Baby Shot Me Down
Beth Hart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Got a reason to live
Got a reason to fight
Got a hole from the give
Not ready to see the light
I know, he knows, I know
He's had some kind of master plan
It's not okay what he did
Not ok what he gave
When baby shot me down

He's got his new favorite girl
He shepherds her all around
She's the best thing in his world
But not okay in my town
He knows, I know, he knows
I got some cruel intentions for her
Guess when the cat's away
Every rat's gonna play
Like when baby shot me down

Ring, ring, ring, ring
Goes the barrel
Swing, swing, swing, swing
Goes the arrow
Pop, pop, pop, pop
Went the pistol
And that's the way
Baby shot me down

My baby, my baby
My baby shot me down
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby

I came up from him behind
He turned around and was shocked
He swore he thought by this time
I'd be stuck under some rock
I know, he knows, I know
I got some master plan just for him
I figure he's got to pay
For his little soirée
Like when baby shot me down

Ring, ring, ring, ring
Goes the buzzer
Dang, dang, dang, dang
There goes another
Pop, pop, pop, pop
Goes the pistol
And that's the way
I shot my baby down
That's the way
I shot my baby down
That's the way




I shot my baby down
My baby, my baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song are discussing a relationship gone wrong, focusing on the hurt that one person has caused the other. The singer of the song feels betrayed by her partner, who has clearly moved on with someone else. She is in pain and struggling to cope with the situation, but she is determined to fight back instead of just giving up. She acknowledges that she has some cruel intentions, but she also wants to hold her partner accountable for his actions.


The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it refers to the moment when the singer was shot down by her partner. The repeated use of the word "baby" adds to the emotional weight of the situation and makes it clear that this is a deeply personal and painful experience. The sound effects included in the chorus (the ringing, swinging, and popping) give the song a dark and haunting quality, adding to the sense of violence and loss.


Overall, "Baby Shot Me Down" is a raw and emotionally charged song about the difficult process of healing from a traumatic relationship. The lyrics capture the complexity of feeling that can accompany such an experience, from hurt and betrayal to anger and a desire for revenge.


Line by Line Meaning

Got a reason to live
I have a purpose for being alive.


Got a reason to fight
I have a reason to defend something I care about.


Got a hole from the give
I have been wounded emotionally.


Not ready to see the light
I am not ready to forgive and forget what happened.


I know, he knows, I know
I know that he knows what he did to me.


He's had some kind of master plan
He had a plan and he executed it.


It's not okay what he did
What he did to me was not right or acceptable.


Not ok what he gave
I did not deserve what he did to me.


When baby shot me down
When he hurt me emotionally.


He's got his new favorite girl
He has moved on and found someone else to replace me.


He shepherds her all around
He takes care of her and is always with her.


She's the best thing in his world
She is the most important person to him now.


But not okay in my town
But I do not accept her as part of my life or community.


I got some cruel intentions for her
I have ill intentions towards her because of what she represents.


Guess when the cat's away
When he is not with her.


Every rat's gonna play
Everyone else will take advantage of the situation.


Ring, ring, ring, ring
The sound of a gun being prepared to shoot.


Goes the barrel
The barrel of the gun stretches out.


Swing, swing, swing, swing
The sound of an arrow hitting its target.


Pop, pop, pop, pop
The sound of gunshots being fired repeatedly.


Went the pistol
The pistol was used to shoot someone.


And that's the way
That's how it happened.


I shot my baby down
I was the one who hurt him emotionally.


My baby, my baby
He was someone I loved deeply.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beth Hart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Lisa Barone

There are no words to describe how amazing this woman is. It's scary!

Dark Angel

ela e incrível ...musica de verdade , voz maravilhosa

Mary Gerdt

Incredible!

HH WE

Happy New Year! What a voice!!!!

Yael Palombo

Straordinaria voce💖🤞🌹

Bob Dylan

Wonderful!!!

Peter Bell

Brilliant vocals and still looking great

Anni Cee

Wow Beth you never cease to thrill me! ♡Raaaawrrr!!!♡ Amazing performance and song. I don't want to gush but daaayyyyuuuummmm Woman! Can't help myself. Now I'm going to enjoy this video a few more times(or 20) in a row with volume maxed on my stereo!♡

Juan Carlos Mescalero

Every time I see her live it like I'm hooked up to jumper cables.

Natalia Cafolla

A goddess and a lioness

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