Track #6 on CD, tr… Read Full Bio ↴Album - Highway to Hell released in August 1979.
Track #6 on CD, track #1 side two on vinyl.
Last AC/DC album featuring Bon Scott
Shot Down in Flames
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out on the town, looking for a woman
Gonna give me good love
Anybody want to hang out with me?
And maybe burn me up?
She was standing alone over by the jukebox
Like she's something to sell
I said, baby what's the going price? She told me to go to hell
Shot down in flames
Shot down in flames
Ain't it a shame
To be shot down in flames
Singles bar, got my eye on a honey
Hanging out everywhere
She might be straight
She might want my money
I really don't care, no
Said, baby, you're driving me crazy
Laid it out on the line
When a guy with a chip on his shoulder said
Toss off buddy she's mine
Oh!
Shot down in flames
Shot down in flames
Ain't it a shame, yea yeah
To be shot down in flames
Hey you Angus, shoot me, shoot
That's nice, woo! Uh! Oh! Oh! Wooooh!
Shot down in flames
Shot down in flames
Ain't it a shame
To be shot down in flames
Oh
Shot
Shot down in flames
Shot down in flames
Ain't it a shame
To be shot down in flames
I don't want to be in pain
Don't want to be shot down in flames
Ohhh
The AC/DC song Shot Down in Flames is about a man who is out on the town looking for a woman to give him "good love" but keeps getting rejected. He sees a woman standing alone by the jukebox and asks her what the going price is, but she tells him to go to hell, leaving him feeling rejected and helpless. He then spots another woman in a singles bar and tries to chat her up, only to find out that she is already claimed by another man who tells him to "toss off" and "she's mine". The song is a lament to the pain and frustration of being repeatedly rejected.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and blunt, with no hidden meanings or metaphors. It is a reflection of the band's ethos of directness and simplicity in their music. The song's catchy melody has made it a fan favorite and a staple of the band's live performances. The guitar riff is instantly recognizable and has been often imitated but rarely matched.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the town, looking for a woman
Seeking female companionship
Gonna give me good love
Desiring a satisfying romantic encounter
Anybody want to hand off me
Searching for a willing partner
And give me plenty of
Wanting more than a little romance
She was standing alone over by the jukebox
Describing the physical location of a woman of interest
Like she's something to sell
Seeming like she's available for purchase
I said, baby what's the going price?
Asking if she is available for purchase
She told me to go to hell
Rejecting his advances rudely
Singles bar, got my eye on a honey
Spotting another attractive woman at a bar
Hanging out everywhere
Being present in many places
She might be straight
Possibly interested in him romantically
She might want my money
Maybe wanting financial gain or security from the situation
I really don't care, no
Indifferent to her motives
Said, baby, you're driving me crazy
Expressing frustration or attraction
Laid it out on the line
Being candid about his feelings
When a guy with a chip on his shoulder said
Encountering an aggressive, hostile opponent
Toss off buddy she's mine
Being told to leave the girl alone because she is claimed by someone else
Shot down in flames
Being aggressively rejected by a romantic partner or rival
Ain't it a shame
Expressing disappointment and regret
To be shot down in flames
Experiencing the crushing disappointment of romantic rejection
Hey you Angus, shoot me, shoot
Encouraging the lead guitarist to play an enthusiastic, fiery riff
That's nice, woo! Uh! Oh! Oh! Wooooh!
Reacting to the guitar solo with excitement and enthusiasm
I don't want the pain
Desiring to avoid the emotional hurt caused by romantic rejection
Don't want to be shot down in flames
Preferring not to be rejected aggressively by a romantic partner or rival
Ohhh
Vocalizing his frustration, pain, or disappointment through sound
Shot
Referencing the sound of a gun being fired or a romantic rejection being experienced
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONALD BELFORD SCOTT, ANGUS YOUNG, MALCOLM YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kevinmunro1232
This will be pumping out of speakers everywhere around the world for at least 500 years long live Bon Scott
@alanwiggins8655
Bon! You rule!
@richardcrook3372
Love Brian Johnson and haven't a bad word to say about him, but jeez Bon was the business.
@Lerxstification
I had a little cassette player strapped to my banana-seat bike in the summer of 1979. I was in 7th grade and saw my first set of tits that summer, lol. This song was the lead off song on my cassette mix and I would always cue it up when riding by some sweet chicks that I wanted to meet; IT WORKED!!!
@DaveHammond-yc9zm
Well said
@neodutch
The music had a more fun style. Didn't take themselves to seriously.
@seb25100
@@Lerxstificationborn in 1984 and realy envy your generation. I wish i was young when music was at its prime. Cars was cooler and society easier. At least i was old enough to enjoy the last part of the 80s and 90s. We road our bicycles, looked at girls out of our leauge and listened to casette tapes with rock n roll. Before tech exploded and all world started to spin faster.
@airplanedata1076
You can replace a voice but not a character ...
@kevincooper8666
Best pickup advice ever still works
@lars-ivarcarlsen9722
Who hasn't been "shot down in flames"?