Bang Bang
K'naan Lyrics

She shot me, she shot me
The woman shot the singer, leaving him vulnerable and in pain.

Bang, bang, she shot me (uh)
The woman's shots hit the singer with force, causing physical and emotional damage.

Ah, there she goes again, the dopest Ethiopian
The woman is described as impressive and powerful, representing her Ethiopian heritage.

In other words, she came through explodin' in the podium
The woman made a grand entrance, capturing everyone's attention and demanding respect.

Dynamite Napoleon like sodium mixed with petroleum
She exudes explosive energy, like a combination of sodium and petroleum chemicals creating an intense reaction.

Slowly but surely, she was walking toward me
The woman was intentionally approaching the singer, likely with an agenda in mind.

Cut the convo short 'cause she had to wake up early
She had limited time for conversation, hinting at her busy schedule.

But continuing the story, don't worry
The artist wants to reassure the listener that the story will continue, despite the interruption.

She gave me digits for her Blackberry
The woman gave the artist her phone number, indicating potential interest.

"You're very handsome" is what she said
The woman complimented the artist's appearance, expressing attraction.

And the way she looked in my eyes said, "Put me to bed"
Her suggestive gaze communicated sexual desire towards the singer.

Oh my, oh my, I should have known when she said to me on the phone
The artist regrets not recognizing the warning signs the woman gave him.

"You do not know me very well, but I would never hurt a fly"
The woman gave the singer a foreboding warning, pretending to be harmless while hiding her true intentions.

Then she aimed for my chest with love in her eye
Despite claiming affection, the woman shot the singer in the chest without hesitation.

She was walkin' around with a loaded shotgun
The woman was armed and dangerous, moving around with violent intent.

Ready to fire me a hot one
She was prepared to shoot and harm the artist without hesitation.

Although I could have walked away
The artist had the option to avoid the dangerous situation.

I stood my ground and let her spray
The singer decided to confront the danger and face the consequences.

Scorpion, she's so hot, she's a scorch-ian
The woman is described as deadly and alluring, like a scorpion's venom.

Killing me softly, Lauryn or Kevorkian
The woman's actions are causing the artist emotional and physical harm, like a euphemism for assisted suicide.

Couldn't tell if she's cuckoo or quirky, when
The woman's behavior is unpredictable and possibly unstable.

I asked her her name, she said, "Call me Ten"
The woman gave the artist a fake name, potentially indicating her dishonesty and hidden motives.

Testing, testing
The woman may be testing the singer's limits or playing mind games with him.

Things just got more interesting
The situation has become more complex or dangerous, possibly indicating a plot twist.

She's dressed in a vest pin, double-breasted holster
The woman is wearing attire that suggests she is armed and dangerous.

A very Western toaster
The woman may be adopting a rugged Western image, potentially as a disguise or intimidation tactic.

She ain't nothing Kosher
The woman is not well-behaved or virtuous, going against traditional expectations.

Ah, she lets me closer
The woman is attracting the artist's attention and making him curious.

Hotter than a pepper-crusted samosa
The woman is very attractive and tempting, likened to a spicy and flavorful Indian dish.

While I try to keep my composure
The singer is trying to remain calm and composed despite the dangerous situation and the woman's allure.

Am I wrong?
The singer questions whether his actions or decisions were misguided or ill-advised.

But what is love without the pain to go along?
Love often involves emotional pain or challenges, suggesting that the artist's experience with the woman may still be considered love.

And what is pain?
The artist poses a philosophical question, exploring the nature of emotional and physical pain.

If not the reason for me to sing this song?
The artist sees his traumatic experience as inspiration for this song, using music as a way to express and cope with his pain.

And this song is for the weak and for the strong
This song is meant to resonate with all listeners, regardless of their emotional resilience or vulnerability.

'Cause I was strong
The artist sees himself as strong and capable of handling the woman's violence, despite the harm caused.

And still, she got me, she got me
The woman's actions still had a significant impact on the singer, despite his resilience.

Bang, bang, she got me
The woman's actions left a lasting impression on the singer, causing emotional and physical trauma.