AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, 1975's High Voltage. Membership subsequently stabilised around the Young brothers, singer Bon Scott, drummer Phil Rudd, and bassist Mark Evans. Evans was fired from the band in 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams, who has appeared on every AC/DC album since 1978's Powerage. In February 1980, about seven months after the release of their breakthrough album Highway to Hell, Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking. AC/DC considered disbanding, but at Scott's family's request, the remaining members opted to continue the band, bringing in longtime Geordie vocalist Brian Johnson as Scott's replacement. Later that year, the band released their first album with Johnson, Back in Black, which was dedicated to Scott's memory. The album launched AC/DC to new heights of success and became one of the best selling albums of all time.
The band's eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981), was their first album to reach number one in the United States. Prior to the release of their next album, Flick of the Switch (1983), Rudd left the band and was replaced by Simon Wright, being in turn replaced by Chris Slade in 1989. The band experienced a commercial resurgence in the early nineties with the release of their twelfth studio album The Razors Edge (1990); it was their only album to feature Slade, who was replaced by the returning Rudd in 1994. Rudd has since recorded five more albums with the band, starting with, and including, Ballbreaker (1995). Their fifteenth studio album Black Ice was the second-highest-selling album of 2008, and their biggest chart hit since For Those About to Rock, eventually reaching No.1 worldwide.
The band's line-up remained the same for twenty years, until 2014 with Malcolm Young's retirement due to early-onset dementia (he died in 2017) and Rudd's legal troubles. Malcolm was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young, who debuted on AC/DC's 2014 album Rock or Bust, and on its accompanying tour, previous drummer Chris Slade filled in for Rudd. In 2016, Johnson was advised to stop touring due to worsening hearing loss. Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in as the band's vocalist for the remainder of that year's dates. Long-term bass player and background vocalist Cliff Williams retired from AC/DC at the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016 and the group entered a four-year hiatus. A reunion of the Rock or Bust line-up was announced in September 2020 and the band's seventeenth studio album Power Up was released two months later.
AC/DC have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 75 million albums in the United States, making them the ninth-highest-selling artist in the United States and the 16th-best-selling artist worldwide. Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second-highest-selling album by any artist, and the highest-selling album by any band. The album has sold 25 million units in the US, where it is the fourth highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2003. AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and were named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, AC/DC ranked No. 72 on the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Producer Rick Rubin, who wrote an essay on the band for the Rolling Stone list, referred to AC/DC as "the greatest rock and roll band of all time". In 2010, VH1 ranked AC/DC number 23 in its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC
Discography
High Voltage (1975) (Australia only)
T.N.T. (1975) (Australia only)
High Voltage (1976) (international version)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
Highway to Hell (1979)
Back in Black (1980)
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)
Flick of the Switch (1983)
Fly on the Wall (1985)
Blow Up Your Video (1988)
The Razors Edge (1990)
Ballbreaker (1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Black Ice (2008)
Rock or Bust (2014)
Power Up (2020)
Gimme a Bullet
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had the word, had the way
The way of letting me know
She knew the game, called the play
Oh, she hit me low
Said, "now you go your way, I'll go mine
And that's the start"
For the pain in my heart
Gimme a bullet to bite on, something to chew
Gimme a bullet to bite on and I'll make believe
I'll make believe it's you
Don't need no drink, don't need no drug
Don't need no sympathy
Sooner or later, send me a bill
For what she's doing to me
Operator, long distance lips on the telephone
Come tomorrow, come to grips
With being all alone
Gimme a bullet to bite on, something to chew
Gimme a bullet to bite on and I'll make believe
I'll make believe it's you
A bullet to bite on
Ow, gimme a bullet to bite on
Yeah, come on now
Yeah, yeah gimme a bullet (bullet to bite on)
Oh yeah, bullet to chew
I'll make believe it's you (bullet to bite on)
Ow, I'll make believe it's you
Gimme a bullet to bite on (bullet to bite on)
Oh, you're a bullet baby
I want a bullet to bite on (bullet to bite on)
The song "Gimme a Bullet" by AC/DC is a classic blues rock ballad that tells the story of a man who has been left heartbroken by his lover. The lyrics convey the despair and loneliness that he feels, as well as his longing for his former love. The chorus, in particular, is a cry for help - the singer is asking for anything to ease the emotional pain he is experiencing.
The first verse of the song describes the singer's former lover as someone who was skilled at playing games and manipulating him. Despite this, he was still in love with her and is devastated by her departure. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer insisting that he doesn't need any external help to deal with his pain. However, the chorus contradicts this assertiveness, with the singer asking for a "bullet to bite on" - something to chew on to take his mind off his ex-lover, however briefly.
Overall, "Gimme a Bullet" is a classic blues number that speaks to the universal heartbreak and longing that most people have experienced at some point in their lives. The lyrics are powerful and emotive, with the chorus providing a catchy and memorable hook that draws in listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
She had the word, had the way
She had complete control over the situation and knew exactly how to make me fall to her will.
The way of letting me know
She knew how to communicate her intentions perfectly and let me know exactly what she wanted.
She knew the game, called the play
She was aware of the situation and figured out the best way to proceed. She made all the calls.
Oh, she hit me low
She dealt a crushing emotional blow that hit me right where it hurts.
Said, "now you go your way, I'll go mine
She made it clear that it was over and we needed to move on with our lives separately.
And that's the start"
This was just the beginning of the pain and heartache that was to come.
Doctor, doctor, ain't no cure
This pain is so intense and deep that there is no easy fix to it.
For the pain in my heart
This love has left a deep wound in my heart that is hard to heal.
Gimme a bullet to bite on, something to chew
I'm in so much pain that I need something physical to focus on and take it out on.
Gimme a bullet to bite on and I'll make believe
If I have something tangible to focus my pain on, I can pretend it's her and take my frustrations out.
Don't need no drink, don't need no drug
I don't want a quick fix, I don't want to numb the pain, I want something real to deal with.
Don't need no sympathy
I don't want pity or someone to just tell me it's going to be okay. I want something to focus my pain on.
Sooner or later, send me a bill
The emotional toll of this heartbreak will eventually catch up with me and I'll have to pay the price.
For what she's doing to me
She's tearing me apart and I'll have to deal with the consequences eventually.
Operator, long distance lips on the telephone
I'm so desperate for someone to talk to that I'm willing to call anyone, even if it's just a random person on the other end of the line.
Come tomorrow, come to grips
Tomorrow is another day and I'll have to come to terms with the reality of this situation eventually.
With being all alone
I have to accept that she's gone and deal with the loneliness that comes with it.
A bullet to bite on
I need something physical to take my anger and frustration out on.
Ow, gimme a bullet to bite on
The pain is so intense, it's almost physical. I need something to focus on and take the edge off.
Yeah, come on now
I'm desperate for anything to help me feel better.
Yeah, yeah gimme a bullet (bullet to bite on)
I'm begging for something to help me cope with the pain.
Oh yeah, bullet to chew
I need something tangible to take my frustrations out on and channel my anger.
I'll make believe it's you (bullet to bite on)
If I have something to focus on, I can pretend it's her and deal with the pain that way.
Ow, I'll make believe it's you
The pain is so intense that I'll do whatever it takes to help me feel better, even if it means pretending.
Gimme a bullet to bite on (bullet to bite on)
I'm still in so much pain that I need something to channel it into and take it out on.
Oh, you're a bullet baby
She was the source of my pain and now I need something tangible to deal with it.
I want a bullet to bite on (bullet to bite on)
The pain is still there and I need something to focus on in order to be able to cope with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Angus Mckinnon Young, Malcolm Mitchell Young, Ronald Belford Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind