MaChine Gun
Jimmy Hendrix Lyrics
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Machine gun
Tearing my body all apart
Machine gun
Tearing my body all apart
Evil man make you kill me
Evil man make me kill you
Even though we're only families apart
Well I pick up my axe and fight like a farmer
(You know what I mean)
Hey and your bullets keep knocking me down
Hey I pick up my axe and fight like a farmer now
Yeah but you still blast me down to the ground
The same way you shoot me down baby
You'll be going just the same
Three times the pain
And your own self to blame
Hey machine gun
Oooooooooo
I ain't afraid of your mess no more, babe
I ain't afraid no more
After a while your your cheap talk don't even cause me pain
So let your bullets fly like rain
'Cause I know all the time you're wrong baby
And you'll be goin' just the same
Yeah machine gun
Tearing my family apart
Yeah yeah alright
Tearing my family apart
Don't you shoot him down
He's about to leave here
Don't you shoot him down
He's got to stay here
He ain't going nowhere
He's been shot down to the ground
Oh where he can't survive no no
Yeah that's what we don't wanna hear any more, alright
No bullets
At least here, huh huh
No guns, no bombs
Huh huh
No nothin', just let's all live and live
You know instead of killin'
"Machine Gun" is a politically-charged song that touches on the theme of war and violence. The lyrics open with Jimi Hendrix acknowledging the New Year and hopes for more of them, but laments the ongoing violence, mentioning soldiers fighting in Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, and Vietnam. Hendrix dedicates the song to the "draggin' scene" and proceeds to sing about the destruction wrought by machine guns, tearing his body apart. The song's chorus repeats this sentiment, underscoring the damage done by these instruments of war.
The song's lyrics make reference to the senselessness of the violence of war, with the lines "Evil man make me kill ya / Evil man make you kill me / Evil man make me kill you / Even though we're only families apart" touching on the idea that soldiers, despite fighting on different sides, are often not so different from one another. Hendrix sings about fighting back against the violence, picking up his axe and fighting back like a farmer, but ultimately recognizing the futility of this action as he is repeatedly knocked down.
Throughout the song, Hendrix demonstrates his virtuoso guitar skills, mimicking the sound of a machine gun with his instrument. The song's frenetic energy and Hendrix's passionate performance serve as a powerful indictment of the ravages of war and the senselessness of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy new year first of all.
Celebrating the new year.
I hope we'll have million or two million more of them... if we can get over this summer, he he he.
Expressing hope for many more new years to come, but acknowledging the challenges of the present moment.
Right I'd like to dedicate this one to the draggin' scene that's goin' on all the soldiers that are fightin' in Chicago, Milwaukee and New York... Oh yeas, and all the soldiers fightin' in Vietnam.
Dedicating the upcoming performance to the soldiers fighting in various conflicts around the United States and Vietnam.
Machine gun
Tearing my body all apart
Machine gun
Tearing my body all apart
The machine gun has caused destruction and harm to the artist's body.
Evil man make me kill ya
Evil man make you kill me
Evil man make me kill you
Even though we're only families apart
Criticizing the senseless violence caused by people in power, forcing individuals to fight and kill one another despite minimal differences.
Well I pick up my axe and fight like a farmer
(You know what I mean)
Hey and your bullets keep knocking me down
The singer is willing to fight against the violence with his music, but the other party continues to cause harm.
Hey I pick up my axe and fight like a farmer now
Yeah but you still blast me down to the ground
The singer is determined to continue playing, but the other party continues to use their weapons to overpower him.
The same way you shoot me down baby
You'll be going just the same
Three times the pain
And your own self to blame
Hey machine gun
Oooooooooo
Reiterating the idea that the actions of others will have consequences, and the artist blames the machine gun for their pain.
I ain't afraid of your mess no more, babe
I ain't afraid no more
After a while your your cheap talk don't even cause me pain
So let your bullets fly like rain
The artist is no longer afraid of the other party's threats and promises despite the imminent danger.
'Cause I know all the time you're wrong baby
And you'll be goin' just the same
Yeah machine gun
Tearing my family apart
Yeah yeah alright
Tearing my family apart
The artist asserts the other party is wrong regardless of their actions, and the violence is causing pain to the families of those involved.
Don't you shoot him down
He's about to leave here
Don't you shoot him down
He's got to stay here
He ain't going nowhere
He's been shot down to the ground
Oh where he can't survive no no
Pleading for the other party to spare an individual who is already down, emphasizing the lack of possible survival after being shot down.
Yeah that's what we don't wanna hear any more, alright
No bullets
At least here, huh huh
No guns, no bombs
Huh huh
No nothin', just let's all live and live
You know instead of killin'
Expressing the desire for a world without weapons and violence, but rather a peaceful coexistence among all individuals.
Contributed by Allison R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.