Straight Through My Heart
Backstreet Boys Lyrics

Oh oh oh
The song starts with a repetition of three syllables to create an interesting sound.

In the heart
The setting of the song is in the heart, the place where emotions come from.

Of the night
The song happens during the night, which can be metaphorical for how relationships can feel uncertain and unstable.

When it's dark
The darkness highlights the mystery and ambiguity of the situation in this love story.

In the lights
Contrasts the darkness with bright lights, which can symbolize the excitement of love but it can also be overwhelming and blinding.

I heard the loudest noise
A sudden, loud noise disrupts the atmosphere and signals something alarming about to happen.

A gunshot on the floor
A gunshot represents a sudden, irreversible act that ends up hurting someone.

I looked down
The person singing is the one getting hurt, so they naturally look down to assess the impact of the gunshot.

And my shirt's turning red
The red color of blood can symbolize love and passion, but here it represents the pain and loss that the person is feeling.

I'm spinning around
Being shot is a jarring, dizzying experience that disorients the person affected and reflects how love can be like a whirlwind.

Felt her lips on my neck
The intimacy and affection of a physical touch contrast the violence of the gun shot, and suggest that the person who shot the singer is someone who they previously trusted or loved.

And her voice
The assailant's voice is soothing and nostalgic, it represents a connection to the past and suggests that the shooter is someone important to the artist.

In my ear
The voice is close to the singer's ear, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The person feels targeted and vulnerable.

Like I missed you
The person who shot the singer conveys a sense of regret that they haven't seen each other in a while. This creates a contrast with the violence of the gunshot and a sense of ambiguity about the shooter's intentions.

Want you tonight
Despite having just shot the singer, the shooter is expressing their desire for the singer. This creates further ambiguity about their intentions and emotions.

Straight through my heart
The gunshot was aimed at the artist's heart, the place where emotions come from. The line represents the sudden, overwhelming impact that love can have and its ability to cause great pain.

A single bullet got me
The person singing was only hit by one bullet but it was enough to inflict a lot of damage. A single act of love can have the power to profoundly affect someone's life.

I can't stop the bleeding
The person singing is trying to contain the damage inflicted by the gunshot, but they can't seem to make it stop. This represents how love can be life-changing and sometimes you can't control the consequences that follow.

She aimed and she shot me
The person who shot the singer is identified as female. This could serve as a clue to her identity or create an interesting dynamic between genders.

I just can't believe it
The artist is in shock as they try to process what just happened. They are overwhelmed and can't quite understand the shooter's motives or emotions.

No I can't resist
The person singing is powerless against the shooter's affection and desire. They can't help but be drawn to her despite her violent actions. This creates ambiguity about the artist's own emotions and desires.

And I can't be hit
Despite already being shot, the person singing suggests that they are invulnerable to further damage. This could represent a sense of resilience in the face of adversity or a lack of self-preservation and concern for their own safety.

I just can't escape this love
The person singing is trapped by their feelings for the shooter, even though she just shot them. This amplifies the ambiguity, especially if the shooter still wants to be with the singer and doesn't express regret or apology.

(Soldier down) my heart
The repetition of this line emphasizes the damage the artist has sustained, and creates a military metaphor that could add drama and intensity to the situation.

Thought I moved
The singer thought they had moved on from this relationship or situation, but they were wrong.

More than on
This line is ambiguous and could be interpreted in different ways, but perhaps the person singing thought they had moved on more than the shooter had or more than their feelings suggested.

Thought I could
The singer thought they had the power and control to resist the shooter's charm or to leave the relationship.

Fool her charm
The shooter's charm is presented as a potentially deceptive way to control the artist or to manipulate their feelings. The artist may also be trying to play hard to get or to resist temptation, proving that they are not as powerless as they seem.

I really wanna go
Despite being trapped, the artist still wants to leave the situation and distance themselves from the shooter's violent actions.

But I can't leave her alone
The singer is caught between their desire for the shooter and their fear of her. They also feel like they need to protect her and can't abandon her despite what she's done.

Hear the sound
The singer hears something that can either represent the shooter's fear or their own feeling of being hunted or threatened by her.

Of a love so loud
The love between the artist and shooter is loud and insistent, overpowering any other sound or sensation. It also serves as a metaphor for how love can consume and overwhelm us.

I just can't
This repetition signifies the artist's powerlessness and ambivalence about the shooter's actions and their own feelings.

Ignore this feeling
Despite everything, the artist feels a strong attraction and desire for the shooter that they cannot ignore or resist. This creates further ambiguity about whether the artist is a victim or a willing participant in this relationship.

Said she missed me
The shooter confirms her feelings for the singer and her desire to rekindle their relationship, creating a sense of nostalgia and regret that may or may not be genuine.

And she wants me
The shooter's desire for the artist is genuine and urgent, further emphasizing the ambiguity of the situation.

My heart, my heart, my heart
The repetition of this line adds emphasis to the centrality and importance of the heart in this song, both as a physical organ that can be damaged by a bullet and as a metaphor for emotions and love.