BABY BABY
Bonzos Lyrics
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We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black, and I wore white
He would always win the fight
Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Seasons came, and changed the time
When I grew up I called him mine
He would always laugh and say:
Remember when we used to play
Bang bang, I shot you down
Bang bang, you hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down
Music played, and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang
Now he's gone, I don't know why
Until this day sometimes I cry
He didn't even say goodbye
He didn't take the time to lie
Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
The lyrics to "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by the Bonzos tell the story of a romantic relationship that began in childhood and ended tragically. The singer, a woman, recalls playing with her childhood friend when they were both young. The two would ride stick horses together, with the man always winning their mock fights. As they get older, the woman grows to love the man, and they become a couple. However, something goes wrong in their relationship, and the man leaves without saying goodbye, causing the woman significant emotional pain. The song's title, "Bang Bang," refers to the sound of a gun, implying that the man's departure felt like a fatal wound.
Throughout the song, we see the singer grappling with feelings of nostalgia and regret, particularly over the fact that the man didn't take the time to say goodbye. She also has a sense of longing for the past, as evidenced by her recollection of the "horse made of sticks" they used to ride on. The song's structure is particularly effective at communicating her emotions. The verses set up the story of their relationship, while the refrain, "Bang bang, my baby shot me down," drives home the emotional impact of her loss.
Overall, "Bang Bang" is a poignant and powerful song that captures the pain of lost love. The use of childhood imagery underscores the idea that the loss is particularly painful because it represents the death of something pure and innocent. It's no wonder the song has become a classic, covered by artists ranging from Nancy Sinatra to Celine Dion.
Line by Line Meaning
I was five, and he was six
I was just a young girl when I met him, he was a little bit older
We rode on horses made of sticks
We used our imagination to ride horses made of sticks
He wore black, and I wore white
He liked the color black, and I liked the color white
He would always win the fight
He was stronger than me and always won when we play fought
Bang bang, he shot me down
He play shot me with his fingers
Bang bang, I hit the ground
I pretended to be shot and fell down
Bang bang, that awful sound
The sound of play shooting is always loud and startling
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
My play mate would shoot me down all the time when we played
When I grew up I called him mine
As I got older, I became his girlfriend
He would always laugh and say:
He enjoyed bringing up old memories
Remember when we used to play
We had a lot of fun times when we were younger
Bang bang, I shot you down
Sometimes I got him back in our play fights by shooting him down
Bang bang, you hit the ground
He would fall down when he got shot by me
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down
I was pretty good at shooting him down during our play fights
Just for me the church bells rang
We got married, and it was a special day for us
Now he's gone, I don't know why
He passed away suddenly, and I'm not sure why
Until this day sometimes I cry
I still think about him often and get emotional
He didn't even say goodbye
He passed away without any warning
He didn't take the time to lie
He was always honest and true to me
Bang bang, he shot me down
I use this phrase now to represent the loss I feel from his passing
Bang bang, I hit the ground
The impact of his loss hit me hard
Bang bang, that awful sound
The sound of my heart breaking after his loss is deafening
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
The love of my life passed away, and it's as if he shot me down with a gun
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sonny Bono, Senen Reyes, Louis Freese, Demerick Shelton Ferm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind