Son of a Gun
Nirvana Lyrics


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Up, up, up and down
Turn, turn, turn around
Round, round, round about
And over again

Gun, gun, son of a gun
You are the only one
Makes any difference to what I say

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

Up, up, up and down
Turn, turn, turn around
Round, round, round about
And over again

Gun, gun, son of a gun
You are the only one
Makes any difference to what I say

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

Up, up, up and down
Turn, turn, turn around
Round, round, round about
And over again

Gun, gun, son of a gun
You are the only one
Makes any difference to what I say

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away

The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play




The raining always starts
When you go away

Overall Meaning

"Son of a Gun" by Nirvana is a catchy, upbeat song with rather cryptic lyrics. It's often interpreted as a song about a dysfunctional relationship, where the sun represents the happy moments together, and the rain symbolizes the sadness and frustration that follows when they part ways. The refrain "Gun, gun, son of a gun, you are the only one that makes any difference to what I say" can be seen as the singer admitting that their partner holds power over them, perhaps because they're the only one who truly understands them or can make them happy.


The repetition of "up, up, up and down, turn, turn, turn around, round, round, round about, and over again" could represent the cyclical nature of the relationship or the ups and downs of life in general. The phrase "son of a gun" is also significant, as it's a colloquial expression used to describe someone who is likable, playful, or mischievous.


Overall, "Son of a Gun" is a song that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Some see it as a commentary on the power dynamics in relationships, while others view it as a reflection on the inevitability of life's ups and downs. Whatever the case may be, it's a catchy tune that showcases Nirvana's ability to create music that's both catchy and thought-provoking.


Line by Line Meaning

Up, up, up and down
The ups and downs in life


Turn, turn, turn around
The changes and unpredictability of life


Round, round, round about
The cyclical nature of life


And over again
Repeating the same patterns


Gun, gun, son of a gun
The person being addressed is seen as powerful, but also dangerous


You are the only one
The person being addressed is seen as significant and influential


Makes any difference to what I say
The person being addressed has the power to impact the singer's words or actions


The sun shines in the bedroom
The happiness and warmth felt when together


When we play
When they are spending time together


The raining always starts
The sadness or negativity that comes when apart


When you go away
When the person being addressed leaves




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: ORVILLE BURRELL, RICARDO DUCENT, MARION HALL, DAVE WILLARD ANTHONY KELLY, NIGEL STAFF

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

@dmc009

... I mean...

.. the whole song is straight quarter notes...

.. I love this f*ckin' song. This might be my favorite song ever. My mom could play this on drums. I could teach my dog to play this on drums...

...off the top, I dont even think there is a drum roll.. literally, I think it is quarter notes start to finish. Imma listen again.

Edit: Okay. At 1:29... maybe. I call that a fill. I don't think that even counts as a roll.

... dont get me wrong... I love this song.



All comments from YouTube:

@seafoodspanker5288

this song is weirdly relaxing despite the heavily distorted guitar

@mccursedwallpapers7296

It sounds like something from a skate game

@jaywilley955

Well said.

@nottocleverxx614

@@mccursedwallpapers7296 Omg it does!

@dylanstumbaugh356

Wait til ya hear the Vaselines bro

@101Volts

@@dylanstumbaugh356 Yeah really, the Vaselines' original version of the song's... Pretty, in a way, really. I guess it helps that there are both male and female vocals in it to put emphasis on the lyrics.

@ljudmilatomanovic3612

The raining always starts, when you go away...

@sugarlandspringsteen

Ljudmila Tomanovic you are drop dead gorgeous.

@peterrreynolds8576

Of course does

@peterrreynolds8576

You look like a princess

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