Like "You're So Vain", "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" generated speculation of who exactly the man described in the song was. The song is actually about men that are after Jackson's multimillion dollar fortune but some fans still believed that the song was about Jackson's ex-husband René Elizondo, Jr. Simon created a similar controversy when she released "You're So Vain" after she wed James Taylor. It was speculated to be about either Mick Jagger or Warren Beatty, among others. Like Simon, Jackson has never confirmed the identity of the man.
The song was remixed for release and features Missy Elliott and P. Diddy, peaking at number twenty-eight in the U.S. and becoming Jackson's thirtieth top forty single. The song became the first single from Jackson to miss the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 since 1987's "The Pleasure Principle".
This song was only performed on the All for You Tour.
Son of a Gun
Janet Jackson With Carly Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have the cake and eat it too
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
The way you dress and look yourself over
It's no wonder you would ponder that image
Of your greedy self in the mirror
Go on
Sharp shooter into breakin' hearts
A baby jiggalo, a sex pistol
Hollerin' at everything that walks
No substance, just small talk
Know why you're feelin' on that girl's behind
You got a sleazy, one track mind
Workin' your work until you think you find
Who's goin' home with you tonight
Oh, who you gonna give it to? Who you gonna steal it 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 show down, knock down, drag down
Gun slugger shoot †em up
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you
Ha, ha, who, who
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have the 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, who, who
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have the cake and eat it too
Sweatin' me but I'm not you're type
You think you irk 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 gonna go and act a fool
And be the lead story on the nigga news
Not me, sucker, I'd never be your lover
I'd rather make you suffer, you stupid motha fucker
Oh, who you gonna give it to? Who you gonna steal it 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 show down, knock down, drag down
Gun slugger shoot †em up
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you
Ha, ha, who, who
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have the cake and eat it too
(Let's dance)
You tell 'em, Carly
Clouds of various shapes and sizes
Most guys like to evaluate their prizes
We come with so many different tricks
The apricot scarf was worn by Nick
Nothing in the words refer to Nick
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)
No, no, no, no, no
It's not what you say, it's what you do
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you, don't you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
I betcha think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you
Oh, go on
Son of a gun
Go on
Janet and me, thick as thieves
Never met jet 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, clouds in my coffee
Who do you think you are, Rambo?
Or a cumulonimbus cavulotus 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, you probably think this song is about you
You tell 'em, Carly
You probably think this song is about you
Tell 'em now
Yeah, you probably think this song is about you
That's right, girl
Is about you
Go on
Is about you
Go on
Is about you
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 and Carly Simon is an empowering anthem about standing up to those who think they can take advantage of others. The lyrics address greedy individuals who try to have it all, and the song is a strong criticism of those who "have the cake and eat it too." The chorus repeats the phrase "son of a gun" to emphasize the message that those who take advantage of others will eventually get what they deserve.
The verses of the song describe a man who is only interested in one thing: himself. He's a "sharp shooter into breaking hearts" who'll do anything to get what he wants. The lyrics talk about his lack of substance and ability to only engage in small talk. The song highlights how this kind of behavior is not acceptable and that people like him will be discovered for what they truly are. The chorus turns the tables back onto the subject of the song and highlights their vanity by repeating "I betcha think this song is about you" over and over again.
Overall, "Son of a Gun" is a powerful and empowering song that reminds us to stand up to those who try to take advantage of us. It's a reminder that we all deserve better and that those who are dishonest will eventually receive their comeuppance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha, ha, who, who
Laughing at those who thought they would get the money too
Thought you'd get the money too
Addressing the greedy people who try to have everything
Greedy motherfuckers
Continuing to address the greedy people who are never satisfied
Try to have the cake and eat it too
Describing the desire to have everything, even if it's not possible
Son of a gun
Addressing the man who thinks he's a romantic hero but is actually a player
You're such a romantic hero
Sarcastic way of calling out the man's lack of substance and constant pursuit of women
The way you dress and look yourself over
Highlighting the man's vanity and focus on appearance
It's no wonder you would ponder that image
Making fun of the man's narcissism and self-absorption
Of your greedy self in the mirror
Continuing to ridicule the man's obsession with himself
Sharp shooter into breakin' hearts
Describing the man as a player who breaks women's hearts without any care
A baby jigolo, a sex pistol
Further describing the man's promiscuous nature and his lack of substance
Hollerin' at everything that walks
Showing the man's lack of respect towards women and his objectification of them
No substance, just small talk
Calling out the man's lack of intellectual depth
Know why you're feelin' on that girl's behind
Pointing out the man's sleazy behavior and lack of respect towards women
You got a sleazy, one track mind
Continuing to call out the man's promiscuity and superficiality
Workin' your work until you think you find
Describing the man's persistence in pursuing women
Who's goin' home with you tonight
Highlighting the man's only interest in women for sexual purposes
Oh, who you gonna give it to? Who you gonna steal it from?
Mocking the man's predatory behavior and his disregard for other people's feelings
Who's your next victim?
Further highlighting the man's objectification of women and his predatory nature
Oh, who you gonna lie to? Who you gonna cheat on?
Portraying the man as someone who lacks integrity and honesty
Who you gonna leave alone?
Painting the man as someone who doesn't care about others and is selfish
Oh, What you gonna tell her after she discovers
Highlighting the man's inevitable betrayal and dishonesty towards women
You don't really love her?
Pointing out the man's lack of love and emotional depth
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown, knockdown, drag-down
Describing the inevitable confrontation that will occur due to the man's behavior
Gun slugger shoot 'em up
Metaphorically speaking about the man's behavior and its consequences
I betcha think this song is about you
sarcastic reference to the man's narcissism
Don't you, don't you, don't you
Continuing to poke fun at the man's self-absorption
You tell 'em, Carly
Encouraging Carly to speak her mind
Clouds in my coffee
Metaphorically speaking about the man's presence in her life
Sweatin' me but I'm not your type
Showing the man's interest in her without any chance of success
You think you irk me and you're so right
Acknowledging the man's ability to annoy her
I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out
Choosing to keep her own standards and refuse the man's advances
Stupid bitch in my beach house
Insulting the man for his inappropriate behavior
No, I ain't gonna go and act a fool
Refusing to engage in any behavior that would lower her standards
And be the lead story on the nigga news
Avoiding the negative media attention that would result from associating with the man
Not me, sucker, I'd never be your lover
Rejecting the man's advances and choosing not to be romantically involved with him
I'd rather make you suffer, you stupid motha fucker
Threatening the man with consequences for his inappropriate behavior
Clouds of various shapes and sizes
Metaphorically speaking about the different ways people exhibit their behavior
Most guys like to evaluate their prizes
Describing how men tend to objectify women and view them as possessions
We come with so many different tricks
Calling out the manipulative behavior exhibited by people
The apricot scarf was worn by Nick
Describing how people pay attention to trivial details without any real significance
Nothing in the words refer to Nick
Acknowledging how people can draw conclusions without any factual basis
Got a chip upon your shoulder, I just knocked it off
Metaphorically speaking about standing up to someone and rejecting their negative behavior
Show me what you're gonna do, I ain't 'bout to run
Challenging the man to confront her directly
You have just run out of ammunition
Highlighting the man's lack of substance and inability to confront her
Shootin' blanks now, you son of a gun
Metaphorically speaking about the man's inability to back up his words with his actions
It's not what you say, it's what you do
Highlighting the importance of actions over words
You're so vain
Referring to the man's narcissism once again
You probably think this song is about you
Playing off the man's self-absorption
Tell 'em now
Encouraging Carly to speak her mind once again
Yeah, you probably think this song is about you
Reiterating the point that the man is too self-centered to see beyond his own ego
That's right, girl
Encouragement for Carly to continue standing up for herself
Is about you
Finalizing the statement that the song truly is about the man and his negative behavior
You son of a gun
Final insult directed at the man, calling him out for his negative personality
Writer(s): James Samuel Iii Harris, Carly E. Simon, Terry Steven Lewis, Nisan C. Stewart, Sean J. Combs, Janet Jackson, Melissa A. Elliott
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.