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Bullet And A Target
Citizen Cope Lyrics


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Mr. Dali Lamas
Another sister's shootin' heroin tomorrow
Amputees in Freetown
Sierra Leone's
The church wasn't honest
The state put the youth in a harness
Creatin' hostility among us
Teacher said no college
Still the kid's gotta get a check with a couple commas
People wanna bomb us
More people gotta scatter and run from us
You can blame it on Zeus and Apollo and Adonis

But what you've done here
Is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before
You're pulling yourself away

But what you've done here
Is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before
You're pulling yourself away

I've been knowing her for years
I've been seeing her for years
She got dark, dark wavy hair
With a voice like she just don't care
She got a skirt with a halter top
She's got a dad who never gave a fuck
She drinks a beer with a malted top
She got knocked up in a pickup truck
But she got engaged when she was nineteen
To this dude who was acting insane
Had a .45 that he always cleaned
Said one day one day one too many days
Now she ducked and she ran away
Never to be heard from, never to be seen
I check the cover of a magazine
I'm just wondering how, just wondering how

But what you've done here
Is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before
You're pulling yourself away
You're pulling yourself away
You're pulling yourself away
You're pulling yourself away

A bullet and a target
A bullet and a target
A bullet and a target
A bullet and a target

Between a bullet and a target

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Citizen Cope's song "Bullet And A Target" seem to be a reflection of the current social and political climate where power dynamics, corruption, and violence reign. The opening lines of the song could possibly be interpreted as a commentary on the unequal distribution of resources and opportunity across the world, as evident in the contrast between the reference to Mr. Dali Lamas and the mention of amputees in Freetown Sierra Leone. The reference to heroin abuse could be seen as a symptom of the hopelessness and desperation that stems from being part of such an unjust society.


The second verse is told from the perspective of the singer who seems to be describing a woman he has known for years. It is not clear whether this woman is a real person, a representation of a particular archetype, or a metaphor for something else entirely. The fact that she has a father who "never gave a fuck" and got engaged to a man who was "acting insane" could be seen as an illustration of the damage that an abusive and neglectful upbringing can cause, and how it could lead someone to seek refuge in dangerous situations.


The chorus of the song seems to be a warning to those who find themselves in a precarious position, either by choice or circumstance. By putting oneself between a bullet and a target, one is essentially inviting danger and risking everything. It is a cautionary tale about the perils of chasing after certain things, be it power, love, or money, without fully comprehending the consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

Mr. Dali Lamas
A reference to Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, portraying the relevance of renowned personalities unifying to prevent catastrophic events.


Another sister's shootin' heroin tomorrow
A symbol of the alarming rate at which drug abuse is spreading and how people are helplessly embracing it as a looming situation.


Amputees in Freetown Sierra Leone's
The depiction of an image of war-zoned areas where pain and suffering are rampant, violence is the norm, and innocent people's lives are destroyed.


The church wasn't honest
This emphasizes the role of religion and how institutions are more focused on manipulation and personal gain rather than promoting positive values.


The state put the youth in a harness
A government's systematic oppression of the young people by constraining their rights and ambitions, stunting their potential growth and development.


Creatin' hostility among us
This acknowledges the toxic effects of hostility that exist between people belonging to different groups, upholding the importance of how acceptance and respect can bring about unity and peaceful co-existence.


Teacher said no college
The education system's inability to provide equal opportunities of higher education to all students inherently limits their prospects, affecting their future financial stability and social mobility.


Still the kid's gotta get a check with a couple commas
The struggle that young people go through to achieve financial independence in a society where education and societal status determine their worth.


People wanna bomb us
The looming threat of terrorism and how it impacts people's lives, affecting their collective psyche as a society.


More people gotta scatter and run from us
An image of people trying to escape their troubles or fears, trying to avoid the dangers that threaten them, highlighting the need for safety and security.


You can blame it on Zeus and Apollo and Adonis
This references Greek mythology and emphasizes the pointlessness of blaming supernatural entities for our troubles, urging people to take responsibility and work towards making positive change.


But what you've done here
This confronts the listener with their actions and how they have potentially placed themselves in harm's way.


Is put yourself between a bullet and a target
A metaphor highlighting how our actions determine the consequences we face, equating them to standing in the direct line of fire.


And it won't be long before
This phrase suggests the inevitability of certain outcomes as a result of our actions.


You're pulling yourself away
A warning that people need to start distancing themselves from harmful or risky behaviors and situations, urging them to consider the potential negative impacts.


I've been knowing her for years
A reference to a relationship with a woman that has been prolonged, but whose outcome seems uncertain.


I've been seeing her for years
A reference to the consistency and stability of the relationship with the woman in question.


She got dark, dark wavy hair
An image of the woman, highlighting certain physical features and creating a picture that the listener can visualize.


With a voice like she just don't care
This describes the woman's mannerisms, suggesting that she has a nonchalant attitude towards life and possibly relationships.


She got a skirt with a halter top
A description of an outfit the woman wore, highlighting certain elements of her style and personality.


She's got a dad who never gave a fuck
The woman's father is depicted as someone who did not invest in their relationship or played a limited role in her life.


She drinks a beer with a malted top
A description of the woman's drinking habits and preferences, accentuating certain details of her lifestyle.


She got knocked up in a pickup truck
A depiction of the woman getting pregnant in an unconventional setting, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and the unexpected outcomes that it can produce.


But she got engaged when she was nineteen
The woman's engagement at a young age highlights how societal norms often dictate life decisions for people and how they can potentially limit the person's experiences and development.


To this dude who was acting insane
The man the woman was engaged to is described as someone with unstable behavior, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and how it can lead to dangerous situations.


Had a .45 that he always cleaned
A description of the man's gun whose presence adds to the ominous and dangerous atmosphere.


Said one day one day one too many days
A suggestion towards the escalation of problems and issues that the man's mental instability may have caused.


Now she ducked and she ran away
A reference to the woman disappearing, possibly due to the circumstances outlined previously in the song.


Never to be heard from, never to be seen
An image of the woman's disappearance and its mysterious nature, highlighting the uncertainty and unpredictability of life.


I check the cover of a magazine
The reference to checking the cover of the magazine signifies the singer's curiosity and fascination with the woman's story.


I'm just wondering how, just wondering how
This highlights the singer's curiosity in the woman's story as they struggle to understand the reasons for her mysterious disappearance and what may have led to it.


A bullet and a target
A repetition of the song's refrain, emphasizing its importance and showcasing how actions have consequences.


Between a bullet and a target
A reminder of the risks and potential harm that can result from certain actions, urging people to carefully consider their choices and their consequences.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Clarence Greenwood

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Zombien20

I appreciate you putting this up. Citizen Cope has some serious skill. I love pretty much everything I've heard from him.

@mwd5037

i heard this song the other day when alpha dog was on showtime in HD. i had seen the movie when it first came out, but i never remembered this song for some reason. the 2nd time seeing the movie was better than the 1st, and i haven't been able to stop listening to this execellent track since

@romans82

He played this song in concert and the crowd went crazy! I love this song-the first of his that actually ever heard and I was hooked. He is wonderful. Thanks for posting this version. :)

@Mostleythe190

I just heard of this band last night and i've just been listening to their music all day today they have good music :)

@MartialArtsFights

Heard this at the end of the Sentinel, awesome song!

@GigaWords

this ist really awesome song...ridding corvette and listening to Citizen Cope...its my dream x]

@CabooseWasHere

I saw Cope live a while ago...amazing show!

@dirtastegood

Dude same here!!!!! I cant remeber what part it was on, but i waited until the credits. All i could remember was that it was by a cope guy and he had let the drummer kick. I absolutley love this song!

@MeryCsN

I just knew this song yesterday...from Sentinel....Is just georgeous !!! I already have it as a ringtone!!! :)

@Recoveringgamer

man this guy kicks! You don't hear stuff as good as this very often

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