After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Pistol Packin' Mama
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Oh, drinkin' beer in a cabaret
Was I havin' fun!
Until one night she caught me right
Oh, lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Oh, lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that thing down before it goes off and hurts somebody!
Oh, she kicked out my windshield
And she hit me over the head
She cussed and cried and said I lied
And she wished that I was dead
Oh, lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Pappy made a batch of corn
The revenuers came
The draught was slow
So now they know
You can't do that to Mame
Lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Oh, singing songs in a cabaret
Was I havin' fun!
Until one night it didn't seem right
And now I'm on the run
Oh, lay that pistol down, babe
Lay that pistol down
Pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
Oh, pistol packin' mama
Lay that pistol down
The lyrics to Gene Vincent's song Pistol Packin' Mama tell a story of a man who is on the run from his lover, who is known as a pistol packin' mama. The chorus emphasizes the central message of the song - for the woman to lay down her pistol and not hurt anybody. The first verse describes the man's experience of drinking beer in a cabaret, which was fun until his pistol packin' mama caught him and he had to flee. The second verse continues the story with the woman getting angry and violent, kicking out the man's windshield and hitting him over the head. She wishes he was dead and the chorus repeats the message of the song, to lay down the pistol.
The third verse's imagery changes, telling the story of Pappy making corn when the revenuers came. The drought was slow, so he was caught making illegal liquor. The chorus repeats two more times, and the fourth verse describes the man singing songs in a cabaret until one night it didn't feel right, and he had to go on the run again.
The lyrics of Pistol Packin' Mama are a classic tale of a man trying to escape the violence of a dangerous lover. The song uses simple, almost childish language, but the themes of the song are dark and violent. The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, serves as a warning and a plea for the woman to put down her weapon and not hurt anyone. Overall, the song can be seen as a commentary on the dangers of mixing love with violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay that pistol down, babe
Put down your gun, my dear
Lay that pistol down
Stop wielding your firearm
Pistol packin' mama
A woman who carries a gun
Oh, drinkin' beer in a cabaret
Enjoying alcoholic beverages at a nightclub
Was I havin' fun!
I was having a great time!
Until one night she caught me right
Until she caught me doing something wrong
And now I'm on the run
And now I'm running away
Lay that thing down before it goes off and hurts somebody!
Put that gun down before it accidentally discharges and injures someone!
Oh, she kicked out my windshield
She smashed my car's windshield with her foot
And she hit me over the head
And she struck me on the head
She cussed and cried and said I lied
She cursed, wept, and accused me of lying
And she wished that I was dead
And she desired my demise
Pappy made a batch of corn
Pappy made some moonshine
The revenuers came
The law enforcement agents arrived
The draught was slow
The pace of production was unhurried
So now they know
Thus, they are made aware
You can't do that to Mame
You cannot get away with mistreating Mame
Oh, singing songs in a cabaret
Singing melodies at a nightclub
Until one night it didn't seem right
Until one evening, something felt off
Lay that pistol down, babe
Put down your gun, my dear
Oh, pistol packin' mama
Oh, gun-toting female
Lay that pistol down
Stop wielding your firearm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dexter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@candanozturan5967
Gene or the djin of rock n' roll! This man still rocks! Immortal!
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1960 {February 1st} Gene Vincent began an six day engagement* at the Empire Theater in Glasgow, Scotland...
Just under six weeks later on March 13th his "My Heart" would enter the United Kingdom's Top 40 chart at #16, and that would also be its peak position on the chart...
Later in 1960 his "Pistol Packin' Mama" would reached #15 on the U.K. singles chart...
Sadly, Gene Vincent passed away on October 12th, 1971 at the young age of 36 {a ruptured stomach ulcer}...
* Also appearing would be another American rocker, Eddie Cochran...
@lynnfahey6450
My late partner and I was hoping to sing this on Karaoke but we never got the chance. Godbless him 🙏 ❤ x x
@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504
I can hear where Lennon got some of his vocal style and mannerisms when I hear this tune, the close harmonies too.
@Freakinsweet1234
Anyone else’s grandma sing this song to them all the time?
@johnnyplunkett8532
Yes
@theking-nz1ut
Alvin stardust hero was gene Vincent. Thats where Alvin stardust got that famous look from.
@catman4471
Although you might think so, Alvin Stardust actually got his look from Vince Taylor. I too noticed the similarity between Gene Vincent and Alvin, and had also noted the style of Billy Fury, but a quick check revealed that it was actually Vince Taylor that he modeled himself on.
@johnnyplunkett8532
@@catman4471 Gene only did the leather look on British TV apparently.
@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504
Alvin stardust wasn't his real name and he wasn't in the same league as these guys, he made a green cross code tv ad.