Shot In The Dark
RJD2 Lyrics


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[shoot to ki-kill, to-kill] {x4}

[shoot to kill]

Chief :
Let's go.

Officer 1 :
He's got his hands up, Chief. Take it easy.

Chief :
Alright you!

Man :
No need to shoot me officer, I was just--

Chief :
Don't you be tellin' me what not to do, man.
Just walk foward and keep them hands high.

Man :
I saw the man... the assalant.

Chief :
Shut your mouth.

Man :
But I was just chasing him

Chief :
I told you shut your mouth! (Phantom) arrest him.

Officer 2 :
He's clean.

Chief :
Cuff him.

Man :
But wait, I'm not the one you're looking for.

Chief :
Shut your mouth, boy!

Man :
You're making a mistake officer.
The man you want is getting away.
He's about 5'7". [5'7"] He weighs---

Chief :
Get him in the car!

Man :
Now look, my name is Benson.
I just got here from-- {punch in face}

Chief :




I asked you to shut your mouth, boy.
[mouth boy] You gonna do it? [do it]

Overall Meaning

The song "Shot In The Dark" by RJD2 is an instrumental hip-hop track that has a powerful and evocative spoken word passage. The lyrics are spoken by police officers as they try to apprehend a suspect. The track's spoken word passage has been sampled from "The Incident," a 1967 radio broadcast from the New York Police Department's radio scanner. The lyrics' power lies in its depiction of police brutality and the ease with which law enforcement can misinterpret events and harm innocent people.


The spoken word lyrics in "Shot In The Dark" describe a chaotic and tense situation between police officers and a suspect who is trying to explain his innocence. The chief of police is barking orders at his officers and the suspect, insisting that the suspect is guilty and should be arrested. The suspect is begging for his life, trying to explain that he's not the person the officers are looking for, but his words fall on deaf ears. The police officers are aggressive, shouting at the suspect and threatening him with arrest. The scene ends with the suspect being violently punched in the face, with no regard for his well-being.


Overall, "Shot In The Dark" is an unsettling and powerful song that calls attention to issues of police brutality and the ease with which law enforcement can harm innocent people. It is an important reminder of the need for police reform and the importance of holding law enforcement accountable for their actions.


Line by Line Meaning

[shoot to ki-kill, to-kill] {x4}
The repeated phrase emphasizes the act of killing, introducing the violent tone of the song.


[shoot to kill]
The song's title is repeated, further highlighting the message of violence and aggression.


Chief :
The chief of police is in command of the situation, and his words hold great weight.


Let's go.
The chief gives a brief order to begin the operation.


Officer 1 :
One of the officers involved in the operation speaks up.


He's got his hands up, Chief. Take it easy.
The officer tries to defuse the situation and prevent any unnecessary violence.


Alright you!
The chief demands attention and obeisance from those around him.


No need to shoot me officer, I was just--
The suspect pleads with the officer to not harm him, explaining his situation and trying to justify his actions.


Don't you be tellin' me what not to do, man. Just walk foward and keep them hands high.
The chief asserts control over the suspect, ordering him around with aggression and dominance.


I saw the man... the assalant.
The suspect tries to provide information to the officers about the criminal they are pursuing.


Shut your mouth.
The chief silences the suspect, not wanting to hear any more of his words.


But I was just chasing him
The suspect tries to explain why he was in the area and what he was doing.


I told you shut your mouth! (Phantom) arrest him.
The chief orders the suspect to be arrested despite his protestations.


Officer 2 :
Another officer interjects into the scene.


He's clean.
The officer reports that the suspect does not have any weapons or contraband on him.


Cuff him.
The chief orders the suspect to be restrained and taken away by force.


But wait, I'm not the one you're looking for.
The suspect tries one last time to prove his innocence and avoid arrest.


Shut your mouth, boy!
The chief dismisses the suspect's claims and silences him once again with derogatory language.


You're making a mistake officer. The man you want is getting away. He's about 5'7". [5'7"] He weighs---
The suspect continues to protest, trying to give the officers information about the real criminal they should be pursuing.


Get him in the car!
The chief ignores the suspect's information and orders his officers to take him away.


Now look, my name is Benson. I just got here from-- {punch in face}
The suspect tries to give more information about himself, but is met with violence and brutality from the chief.


I asked you to shut your mouth, boy. [mouth boy] You gonna do it? [do it]
The chief reiterates his power and control over the suspect with violent language, establishing his dominance through physical force.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Ramble John Krohn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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