Gunshy
Read Southall Band Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You′re a lot of fun, you're young and good lookin′ too
I don't mind at all wakin' up next to you

We been runnin′ ′round
Past few weeks
'Til you stopped one night and said to me
"Where are we and where′s this goin'?"
I rolled over, said, "I don′t know"
"Why we gotta put a label on somethin'?"
You said, "grow up" and walked out my door

Sorry darlin′ if I've been a little gun-shy
There ain't nothin′ wrong with you
It just scares me to death layin′ by your side
After what the last one put me through
You'd be gun-shy too

Now you′re mad as hell got that half-ton wound tight
Already decided that you're drinkin′ tonight
Don't really feel like this is all on me
Hell, I told you the truth, now set you free

Sorry, darlin′ if I've been a little gun-shy
There ain't nothin′ wrong with you
It just scares me to death layin′ by your side
After what the last one put me through
You'd be gun-shy too

I′m not sayin' it won′t eventually work out
I'm just sayin′ not right now

Sorry darlin' if I've been a little gun-shy
There ain′t nothin′ wrong with you
It just scares me to death layin' by your side




After what the last one put me through
You′d be gun-shy too

Overall Meaning

In "Gunshy", Read Southall Band captures the emotions of a person who has been hurt in love before and is struggling to trust again. Initially, the singer is attracted to the person he's with, acknowledging their youth and good looks, and enjoys spending time with them. However, when the person brings up the question of where their relationship is heading, the singer becomes defensive and avoids the conversation. In this moment, we see the underlying fear that he is experiencing, as he's been hurt in the past and is afraid of being hurt again. The chorus reveals the root of the hesitation with the line "Sorry darlin' if I've been a little gun-shy", indicating that while it's not the other person's fault, the singer is struggling with his own fears and insecurities.


In the second half of the song, the tone changes as the other person becomes angry and confrontational, blaming the singer for their issues. The singer again defends himself, recognizing that he's been honest and not misled the other person, but ultimately chooses to end things in order to avoid any further pain or misunderstandings. The lyrics are not overly complex, but they effectively capture the situation of someone who's been hurt before and is struggling to trust again, giving voice to the complexity of emotions that can arise in such a situation.


Line by Line Meaning

You’re a lot of fun, you're young and good lookin’ too
I enjoy spending time with you and think you are physically attractive


I don't mind at all wakin' up next to you
I am comfortable sleeping with you


We been runnin’ ’round
We have been spending time together


Past few weeks
For the last few weeks


’Til you stopped one night and said to me
Until you paused one night and asked me


Where are we and where’s this goin’?
What is the nature of our relationship and where is it headed?


I rolled over, said, 'I don’t know'
I turned away and replied, 'I am unsure'


'Why we gotta put a label on somethin'?'
'Why do we need to define our relationship?'


You said, 'grow up' and walked out my door
You told me to mature and left my house


Sorry darlin’ if I've been a little gun-shy
I apologize if I have been hesitant in this relationship


There ain't nothin’ wrong with you
You have done nothing to cause my hesitation


It just scares me to death layin’ by your side
Being intimate with you frightens me


After what the last one put me through
My past experiences have made me apprehensive


You’d be gun-shy too
You would feel the same way in my situation


Now you’re mad as hell got that half-ton wound tight
You are angry and tense


Already decided that you're drinkin’ tonight
You have already decided to drink tonight


Don't really feel like this is all on me
I do not believe that I am solely responsible for our problems


Hell, I told you the truth, now set you free
I have been honest with you and think you should move on


I’m not sayin' it won't eventually work out
I am not saying that our relationship will never succeed


I'm just sayin' not right now
I am only saying that it is not working currently




Writer(s): Robert Read Southall

Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions