Bang Bang
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics


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I was five and he was six
We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight

Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down

Seasons came and changed the time
When I grew up, I called him mine
He would always laugh and say
"Remember when we used to play?"

Bang bang, I shot you down
Bang bang, you hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down

Music played and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang

Now he's gone, I don't know why
And 'til this day, sometimes I cry
He didn't even say goodbye
He didn't take the time to lie

Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground




Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down

Overall Meaning

The song Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra is a tragic story of two childhood friends who played games of cowboys and Indians with toy guns. The song describes their memories when they were young, riding on horses made of sticks and playing cowboys and Indians. The singer wore white while her best friend wore black, and he always ended up winning their games. However, as they grew up, they fell in love and started dating. The singer remembers laughing with her lover and reminiscing about their past when they used to play together.


Line by Line Meaning

I was five and he was six
Two young children who used to play together


We rode on horses made of sticks
They used their imagination and pretended to ride horses together


He wore black and I wore white
They were dressed in different colors to differentiate themselves


He would always win the fight
The boy always won the playful fights they had


Bang bang, he shot me down
The girl is pretending to get shot in the imaginary games they played


Bang bang, I hit the ground
The girl is expressing how she acted out getting shot by falling to the ground


Bang bang, that awful sound
The sound effect that the girl made for getting shot


Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Reiterating the imaginary game they would play


Seasons came and changed the time
Time passed and they continued to grow up


When I grew up, I called him mine
The girl later had a romantic connection with the boy when she was older


He would always laugh and say
He would reminisce about their childhood and laugh about how they used to play together


"Remember when we used to play?"
He would bring up the memories of their past and the games they used to play


Bang bang, I shot you down
The girl is now pretending to shoot the boy in their new game


Bang bang, you hit the ground
The boy pretends to fall to the ground


Bang bang, that awful sound
Reiterating the sound effect from the earlier game


Bang bang, I used to shoot you down
Reiterating the earlier game they played together in their childhood


Music played and people sang
Setting the scene for a happy time in their lives


Just for me the church bells rang
The semiotics of the wedding, indicating that this was a happy occasion for the girl


Now he's gone, I don't know why
The boy is no longer in the girl's life and she doesn't understand why


And 'til this day, sometimes I cry
The girl is still affected by the loss of the boy from her life


He didn't even say goodbye
The boy left without any explanation or communication


He didn't take the time to lie
The girl believes that the boy did not deceive or mislead her, but simply left suddenly


Bang bang, he shot me down
Reiterating the earlier game they played in their childhood


Bang bang, I hit the ground
Reiterating the expression of getting shot


Bang bang, that awful sound
Reiterating the sound effect of getting shot


Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Reiterating the earlier expression of the imaginative game they played




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sonny Bono

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lespetitszoiseaux3774

Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” is a masterpiece of minimalism. Just a voice telling a dark love story and a haunting guitar.
The man who played the haunting guitar is Billy Strange, a veteran studio guitar player, singer, arranger, composer and producer. He was so kind to talk with me about the birth of this enthralling song.
Lost & Sound: Did you arrange the song?

Billy Strange: There was no arrangement. I just played what I thought was appropriate and Nancy liked the way it was sounding, so we recorded it.
L&S: Why did you decide to record it with just one guitar?

BS: It was just as if the song called for it. More than one instrument would have been too many.
L&S: What kind of sound effect did you use on the guitar?

BS: I used a tremolo effect. There is a small box that creates it, made by Vox, I believe.
L&S: Do you remember which amp and guitar you used?

BS: The amp was my old Fender Twin and the guitar was the Gibson 335 that Nancy gave me
L&S: Where did you record it?

BS: It was recorded at either United Recorders or Western Recorders in Hollywood. The engineer was Eddie Brackett.
L&S: Did you and Nancy record live together or did you lay down the guitar first?

BS: We recorded it live with no overdubbing at all.
L&S: Do you have any special memories regarding the recording session?

BS: I recall that Nancy and I were both very pleased with the way it turned out. I think it was done in one take.
L&S: How do you feel about the fact, that the song became popular again thanks to the “Kill Bill” soundtrack?

BS: It was very gratifying that it was felt to be “the” song for the movie main title.
L&S: How would you interpret the lyrics?

BS: It is simply a very sad love song about lost love, as I see it.



@sparrowgrimwork3530

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Nancy Sinatra

I was five and he was six
We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight


Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down


Seasons came and changed the time
When I grew up, I called him mine
He would always laugh and say
"Remember when we used to play?"


Bang bang, I shot you down
Bang bang, you hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down


Music played and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang


Now he's gone, I don't know why
And 'til this day, sometimes I cry
He didn't even say goodbye
He didn't take the time to lie


Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down



All comments from YouTube:

@sijalrupakheti9399

Tarantino probably heard this song and said to himself, why not take the lyrics literally and make a movie out of it.

@bignig7223

While coked up

@TheSome01

I think Uma Thurman started writing the script and talk to Tarantino about it.

@MsAppassionata

@3runo Rosa Writing.

@TheSome01

Thanks😅

@nermainmerl6108

What movie are you referring to?

37 More Replies...

@mrskittlesandcookies

I love how this went so perfect with Kill Bill

@filipssorokins9640

That’s because of Quentin. Movie and Songs are connected for 100%

@whiskerandojoe

No, Kill Bill went well with Nancy, not vice versa 👍

@SuperWolsey

"Bill.... It's your baby-BANG!!

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