Machine Gun
Band Of Gypsys/Jimi Hendrix/Buddy Miles/Billy Cox Lyrics
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Tearing my body all apart
Machine gun
Tearing my body all apart
Evil man make me kill ya
Evil man make you kill me
Even though we're only families apart
Well I pick up my axe and fight lik a bomber
(you know what I mean)
Hey and your bullets keep knocking me down
Hey I pick up my axe and fight like a bomber now
Yeah but you still blast me down to the ground
The same way you shoot me down baby
You'll be going just the same
Three times the pain
And your own self to blame
Hey machine gun
Oooooooooo
I ain't afraid of your mess no more, babe
I ain't afraid no more
After a while your your cheap talk don't evern cause me pain
So let your bullets fly like rain
'cause I know all the time you're wrong baby
And you'll be goin' just the same
Yeah machine gun
Tearing my family apart
Yeah yeah alright
Tearing my family apart
Don't you shoot him down
He's about to leave here
Don't you shoot him down
He's got to stay here
He ain't going nowhere
He's been shot down to the ground
Oh where he can't survive no no
Yeah that's what we don't wanna hear any more, alright
No bullets
At least here, huh huh
No guns, no bombs
Huh huh
No nothin', just let's all live and live
You know instead of killin'
The lyrics of Machine Gun by Band of Gypsys featuring Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles, and Billy Cox are powerful and symbolic. The song talks about the destruction and pain caused by war, as well as the senseless nature of conflict. The opening lines, "Machine gun, tearing my body all apart," sets the tone for the rest of the song, describing the physical and emotional trauma caused by war. The song goes on to talk about the inhumane actions of people who force others to kill each other, even if they are only families apart. The lines "evil man make me kill ya, even though we're only families apart," highlights the pointlessness of war, where people who are essentially similar and connected are forced to fight each other.
The lyrics then transition to a call to arms, where the singer picks up his axe, a guitar symbolizing his weapon, and fights like a "bomber." However, the violence only results in pain and more destruction as the bullets keep knocking him down to the ground. The lyrics can be interpreted to mean that violence begets violence, and it only results in the destruction of both sides. As the song progresses, the singer becomes defiant and unafraid of the evil forces, and calls for an end to the violence. The final call for peace, "No bullets at least here, huh huh, No guns, no bombs, Huh huh, No nothin', just let's all live and live, You know instead of killin'," emphasizes the need for humanity to end the senseless violence and embrace peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Machine gun
The singer is referring to the sound of the weapon that is causing destruction.
Tearing my body all apart
The gunshots are causing physical damage to the singer's body.
Evil man make me kill ya
The singer feels like a victim of a system that forces individuals to harm each other.
Evil man make you kill me
The artist is accusing society of placing individuals in situations where they have to harm each other.
Evil man make me kill you
The artist is pointing out that society is the root cause of violence, even between families.
Even though we're only families apart
Despite being from different families, the society has created a situation where they have to harm each other.
Hey and your bullets keep knocking me down
The singer is under fire and keeps getting knocked down by the bullets.
Yeah but you still blast me down to the ground
The artist is trying to fight back but still getting shot down by the violence.
The same way you shoot me down baby
The artist believes in the concept of karma, what goes around comes around.
You'll be going just the same
The same fate will befall the perpetrator of violence.
Three times the pain
The damage caused by violence is widespread and affects people beyond the direct victims.
And your own self to blame
The society that promotes violence is also responsible for the aftermath.
I ain't afraid of your mess no more, babe
The singer is not intimidated by the violent situation anymore.
After a while your cheap talk don't even cause me pain
The singer is immune to the words of those who promote violence.
So let your bullets fly like rain
The singer is challenging the perpetrator of violence to do their worst.
'cause I know all the time you're wrong baby
The artist is confident that the society that promotes violence is incorrect.
And you'll be goin' just the same
The same fate will befall the perpetrator of violence.
Don't you shoot him down
The singer is pleading for someone not to be killed.
He's about to leave here
The person being protected is about to safely leave the situation.
He ain't going nowhere
The person being targeted will remain in the area and cannot escape.
He's been shot down to the ground
The person has already been harmed and is unable to survive.
No bullets
The artist is proposing a world without violence.
At least here, huh huh
The singer is suggesting that at least in this place, there can be peace.
No guns, no bombs
The artist is advocating for a world where weapons are not present.
Huh huh
The singer is emphasizing the importance of the message.
No nothin', just let's all live and live
The singer wants everyone to live a safe, peaceful life without the threat of violence.
You know instead of killin'
The singer is encouraging society to find alternative methods to solve conflicts rather than resorting to violence.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN OSWALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind