Son of a Gun
Janet Jackson featuring Carly Simon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ha ha
Hoo hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy mutherfuckers
Try to have your cake and eat it too

Sharp shooter into breakin hearts
A baby gigolo - a sex pistol
Hollerin at everythin that walks
No substance just small talk
Know why you feelin on that girl's behind
You gotta sleezy one track mind
Working your work until you think you find
Who's goin home with you tonight

Oh, who you 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 ya gonna tell her
After she discovers
You don't really love her
Oh, gonna be a showdown
Knock down - drag out
Gunslinger 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
Don't you

Sweatin me but I'm not your 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
Naw I ain't gone go and act a fool
And be lead story on the nigga news
Not me sucher
I'll bnever be your lover
I'm gonna make you suffer
You stupid mutherfucker

Oh, who you 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 ya gonna tell her
After she discovers
You don't really love her
Oh, gonna be a showdown
Knock down - drag out
Gunslinger 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
Don't you

Ha ha
Hoo hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy mutherfuckers
Try to have your cake and eat it too

Gotta chip upon your shoulder
I just knocked it off
Show me what you gonna do
I ain't bout to run
You have just run out of ammunition
Shootin blanks now
You son of a gun

Oh, who you 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 ya gonna tell her
After she discovers
You don't really love her
Oh, gonna be a showdown
Knock down - drag out
Gunslinger 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
Don't you

Overall Meaning

The form of Song of a Gun by Janet Jackson Carly Simon Missy Elliott and P. Diddy takes the shape of an ironic and pointed conversation between the artists and someone who is trying to take advantage of them. The lyrics are a direct confrontation towards a person who claims to be their ally, while also attacking others who may have fallen victim to the same aggressive behavior. The song accuses this person of being a selfish and manipulative person, a "gunslinger" who doesn't care about anything but his own needs. The lyrics are a warning to anyone who tries to take advantage of these artists, and they make it clear that they will not be easy targets.


The song itself is a collaboration between several artists from different genres, including Janet Jackson, Carly Simon, Missy Elliott, and P. Diddy. It was produced by Janet Jackson's then-husband, René Elizondo, Jr., and released in 2001 as a single from Jackson's album "All For You". The song was originally meant to be a solo track for Janet Jackson, but she decided to invite the other artists to collaborate on the track. The song received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, reaching the top 40 in several countries.


Line by Line Meaning

Ha ha
Expressing amusement or derision.


Hoo hoo
Another vocal expression of amusement or derision.


Thought you'd get the money too
Believing that you were entitled to the same reward as someone else.


Greedy mutherfuckers
Derogatory term for people who are excessively or selfishly desirous of wealth or possessions.


Try to have your cake and eat it too
Wanting to have or do two incompatible things at the same time.


Sharp shooter into breakin hearts
Someone who is adept at seducing or manipulating others emotionally.


A baby gigolo - a sex pistol
A young male who uses his sexuality to exploit women for personal gain.


Hollerin at everythin that walks
Calling out to or approaching any attractive person who passes by.


No substance just small talk
Engaging in meaningless conversation with no real depth or value.


Know why you feelin on that girl's behind
Understanding the motive behind someone's inappropriate or disrespectful behavior towards a woman.


You gotta sleezy one track mind
Having a narrow and often immoral focus or intention.


Working your work until you think you find
Persisting in one's pursuit of sexual conquests until they feel they have found a willing partner.


Who's goin home with you tonight
Determining which person they will bring home for sexual purposes.


Oh, who you give it to
Asking who their next sexual partner will be.


Who you gonna steal it from
Asking who they will take advantage of for personal gain.


Who's your next victim
Asking who will be their next target for manipulation or exploitation.


Oh, who you gonna lie to
Asking who they will deceive or betray for their own benefit.


Who you gonna cheat on
Asking who they will be unfaithful to.


Who you gonna leave alone
Asking who they will abandon or neglect after getting what they want.


Oh, what ya gonna tell her
Asking what they will say to someone they have exploited or betrayed.


After she discovers
Referring to the moment when someone realizes they have been taken advantage of or lied to.


You don't really love her
Imploring someone to be honest about their true intentions and feelings towards their partner.


Oh, gonna be a showdown
Anticipating a confrontation or conflict with someone.


Knock down - drag out
Referring to a violent or intense physical altercation.


Gunslinger shoot 'em up
Metaphorically comparing their confrontational attitude to that of a cowboy in a western movie.


I betcha think this song is about you
Mocking someone who thinks that they are the subject of the song and taking pleasure in their incorrect assumption.


Don't you
Emphasizing the singer's assertion that the song is not about the listener.


Sweatin me but I'm not your type
Suggesting that someone is being overly persistent in trying to engage romantically or sexually with the artist despite not being their preferred type.


You think you irk me and you're so right
Agreeing with someone who believes they are annoying the artist and acknowledging their successful ability to do so.


I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out
Preferring to keep something of little value and getting rid of something that is irritating or unpleasant, metaphorically applied to rejecting a suitor.


Stupid bitch in my beach house
Referring to a particular undesired person who is unwelcome in the singer's personal space.


Naw I ain't gone go and act a fool
Declining to act irresponsibly or rashly in response to someone's behavior, even if it is annoying or unwelcome.


And be lead story on the nigga news
Referring to media coverage that focuses on sensational or negative aspects of Black life or culture, which the artist wishes to avoid being a part of.


Not me sucher
Affirming that the artist will not put themselves in a negative or uncomfortable situation.


I'll bnever be your lover
Rejecting someone's attempted romantic or sexual advances.


I'm gonna make you suffer
Implying that the artist will enact revenge against someone who has wronged them.


You stupid mutherfucker
Insulting someone in a vulgar manner.


Gotta chip upon your shoulder
Suggesting that someone is overly defensive or easily provoked due to past experiences or perceived injustices.


I just knocked it off
Metaphorically indicating that the singer has caused the other person to lose their sense of pride or self-importance.


Show me what you gonna do
Challenging someone to take action against the artist.


I ain't bout to run
Asserting that the artist is not afraid or intimidated.


You have just run out of ammunition
Metaphorically suggesting that the other person has exhausted their resources or persuasive abilities.


Shootin blanks now
Metaphorically indicating that the other person's arguments or attempts at persuasion are ineffective.


You son of a gun
Directly addressing the other person in a confrontational manner, but without using an excessively vulgar insult.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JANET JACKSON, MELISSA A. ELLIOTT, NISAN C. STEWART, SEAN J. COMBS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions