The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.
In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.
The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.
Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers and credited with elevating a standard of sound, showmanship and sex appeal expected of pop stars.
Son of a Gun
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers (you want some earnings and stuff?)
Try to have their cake and eat it too (yes, ma'am)
(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
You are such a romantic hero
The way you dress and look yourself over
Of your preening self in the mirror (go on)
Sharp-shooter into breakin' hearts
Baby gigolo, a sex pistol
Hollerin' at everything that walks (uh)
No substance, just small talk
Now why you're feelin' on that girl's behind
You got a sleazy, one track mind
And workin' your back until you think you'll find
Who's goin' home with you tonight?
Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to?
Who you gonna cheat on?
Who you gonna leave alone?
Oh, what you gonna tell her after she discovers
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown, knock down, drag out
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?
Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too
(Son of a gun)
You tell 'em, Carly
Clouds in my coffee (go on)
Clouds in my coffee
Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too
Sweatin' me but I'm not your type (no)
You think you irkin' me and you're so right
I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out
Stupid bitch in my beach house
No, I ain't gon' go and act a fool
And be the lead story on nigga news
Never me, sucker, I'd never be your lover
I'd rather make you suffer, you stupid motherfucker
Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to?
Who you gonna cheat on?
Who you gonna leave alone?
Oh, what you gonna tell her after she discovers (uh)
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown, knockdown, drag out
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?
Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too (let's dance)
You tell 'em, Carly (uh)
(Clouds of various shapes and sizes)
(Most guys like to evaluate their prizes) alright now
(We come with so many different tricks)
(The apricot scarf was worn by Nick)
(Nothing in the words refer to Mick)
Got a chip upon your shoulder, I just knocked it off
Show me what you're gonna do, I ain't 'bout to run
You have just run out of ammunition (I'm storm cloud, baby)
Shootin' blanks now, you son of a gun (you can roll like thunder all over me)
Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal it from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to? (No, no, no, no, no)
Who you gonna cheat on? (It's not what you say)
Who you gonna leave alone? (It's what you do)
Oh (you're so vain, go on)
What you gonna tell her after she discovers (you probably think this song is about you)
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown (don't you, don't you, don't you)
Knockdown, drag down (don't you)
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up (don't you?)
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (don't you?)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?
I'm gone
(Son of a gun)
Go on
Janet and me, thick as thieves
Never met yet but I'll venture a bet
There's a common threat to our common dream (tell 'em, Carly)
And if it wasn't for that damned cream
There'd be no clouds in my coffee (talk to 'em, come on)
clouds in my coffee
Who do you think you are, Rambo?
Or a cumulonimbus capillatus or a cirrus or an altostratus?
Somebody to make somebody like me proud (you tell 'em, Carly)
In the encyclopedia of clouds? (Alright now)
No, no, no, no
It's not what you say, it's what you do
You're so vain (go on)
You probably think this song is about you
You tell 'em, Carly
probably think this song is about you
Don't hurt 'em now
Yeah, you probably think this song is about you
That's my girl
Is about you (go on)
Is about you (go on)
You probably think this song is about you
(You son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
The song "Son of a Gun" by Janet Jackson is a bold and unapologetic take-down of a deceitful lover. The song opens with Janet calling out her ex-lover for his greed and dishonesty. The chorus continues in the same vein, challenging him about his mistreatment of women and vowing to hold him accountable for his actions. The verses, however, are directed more towards a specific woman with whom he has cheated on Janet. The lyrics suggest that this woman is naïve and will be hurt by the man's lies and infidelity.
The song's title "Son of a Gun" is a reference to the slang term for a tricky or cunning person. The song's infectious beat and catchy lyrics make it an unforgettable anthem. Janet's delivery of the lyrics, particularly during the chorus, is powerful and confident; she refuses to be a victim of her ex-lover's dishonesty. Overall, "Son of a Gun" represents a departure from Janet's previous work and showcases her willingness to take risks and speak her truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha
Chuckling at the situation
Hoo hoo
Another form of laughter
Thought you'd get the money too
Assuming one would also reap the benefits
Greedy mutherfuckers
Calling out those who only think of themselves
Try to have your cake and eat it too
Wanting everything and not compromising
Sharp shooter into breakin hearts
A player who preys on vulnerable hearts
A baby gigolo ? a sex pistol
A young male who uses his charm to get what he wants
Hollerin at everythin that walks
Making passes at everyone
No substance just small talk
Lacking depth of character, only smooth talk
Know why you feelin on that girl?s behind
Understanding the player's intentions with a woman
You gotta sleezy one track mind
Thinking only of lustful desires
Working your work until you think you find
Putting in the effort to get what you want
Who's goin home with you tonight
Wondering who the player chose as their latest conquest
Oh, who you give it to
Asking who the player will sleep with next
Who you gonna steal it from
Asking who will be the player's next target
Who's your next victim
Questioning who the player will hurt next
Oh, who you gonna lie to
Asking who the player is going to deceive
Who you gonna cheat on
Asking who the player is going to betray
Who you gonna leave alone
Asking who the player will abandon
Oh, what ya gonna tell her
Asking what the player will say to their deceived partner
After she discovers
Acknowledging the truth will come out eventually
You don't really love her
The player is only using their partner for their own gain
Oh, gonna be a showdown
Anticipating a confrontation
Knock down ? drag out
Expecting a physical altercation
Gunslinger shoot ?em up
Using a Western movie reference to describe the fight
I betcha think this song is about you
Addressing someone who thinks everything is personal
Don't you
A dismissive response
Sweatin me but I'm not your type
Rejecting someone's advances
You think you irk me and you're so right
Admitting someone is getting under their skin
I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out
Preferring someone else over the person pursuing them
Stupid bitch in my beach house
Describing a disliked acquaintance in their home
Naw I ain't gone go and act a fool
Refusing to act impulsively
And be lead story on the nigga news
Avoiding embarrassment and public scrutiny
Not me sucher
Asserting one's own dignity and values
I'll never be your lover
Closing the door on a potential romantic relationship
I'm gonna make you suffer
Promising retribution for bad behavior
You stupid mutherfucker
Insulting the person for their actions
Gotta chip upon your shoulder
Addressing someone's perceived negative attitude
I just knocked it off
Dismissing the negative energy
Show me what you gonna do
Challenging someone to take action
I ain't bout to run
Refusing to back down
You have just run out of ammunition
Pointing out the person has no more arguments or power
Shootin blanks now
Continuing with the weapons metaphor to describe the person's ineffectiveness
You son of a gun
Name-calling the person
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carly E Simon, James Samuel Iii Harris, Janet Jackson, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OctoberLibra1
JANET'S FUCKIN WALK IS ART IN ITSELF.
@FirstnameLastname-nx1oh
And she tried acting shy like she didn’t know how to walk on the Tyra Banks show😑
@churroloverrr0015
@@FirstnameLastname-nx1oh cause this is Damita Jo not Janet.
@desireesimmons7594
Yes!!! Lol
@rj2611
I was not prepared!
@CuirPhotodotNet
@@FirstnameLastname-nx1oh ....she admitted that she had the ..attitude walk...but not the model walk....i enjoyed Tyra teaching her....and i think she did learn a bit from her....
@marcusrobinson2878
The QUEEN’s walk is EVERYTHING!!!
@mariahwhitneycelinejanetmadona
right
@789truth
Truth
@nellienelnel7
Omg I kept rewinding that part! Yes!