Shotgun
Junior Walker and The All Stars Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I said, Shotgun!
Shoot 'em 'fore they run now.
Do the jerk, baby
Do the dirty now
Hey

Put on your red dress
And then you go downtown now
I said, Buy yourself a shotgun now
We're going to break it down baby now
We're going to load it up baby now
Oh can you shoot 'em 'fore they run now

I said, Shotgun!
Shoot 'em 'fore they run now.
Do the jerk, baby
Do the dirty now
Hey

Shotgun!
Shoot 'em 'fore they run now
Do the jerk, baby
Do the dirty now
Hey

Put on your high heel shoes
I said we're going down here listen to 'em play the blues
We're gonna dig potatoes
We're gonna pick tomatoes

I said, Shotgun!
Shoot 'em 'fore they run now.
Do the jerk, baby
Do the dirty now
Hey

I said it's twine time
I said it's twine time




I said it's twine time
Hey, look at that

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Junior Walker and The All Stars' song "Shotgun" is a jive-forward dance invitation. The song sets a fast-paced rhythm, accentuated with a brass section and a catchy call-and-response chorus. The first line, "Shotgun! Shoot 'em 'fore they run now," implies a warning to the other dancers - that they need to stay in place and be ready to shimmy and shake as the rhythm intensifies. The line "Do the jerk, baby, Do the dirty now" signifies an invitation to dance freely to the lively beat.


In the second verse, Junior Walker and The All Stars prompt listeners to wear their best outfit and go downtown to join the party. With a shotgun and a plan to "load it up baby now," they are ready to have a good time. The song's third verse suggests that they're off to dance and party all night long, with the lyrics "Put on your high heel shoes/I said we're going down here listen to 'em play the blues/We're gonna dig potatoes/We're gonna pick tomatoes." This absurd line is to distract the mind from the mundane life and embrace the joy in their present moment.


Line by Line Meaning

I said, Shotgun!
Calling on someone to get ready with their shotgun


Shoot 'em 'fore they run now.
Shoot the targets before they start running


Do the jerk, baby
Do the dance style known as 'The Jerk'


Do the dirty now
Get down and wild on the dance floor


Hey
A common expression, used to grab attention


Put on your red dress
Wear something stylish to go out


And then you go downtown now
Head into the city center


I said, Buy yourself a shotgun now
Get a shotgun for self-defense


We're going to break it down baby now
We're going to dance like crazy


We're going to load it up baby now
We're going to get ready for action


Oh can you shoot 'em 'fore they run now
Can you hit the targets before they start running?


Put on your high heel shoes
Wear fancy high heel shoes for a night out


I said we're going down here listen to 'em play the blues
We're heading to a club to listen to blues music


We're gonna dig potatoes
We're going to work hard


We're gonna pick tomatoes
We're going to work hard


I said, Shotgun!
Calling on someone to get ready with their shotgun


Do the jerk, baby
Do the dance style known as 'The Jerk'


Do the dirty now
Get down and wild on the dance floor


Hey
A common expression, used to grab attention


Shotgun!
Calling on someone to get ready with their shotgun


Shoot 'em 'fore they run now
Shoot the targets before they start running


Do the jerk, baby
Do the dance style known as 'The Jerk'


Do the dirty now
Get down and wild on the dance floor


Hey
A common expression, used to grab attention


I said it's twine time
It's time to dance and have fun


I said it's twine time
It's time to dance and have fun


I said it's twine time
It's time to dance and have fun


Hey, look at that
Expression of excitement over something




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AUTRY DEWALT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@kellyaustin7487

My father passed away on April 23rd this year he was 90. Today he would've been 91 and this was his favorite song. I came here today to play this song in his honor and to share that story. One love and happy birthday dad 🎂

@alexalcocer1994

💪🏽

@russellyoung1262

Totally great song I love to listen to when I scroll and find it...hope my neighbors like it..hahaaaa...bless you for putting it up in honor of your father...

@DRCRANKNSTEIN

my pops too- used to spin dis record- when he was getting ready to go out on the town--

@Kenjiro5775

My dad died nearly 30 years ago now, but he would have been the same age as your father. He was the one who got me into Jr. Walker and the All Stars.

@natecw4164

Your pops clearly had great taste in music! <3 Much love

43 More Replies...

@StingrayKaraoke

A classic!

@swaggamandiesel2711

¡-¡

@judyjae6022

One of the coolest, funkiest songs to come out of the Motown era. I love it!

@AC-mp7cx

jackson 5 too

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