After The Early Learnings Of - a mini album of 8 songs - was released to great critical acclaim last year on Domino’s Publishing Label Double Six, Eugene headed to the studio to make his first full album proper for Domino. The result is twelve utterly charming pop tracks, which skip between boundaries with gleeful abandon and an acidic sense of humour.
Eugene McGuinness’ album contains knowing winks and phrases drawn from personal experience, but mostly made up scenarios full of joyous verve and unpredictability. It is a collection of songs gloriously out of time yet thoroughly modern, with one foot in reality and the other somewhere else entirely,.
http://www.myspace.com/eugenemcguinness85
Shotgun
Eugene McGuinness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Among pens and swords, the gun's mightier
A mane of gold like a flame from a skull
Upon the wings of an angel
We'll leave this hellhole
Little boy lost down devil's alley
The mad alsatian can almost taste me
Into the glow of traffic like a lava flow you'll see me
Every time I dance
Every time I dance with you
I stagger out the nightclub
Black and blue, battered and bruised
I care not
But I care not
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
"All aboard" cleopatra purrs.
Among pens and swords, the gun's mightier
A mane of gold like a flame from a skull
Upon the wings of an angel
We'll leave this hellhole
Mack the knife strolling down the street
The surgeons in the slaughterhouse
Spice the diced meat.
Merrily merrily in terror I flee
Merrily merrily in terror I flee
Every time I dance
Every time I dance with you
I stagger out the nightclub
Black and blue, battered and bruised
I care not
But I care not
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shine your gun
Shine you gun
Shine your gun rude boy
Shine your gun
Shine your gun
It's time for the showdown.
The lyrics of Shotgun by Eugene McGuinness tell a story of someone who is trying to escape their miserable reality by any means necessary. The reference to Cleopatra and her "purring" is an allusion to a powerful figure who is directing the escape. The line "Among pens and swords, the gun's mightier" implies that in this world, violence is the only way to truly have power. The singer has a "mane of gold like a flame from a skull," which could be interpreted as their hair being the only thing that truly stands out in their bleak environment. The angel's wings provide a symbol of hope and a way out of the world they are currently living in, and the singer is willing to take any means necessary to escape this "hellhole."
The second half of the lyrics take a darker turn. The singer is being pursued by someone or something, and they are running for their life. The mad alsatian, a type of dog, is mentioned as being after the singer, and this adds to the overall sense of danger and impending doom. The mention of Mack the Knife, a character from The Threepenny Opera who is known for his violent tendencies, is another allusion to the violent world that the singer is living in. However, they seem to find solace in dancing with someone, even though they end up battered and bruised after each encounter. Throughout the song, there is a sense of desperation and a strong desire to escape the unpleasant reality that the singer finds themselves in.
Line by Line Meaning
All aboard cleopatra purrs.
We are embarking on a journey to escape the current situation.
Among pens and swords, the gun's mightier
In a world of intellectual debate and physical violence, power ultimately rests with firearm.
A mane of gold like a flame from a skull
A vibrant, attention-grabbing appearance that draws parallels with death.
Upon the wings of an angel
We'll leave this hellhole
We aim to leave this place behind as if on angel wings.
Little boy lost down devil's alley
A description of being lost and in trouble.
The mad alsatian can almost taste me
Anxiety and fear of the unknown makes me feel like I am being pursued by a mad dog.
Merrily merrily in terror I flee
Into the glow of traffic like a lava flow you'll see me
Despite my fear and terror, I am running through the city streets, as though following a river of cars.
Every time I dance
Every time I dance with you
I stagger out the nightclub
Black and blue, battered and bruised
I care not
But I care not
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Although we may get physically hurt during our intense relationship, I still care more about being together with you than being apart.
Mack the knife strolling down the street
The surgeons in the slaughterhouse
Spice the diced meat.
The world is a dangerous place, with people and institutions who are happy to engage in violent acts for their own gain.
Shine your gun
Shine you gun
Shine your gun rude boy
Shine your gun
Shine your gun
It's time for the showdown.
The time has come to take a stand and defend oneself with violence.
Writer(s): Henry Nicola Mancini Copyright: Northridge Music Co.
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
amiLilly
Eugene McGuinness is just incredibly good!
LegendOfLotte
Great video and great song! Loving the atmosphere
Courtney Jade
Eugene is so underrated :( I love his voice sm <3
Goatstains
this guy needs to blow up this year, he's too good to go unheard
OrionEd
I like the Peter Gunn line because these folks take it and run it in a different direction with great chord changes.
HDTanel
Nice voice, nice music, nice video and MADLEEN!!!!!!
musicisscience
This video should have WAY more views and likes than just 300 in my opinion. This guy is hot stuff!!!
T4R1F
Excelente!
Harley
Eugene is the man! Can't wait for his new album!
astaliini
Only Eugene could pull off this 1930s thing so well :) awesome song as always