal Republic didn't take themselves too seriously when writing this song.
Line by Line Meaning
I guilty stand before you
I acknowledge my guilt and accept responsibility for my actions
I know I misbehaved
I am aware that my actions were inappropriate
I never meant to hurt you
My actions were not intended to cause harm
I humbly beg forgiveness
I sincerely ask for your forgiveness
Hope that my soul be saved
I hope to be absolved of my sins and find redemption
And if I had a final wish, pretty miss, I would only ask this
If I had one final request, it would be for you to grant it
I want you to do me with a tommy-gun baby
I would like you to shoot me with a tommy-gun
With a tommy-gun baby, do me
Please use a tommy-gun to shoot me
Gun-tommy
Referring to a tommy-gun
If you have to kill me, use a tommy-gun baby
If I must die, please use a tommy-gun to kill me
Use a tommy-gun baby, do me
Please use a tommy-gun to shoot me
There ain't no use appealing
I know that attempting to appeal my punishment is pointless
Your justice will prevail
You will deliver just punishment for my actions
This time I must be punished
I understand that I deserve punishment for my actions
No lawyer, no attourney
I do not want legal representation
No chance of breaking bail
I know that I cannot avoid punishment
So won't you grant this final wish pretty miss, won't you save a last kiss?
Please grant my final request and give me one last kiss
Gun-tommy!
Referring to a tommy-gun
Ah, shoot me, whoo
Shoot me with a tommy-gun
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANNES VIKTOR HUGO IRENGARD, ANDERS HALLBAECK, PER RICKARD HENDRIC ANDREASSON, ADAM JOHN CARL GRAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind