Manitoba Lights is a crisp blend between the screaming vocals of most ska-c… Read Full Bio ↴Manitoba Lights is a crisp blend between the screaming vocals of most ska-core bands and the catchy horn riffs you demand from the ska scene. Whether you're a punk, a metalhead, a billy, a skinhead, a rude boy or rude girl there is something you are sure to love about ML. Manitoba LIghts started in September of 2008 covering Leftöver Crack/Choking Victim songs; they then started writing their own songs. After a few years, an addition of a few horn players and some members coming and leaving, ML finally found the line up they were looking for. Sadly, the first ML album was released in December of 2010 before Reid Ness and Sean Meesey joined the band as saxophonist and trombonist. However, this won't be the only album from Manitoba Lights. They recently joined Sword Brandishing Records and are currently writing songs for a second album and getting ready for a small west coast tour with Rude Tuna.

Shot Down
Manitoba Lights Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello officer, how can I help today
Let me get my story straight and be on my way
Im just a kid, sixteen, tryin to get drunk
But you just see me as a little scum-fucking punk
Get your pen and pad, take a seat, take some notes
Wait a second while i role a joint and take a toke
Youre just another pig on the states pay role
Snortin evidence off your partners shiny pistol

(Cause I want to) see a pig ignite
(And I want to) get my gun in sight
(I want to) hear a body drop
I want to kill a cop tonight

Fuck the pigs who say they hold up order
When theyre down south fucking with our borders
A brothers down below fighting society to be free
But all you think about is keeping them in poverty
Where are you while junkies get jumped a lot
and where were you when my mas out sellin pot
and where are you while our soldiers are getting shot
Youll be stuffin your face at the local donut shop

(Cause I want to) see a pig ignite
(And I want to) get my gun in sight
(I want to) hear a body drop
I want to kill a cop tonight

A 9mm and a three piece suit
That sixteen year old kid has it pointed at you

The bronze feel no remorse for the ones behind locked bars
As i blow your fucking brains across your cop car

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Manitoba Lights's song 'Shot Down' portray the perspective of a rebellious, angry and frustrated teenager who feels rejected by society and has a strong hatred towards authority figures, particularly policemen. The song starts with the singer addressing a policeman saying "Hello officer, how can I help today? Let me get my story straight and be on my way." This can be interpreted as a sarcastic tone where he is aware of the power the policeman holds and is trying to manipulate him to not get into more trouble.

In the following lines, he admits to being sixteen and trying to get drunk which shows the juvenility of the character. However, the policeman is portrayed as someone who does not care about his underage drinking but judges him as a 'little scum-fucking punk.' The song also highlights the corrupt side of the law enforcement agencies where the singer alleges that the policeman sniffs evidence off his partner's shiny pistol. The lyrics are rhythmic and the angst-filled tone is maintained throughout. The chorus "I want to kill a cop tonight" is repetitive and intensifies the anger that the singer holds towards the police.

The bridge of the song portrays the issue of poverty and drugs in society and how the policeman is not doing enough to solve these problems. The singer feels that society has failed and the police are not doing enough. The song ends with the singer pointing his gun at the policeman and pulling the trigger. This action symbolizes a rebellion against the unjust systems present in society. Overall, the lyrics criticize the system and the people responsible for maintaining it.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello officer, how can I help today
I'm being sarcastic because I know you have pulled me over for no reason.

Let me get my story straight and be on my way
I'm trying to seem innocent so you'll let me go.

Im just a kid, sixteen, tryin to get drunk
I'm young and want to have fun by drinking.

But you just see me as a little scum-fucking punk
You are judging me because of my appearance and age.

Get your pen and pad, take a seat, take some notes
You are going to write me a ticket no matter what I say.

Wait a second while i role a joint and take a toke
I don't care if I get caught, I'm going to smoke anyways.

Youre just another pig on the states pay role
I don't respect your authority as a police officer.

Snortin evidence off your partners shiny pistol
I think you and other police officers abuse your power and are corrupt.

(Cause I want to) see a pig ignite
I want to witness a police officer get hurt or killed.

(And I want to) get my gun in sight
I want to have a gun and use it against police if I have to.

(I want to) hear a body drop
I want to experience violence against the police.

I want to kill a cop tonight
I am very angry and violent towards police and may act on those feelings.

Fuck the pigs who say they hold up order
I am against the police and the authority they represent.

When theyre down south fucking with our borders
I am unhappy with the way police are treating people in other parts of the country.

A brothers down below fighting society to be free
I am aware of the social issues faced by certain groups and believe the police contribute to their oppression.

But all you think about is keeping them in poverty
The police only care about maintaining control rather than helping the poor and marginalized.

Where are you while junkies get jumped a lot
Police do not seem to be doing their job by protecting vulnerable members of the community.

and where were you when my mas out sellin pot
Police allow certain illegal activities to occur while also targeting others, which is unfair.

and where are you while our soldiers are getting shot
I feel the police are not doing enough to protect us from legitimate threats.

Youll be stuffin your face at the local donut shop
Police officers lack motivation and are not doing their job correctly.

A 9mm and a three piece suit
I am equating violence with wealth and status.

That sixteen year old kid has it pointed at you
Young people are just as capable of being violent and destructive as adults.

The bronze feel no remorse for the ones behind locked bars
I feel police officers are indifferent to the suffering of the people who end up in jail.

As i blow your fucking brains across your cop car
I am making a violent and aggressive statement about my feelings towards the police.

Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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