Bang Bang Bang
Chapman (Tracy) Lyrics


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What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

When he hold it in his hand
He feel mighty he feel strong
Now there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

One day he may come back
Repay us for what we've done
Then where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run

But one fine day
All our problems will be solved
Bang bang bang
We'll shoot him down

Give him drugs and give him candy
Anything, oh to make him think he's happy
And he won't ever come for us
He won't ever come

But if he does
And if there's no one else around
Bang bang bang
We'll shoot him down

If he preys only on his neighbors
Brothers, sisters and friends
We'll consider it a favor
We'll consider justice done

But if he comes for you or me
And we can place a gun in his hand
Bang bang bang
We'll shoot him dead

What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

Now we'll all be at his mercy
If he decides to hunt us down
'Cause there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

If he wants the chances that you took from him
Oh, and nothing that you own
Then there'll be no place to run to
There'll be no place to run

And if he finds himself to be
A reflection of us all
Bang bang bang
He'll shoot us down

Before you can raise your eyes to read
The writing on the wall
Bang bang bang
He'll shoot you down

Before you can bridge the gulf between
And embrace him in your arms




Bang bang bang
He'll shoot you down

Overall Meaning

The song Bang Bang Bang by Tracy Chapman is a thought-provoking commentary on the danger that arises from providing someone with a gun. The lyrics, "What you go and do / You go and give the boy a gun / Now there ain't no place to run to / Ain't no place to run," highlight the irresponsible actions of those who put weapons in the hands of those who are not mentally or emotionally stable. The rest of the song goes on to explore the consequences that can arise from such actions.


The lyrics also suggest that those who have been given a gun feel powerful and in control, and that they may seek revenge for the wrongs that they feel have been done to them. The lines, "One day he may come back / Repay us for what we've done / Then where you gonna run to / Where you gonna run," paint a grim picture of the potential consequences of arming someone who has been wronged. The song also criticizes the use of drugs and other measures to pacify those who have been given guns, suggesting that it can only delay the inevitable.


Ultimately, the song is a call for responsibility and accountability when it comes to gun ownership. It encourages listeners to think twice before putting weapons in the hands of others, and to consider the potential consequences of such actions.


Line by Line Meaning

What you go and do
What did you do


You go and give the boy a gun
You gave a gun to a boy


Now there ain't no place to run to
Nowhere to hide


Ain't no place to run
No place to escape


When he hold it in his hand
When he holds the gun


He feel mighty he feel strong
He feels powerful


One day he may come back
Someday he might seek revenge


Repay us for what we've done
Take revenge on us for our actions


Then where you gonna run to
Where will we go to escape


Where you gonna run
Where can we go


But one fine day
But someday


All our problems will be solved
All our issues will be resolved


Bang bang bang
Gunshots


We'll shoot him down
We'll kill him


Give him drugs and give him candy
Bribe him with drugs and sweets


Anything, oh to make him think he's happy
Anything to make him feel happy


And he won't ever come for us
He won't seek revenge on us


But if he does
But if he seeks revenge


And if there's no one else around
And if there's no one to stop him


We'll shoot him down
We'll kill him


If he preys only on his neighbors
If he harms only his community


Brothers, sisters, and friends
Family and friends


We'll consider it a favor
We'll consider it justice served


We'll consider justice done
We'll consider it justice served


But if he comes for you or me
But if he seeks revenge on us personally


And we can place a gun in his hand
And we can give him a gun


We'll shoot him dead
We'll kill him


Now we'll all be at his mercy
We'll be vulnerable to him


If he decides to hunt us down
If he decides to seek revenge on us


'Cause there ain't no place to run to
Because there's nowhere to escape to


If he wants the chances that you took from him
If he wants the opportunities that were taken from him


Oh, and nothing that you own
And if you have nothing to offer him


Then there'll be no place to run to
Then there will be nowhere to escape


There'll be no place to run
There will be nowhere to escape


And if he finds himself to be
And if he realizes that he is


A reflection of us all
A product of our society


He'll shoot us down
He'll kill us


Before you can raise your eyes to read
Before you can even look up


The writing on the wall
The imminent danger


He'll shoot you down
He'll kill you


Before you can bridge the gulf between
Before you can make peace


And embrace him in your arms
And show him love


Bang bang bang
Gunshots


He'll shoot you down
He'll kill you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIVE KENNETH SCOTT, DESMOND DYER, DONAVAN L. JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mindsigh4

i am just going by hints,
hunches & synchronicity
when i say that it seems likely to me that
past life momentum
carries over into this life experience,
talents & foibles,
fears & courage
from past thoughts, words & deeds
may affect experience
now . . . . . . . . .

& outlooks, attitudes,
world views may seep into this life?



@joannloves8232

LYRICS:
What you go and do
Go and give a boy a gun
Now there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

When he holds it in his hand
He feel Mighty
He feel strong
Now there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

One day he may come back
Repay us for what we've done
There where you Gonna run to
Where you gonna run

But one fine day
All our problems will be solved
'Cause Bang Bang Bang
We shoot him down

Give him drugs and give him candy
Anything
Oh to make him think he's happy
So he won't ever come for us
He won't ever come

But if he does
And if there's no one else around
Bang Bang Bang
We shoot him down

If he Preys only on his Neighbors
Brothers, Sisters and Friends
We'll consider it a favor
We'll consider justice done

But if he comes for you and me
And we can place a gun in his hand
Bang Bang Bang
We Shoot him down

What you go and do
Go and give a boy a gun
Now theree ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

Now we'll all be at his mercy
If he decides to hunt us down
'Cause there ain't no place to run to
Ain't no place to run

He wants the chances that you took from him
Oh and nothing that you own
Then they'll be no place to run to
They'll be no place to run

And if he finds himself to be
A reflection of us all
Bang Bang Bang
He shoot us down

Before you can raise your eyes to read
The writing on the wall
Bang Bang Bang
He shoot you down

Before you can Bridge the Gulf between
And Embrace him in your arms
Bang Bang Bang
He shoot you down



@maiervin7946

This was 13 yrs. ago...this song. We hear it and learn nothing. Change nothing.
I have a son. And I worried about him constantly. But, I had to keep reminding myself that when he was sick with a bad cold and I had prayed to my Saviour, Yeshua/jesus...."Lord, please let me know if my son is going to be okay so I can get some sleep." He was only 3 mos. And we were living in a shelter. I had ran away from husband.That night the Lord showed me my son walking....he showed me fruits on a table. He would get well. He would have a fruitful life. He got well and he has a fruitful life. He has been every parent's dream of a respectful and obedient child. He's grown, now.

YAH says we may not understand HIS ways and sometimes I don't.
Why does HE allow bad things to happen to good people. I mean, innocent children, babies. That I don't understand. Why doesn't he intercept? Why do evil people live so long?
You see, this song triggered many questions again in me. Seeing how our unarmed men are being shot down so many times before and only just recently these policemen and civilians are just now being held accountable. And I had worries for my son and his life. My son is very nice, quiet and soft spoken, but he likes dressing in black. He wears a knit cap always. He carries a backpack constantly. He looks like a bandit. He could be mistakenly targetted.

I know YAH, YESHUA/JESUS, THE HOLY GHOST, ANGELS AND DEMONS EXIST. I HAVE SEEN THEM...TALKED TO THEM. NOT THE DEMONS, ONLY TO REBUKE THEM.
THOUGH AN ANGEL WALKED ME HOME ONE NIGHT AND AN ANGEL FOUGHT A DEMON THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE ME HAVE A HEART ATTACK ONE NIGHT WHY WEREN'T THEY THERE WHEN A MAN RAPED ME? I ASKED THE ANGEL WHO FOUGHT THE DEMON WHY HE HADN'T KILLED HIM HE SAID, "IT IS NOT THEIR TIME." AND THEN JUST BLENDED INTO THE DARKNESS OF THE CORNER OF MY ROOM.
IS THERE A REASON? BECAUSE HE'S GIVEN US FREE WILL HE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PHYSICAL...ONLY THE SPIRITUAL? I DON'T KNOW.
SORRY....THE BANG BANG IN THE SONG AND THE CALLOUS WAY WE LOOK AT TAKING LIVES IS JUST SURREAL TO ME.

I ASKED THE LORD WHY DOES HE LET EVIL PEOPLE LIVE SO LONG? HE SAID, "I DON'T WISH ANY TO PERISH."
I ASK THE LORD TO HURRY AND COME HE SAID, "DON'T WISH FOR THE END. IT IS A TERRIBLE DAY."



@deeppurple8237

My take on this song, is it may be peer group pressure to squeeze the trigger to be a pretend hero in a 2 inch world.
But their is no escaping your karmic haunting that is impossible to outrun. People have no idea what awaits the coward who's world gets that much smaller each day. Tracy has a good grasp on what awaits the boy that joined the gang to prove he is a man. But spends the rest if eternity having to relive groundhog day over and over again. Tracy Chapman your words run deep as the ocean. It amazes me how quickly are conditioned through television between reality and fiction.
I can tell you young ones who join gangs. That to walk through hell it takes 600 lifetimes. and you may never get past lesson 1 just a goldfish in a bag of remorse.
To be a man is to build, to help, to teach 🙏 to bring out the best i others, and protect women like Tracy Chapman whos smile lights up the moon.
God bless you my sister.
The song I love of yours is many but, I think my favourite album inspired me to make new symbol's make new signs.
I was around 27 years old when that masterpiece inspired me to believe I can change the world.
and I will i gave you my word all those years ago. And after so much planning I had to wait for God to move the peices to make the next move. This is how God works. You cannot force mother natures hand, You just need to be prepared to wait, to instill greatness into people throughbthe word of noble teachers such as Tracy and learn every song on new beginnings as, this album saved my life. And I intend to save many more lives changing and teaching parents that kids are an product.of their environment. Kids need to focus on the sky not the sidewalk. as beautiful things happen when you live in the same time zone as God.
Put.the guns away and start buy giving people hugs and a free smile. If I saw a smile like Tracy Chapmans every day ,I know heaven is fight herenon earth..Please dont fall down the rabit hole that takes you to places, theirnis noway back from, and this includes killing, stealing, rape and the list goes on.
Its hard to sum up suvh a deep issue in so few a worlds. but tracy's music does this perfectly 🥰 💞 You are my hero TC a pocket rocket with the heart of the power of one. Thanyou for freeing me at 27 I am now 56 and My plan you will witness and know its all your doing. Just from your album new beginnings. Your humbleness inspired me to have a prupose in life.
I hope you will get in touch and I can share my vision with you. as the song is not even close to being finished. Lots of Love Scotty ❤️



@colcharma5502

For the Soldiers Fighting for Survival->>>Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.



All comments from YouTube:

@user-en4fw4jo9z

2024 anyone here 😊😊

@Anhd3vi

Her words couldn’t be more true today ❤

@bobbimalanowski2848

2024 and her music is still relevant. I have never heard this song and it is so on target. ❤

@daltonshaffer8091

Right here!

@magakids8759

I Here!!! ❤

@jimmybhoy6438

I'm here

16 More Replies...

@user-uh1bv9ic1f

To miss out on Tracy Chapman's music, is to miss out on an amazing life experience.

@minposalvoicetv454

Selfless human. A very rare gem! Tracy Chapman is a legend. Never seen an artist so unique as her. A legend✌️

@domenicomorselli

https://youtu.be/s7l7-emr86g

@brownpunk1794

Im a punk and metal guy but i gotta respect a true artist like her..mark my words..her music will be remembered in years to come.genius

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