Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand
James Hetfield Lyrics
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This song's about the night they spent protecting you from me
Someone called this outlaw in some ol' magazine
New York sent a posse down like I ain't ever seen
Don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man? Yeah
Don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man?
Maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
We were wrapped up in our music, that's why we never saw
The cars pull up, the boys get out and the room fill up with law
They come pounding through the back door in the middle of our song
Yeah, they got me for possession of something that was gone, long gone
Hey, don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man?
Oh, maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
Yeah, don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
Was singing through my nose what got me busted by the man?
Maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
Aw, don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man?
Maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
Just a good ol' boy
In James Hetfield's song "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand", he starts by expressing his support for law and order, but also sings about how he and his band were once considered outlaws by the law enforcement. Hetfield reflects on a time when his band was performing, and they were suddenly raided by law enforcement officers that were dispatched from New York. The singer questions whether their outlaw persona had gone too far and had put them in jeopardy, leading to their arrest on drug possession charges.
Hetfield wonders whether their outlaw country music image, which was once a joke, had ultimately landed them in trouble with the law. He thinks that perhaps singing through his nose, a characteristic of the outlaw country genre, was the reason they were targeted. Hetfield and his band were immersed in their music that they didn't even see the law enforcement officials arrive until they were already in the midst of their performance, and they all ended up getting arrested for drug possession.
Overall, the song serves to highlight the risks associated with promoting an outlaw image while engaging in high-risk activities. The song serves as a reminder that while fighting the system and breaking the rules may seem exciting, it also comes with serious consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm for law and order, the way that it should be
I believe in following the rules and maintaining law and order.
This song's about the night they spent protecting you from me
The song recalls a night when a group of law enforcement officers had to protect someone from me.
Someone called this outlaw in some ol' magazine
I was referred to as an outlaw by a magazine article.
New York sent a posse down like I ain't ever seen
A posse was sent by New York to apprehend me.
Don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
I am wondering if my reputation as an outlaw has gone too far.
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand
The law doesn't understand that my outlaw image started as a joke.
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man? Yeah
I am wondering if my particular style of singing led to my arrest.
Maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
Perhaps my image as an outlaw has gone too far.
We were wrapped up in our music, that's why we never saw
We were so focused on our music that we didn't notice law enforcement arrive.
The cars pull up, the boys get out and the room fill up with law
The law enforcement officers arrived and filled up the room.
They come pounding through the back door in the middle of our song
The officers entered through the back door while we were still playing.
Yeah, they got me for possession of something that was gone, long gone
I was arrested for possessing something that I no longer had.
Hey, don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
I am still questioning if my outlaw image has gone too far.
Oh, maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand
I am still considering if my outlaw reputation is too intense.
Yeah, don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
I am still wondering if my image as an outlaw is too extreme.
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
A reminder that I am still just a good ol' boy who doesn't mean any harm.
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
A reminder that I am still just a good ol' boy who doesn't mean any harm.
Just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm
A reminder that I am still just a good ol' boy who doesn't mean any harm.
Just a good ol' boy
I am just a simple, good ol' boy.
Contributed by Camden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jayhoyt32
Those of us long time Hetfield fans are no stranger to the fact that one of his favorite genres to listen to is old, real country. And truth be known, most real metal fans from generations past are also fans of old country music. Long before it became "pop country".
Blunt Force Trauma
No. Who's the OKC band
Casey H
@Blunt Force Trauma bud are you from the OKC band???
Casey H
@RickyboyH very correct and thanks Mr Ricky :)
RickyboyH
@Casey H The first metal bands came from the Blues. Black Sabbath was a blues band when they started out remember (And before Sabbath got popular, Jimi Hendrix had written "Foxy Lady" which is considered to be a precursor to the heavier music that appeared on the scene after he passed in Sept 1970)? Metal is a subgenre of Rock, Rock comes from RnB (the old kind) and Blues.
Blunt Force Trauma
I vouch for this here comment.
Juan José Fonseca Godoy
Holy crap, James can make country music sound heavy as fuck.
fisey
Well, metal (and rock in general) does have more similarities with country than differences
caleb0286
Dial in a good tone, and learn how to do some good old downpicked/palm-muted chugs...it makes a guitar sound like a monster :)
Trevor Ambrose
2021 James Hetfield, Michael polson,and Billy Ray Cyrus on outlaw Kings that whold kick ass