Shot Down
James Murphy Lyrics


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Hey Little girl,
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.
I even drive
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.

I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been shot down.

Hey little girl,
I need you so.
If you want my love,
Just let me know.
Stop running around,




I've been shot down!
I've been shot down!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of James Murphy's song Shot Down revolve around the rejection that the singer has faced from a little girl. The singer is pleading with the little girl, trying to understand what went wrong and why she doesn't like the things he does. The line, "Don't you like the things I do?" represents the singer's perplexity and confusion as to why the little girl doesn't seem to like him, even though he has everything going for him- a guitar, new car, and status as a big man in town.


As the little girl continues to ignore and reject him, the singer laments, "I've been shot down." The phrase "shot down" is a common idiom that refers to being rejected or defeated. The singer had everything he needed to win the little girl's heart, but is devastated by her lack of interest in him. He had thought that he was having fun, but now he feels embarrassed and dejected that he was wrong.


Despite his disappointment and hurt, the singer tries to plead with the girl to consider him and his love. He warns her to stop running around and wasting her time, as he's been shot down and needs her love. The song's lyrics portray the singer's desperation, hoping that the little girl will change her mind and give him another chance.


Overall, the song is a lamentation of rejection and the pain it causes. Through the singer's perspective, the lyrics convey the vulnerability and confusion that people can experience when faced with rejection.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Little girl,
The singer addresses a female addressee who he is familiar with


What's the matter with you?
Asks her what is bothering her


Don't you like
Asks if his actions are not enjoyable for her


The things I do?
Asks about the actions he does


You're wearing a frown.
Observes that she looks unhappy


I've been shot down.
Confesses that his efforts towards her have been unsuccessful


Hey little girl,
Repeats addressing the female in sing-song format


I play a guitar.
Highlights that he has musical talent


I even drive
Also established to her that he has a car


A brand new car.
Shares that the car he has is new, and therefore valuable


Big man in town,
Positions himself as a powerful person amongst their community


I've been shot down.
Despite his success, he acknowledges that he has not been able to win her over


I thought he was having fun,
Suggests that he thought his advances were mutual


Now see what you've done.
Blames the girl for the situation he is in now that she has rejected him


Can't show my face in town
Feels embarrassed, and as a result humiliated


Cause I've been shot down.
Again laments his unsuccessful romantic pursuit of her


Hey little girl,
Another repetition to emphasise his feelings towards her


I need you so.
Declares his longing for her on an emotional level


If you want my love,
Pleads with her to return his affections


Just let me know.
Gives her the power to decide if they can be together


Stop running around,
Implores her to be honest and have a frank conversation with him


I've been shot down!
Concludes that he has not succeeded in winning her over


I've been shot down!
Repeats the line to reiterate his failure in the romantic pursuit




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, DAVID STYLES, EARL SIMMONS, SALAM E. NASSAR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@flightofthebumblebee9529

I love how the bad guys have basically zero redeeming qualities so we don't mind when they need horrific fates.

@dadoody

well, can't say they're racist, because they look like the damn UN.

@onelastyogurtproductions7190

Yeah exactly, they’re just greedy lowlifes living in an anarchy

@LordofSadFac

Though one of them is Red Foreman

@russeljosephbrass

The guy who got toxic waste on him had it the worst

@downrighttt

@@LordofSadFac "dumbass!"

47 More Replies...

@Plathismo

The extreme violence actually serves the story quite well here--it creates sympathy for Murphy, whom we've only just met at this point, while also instilling in the audience a thirst for revenge. It really sets the plot in motion and gets you invested in a way that you wouldn't be if Murphy had just been shot once in the head and fallen over.

@edhoughton2609

yes - correct - i saw this in the theatre on its release way back and a guy sitting somewhere behind me said "bastards" as Boddicker and his gang left - the scene generated sympathy for Murphy and strengthened Lewis's relationship with him and also generated disgust at the villains - good direction

@Tornado1994

@@edhoughton2609 It also set up the payoff of most of the main Villains' DYING horribly and gruesomely. Emil gets Melted by Toxic Waste, and Clearance gets a Spike in his Neck.

@sonrouge

Also makes one take sadistic pleasure in his revenge later in the movie.

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