Flotsam and Jetsam has released fourteen studio albums in their career, with the latest being 2021's Blood in the Water. Despite not achieving similar levels of commercial success as some of their thrash metal contemporaries, the band emerged as part of the second wave of the genre in the mid-to-late 1980s (along with Sepultura, Testament and Death Angel), and has enjoyed some moderate success in the United States, with two of their albums (1988's No Place for Disgrace and 1990's When the Storm Comes Down) entering the Billboard 200 chart, and their fourth album Cuatro (1992) cracking the top 30 on the Heatseekers chart.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flotsam_and_Jetsam_(band)
Discography
Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986)
No Place for Disgrace (1988)
When the Storm Comes Down (1990)
Cuatro (1992)
Drift (1995)
High (1997)
Unnatural Selection (1999)
My God (2001)
Dreams of Death (2005)
The Cold (2010)
Ugly Noise (2012)
Flotsam and Jetsam (2016)
The End of Chaos (2019)
Blood in the Water (2021)
Machine Gun
Flotsam and Jetsam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got triggers waiting
I got plans to take out everybody
I know where they're hiding
I got sights set on a few
That need to be addressed
When I run it through my head
Sick of all the people
Running up and down my back
Better to eliminate them
Than have a heart attack
Everybody on my case
Had better step aside
When I think I've had enough
You all better run and hide, yeah
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I got tools to mow down everybody
I got triggers pulled
I've begun to take out everybody
They're no longer hiding
I hit sights among a few
No longer need addressed
When I run it through my head
It looks just like this
Sick of all the people
Running up and down my back
Better to eliminate them
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I'm past the point of no return
I've got tools to mow you down
I've got plans to take you out
I've got sights set on a few
When I run it through my fuckin' head
The lyrics of "Machine Gun" by Flotsam and Jetsam reflect the thoughts of someone who has reached their breaking point and is seeking retaliation against those they feel are constantly causing them stress and discomfort. The opening lines describe how the person has the tools and plans to attack anyone who crosses their path. They know where their opponents are hiding, and have their sights set on a few individuals who need to be addressed. The person thinks about the bloody outcome of their actions before executing them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the person's anger towards those "running up and down [their] back." They believe it is better to eliminate these people than to suffer from a heart attack due to the constant stress they cause. The person warns everyone to step aside because they are past the point of no return, meaning that they are so angry and fed up that they cannot turn back from their course of action. The bridge of the song repeats the person's lethal plans and the rage that fuels them.
Overall, "Machine Gun" is a song about the destructive effects of anger and the consequences of allowing it to take control. It warns against people who have reached a point where they feel like they have nothing left to lose and act out in violence. It serves as a reminder that it is important to address and manage emotions before they spiral out of control.
Line by Line Meaning
I got tools to mow down everybody
I have access to weapons that can kill anyone.
I got triggers waiting
I'm ready and willing to pull the trigger.
I got plans to take out everybody
I have a strategy to kill everyone.
I know where they're hiding
I am aware of where they are hiding.
I got sights set on a few
I have specific targets in mind.
That need to be addressed
They need to be dealt with.
When I run it through my head
When I envision the killings.
It ends a bloody mess, yeah
It will be violent and deadly.
Sick of all the people
I am tired of dealing with people.
Running up and down my back
They are causing me stress and frustration.
Better to eliminate them
It's better to kill them than to suffer a heart attack.
Than have a heart attack
I can't handle the stress they are causing me.
Everybody on my case
Everyone is bothering me and causing me problems.
Had better step aside
They should get out of my way.
When I think I've had enough
When I can't take it anymore.
You all better run and hide, yeah
They should be scared because I might kill them.
I'm past the point of no return
I can't go back and change my thoughts or actions now.
I've begun to take out everybody
I have started killing people.
They're no longer hiding
They can't hide from me anymore.
No longer need addressed
I've already taken care of them.
It looks just like this
In my mind, the killings are exactly how I imagined them.
I've got tools to mow you down
I have weapons to kill you specifically.
I've got plans to take you out
I have a plan to kill you specifically.
When I run it through my fuckin' head
When I imagine how I will kill you.
I'm past the point of no return
I am committed to killing you and can't turn back now.
I'm past the point of no return
I am fully committed to killing you.
I'm past the point of no return
I cannot change my mind about killing you.
I'm past the point of no return
I cannot undo or stop the process of killing you.
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.