Shotgun Boogie
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics
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With the barrel so straight
I looked over the fence
And over the gate
Picked a fat rabbit
He was sittin' in the grass
Wait'll he hears my
Shotgun boogie
Oh, shotgun boogie
Oh,shotgun boogie makes me
Boogie woogie all the time
Well, I met a pretty girl
She was tall and thin
Asked her what she had
She said, "A Vox 410"
I looked her up and down
And said, "Boy this is love
We headed for the bush
To shout a big fat dove"
Shotgun boogie
Oh shotgun boogie
Look out mister rabbit
Because they're gunnin' you
Oh, look out
Sat down on a log
And took her in my lap
She said, "Now wait a minute, honey
You got to see my pap"
He's got a sixteen gauge
Tall gun like a rifle
He don't like men that's gonna trifle
Shotgun boogie makes me
Boogie woogie all the time
Well, I called on her pappy
Like a gentleman oughta
He said, "No brush hunter's
Gonna get my daughter
He cocked that gun
Right on the spot
But when the gun went off
I outran that shot
Oh, shotgun boogie
Oh shotgun boogie
I wanted wedding bells
And not your pappy's shells
Oh, shotgun boogie makes me
Boogie woogie all the time
Oh, he was shooting low honey
Oh, he got me on that second shot
Ooh, I got it but I'll be back
I only wanna talk
The song "Shotgun Boogie" by Shakin' Stevens is a playful and upbeat tune that tells the story of a hunter on the prowl, armed with a shotgun and determined to catch his prey. The song opens with the singer standing on the corner, holding his shotgun straight and scanning for targets. He spots a fat rabbit in the grass and prepares to take his shot, promising a "whole shotgun blast". With its catchy refrain of "Shotgun boogie", the song is both humorous and high-energy.
As the song continues, the singer meets a pretty girl who shares his love of hunting. They head out to the bush together to take down a fat dove. However, their romance is soon interrupted by the girl's father, who is armed with a tall gun that he wields like a rifle. The singer remains undaunted and tries to win over the father, but ends up getting shot at. Despite this setback, the singer insists he'll be back, leaving the listener with the impression that he's not going to let a little thing like a shotgun blast get in the way of his fun.
"Shotgun Boogie" was originally written and recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1951. However, it found new life in the 1980s when Shakin' Stevens covered the song for his album "The Bop Won't Stop". The Welsh rock and roll singer gave the song his own unique flavor and it became a hit in Europe, charting in several countries including the UK and France. Today, "Shotgun Boogie" remains a beloved classic rock and roll tune, celebrated for its infectious beat and playful lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Standin' in here on the corner
Standing on the street corner
With the barrel so straight
Holding a shotgun with a straight barrel ready to shoot
I looked over the fence
Looking over a fence
And over the gate
Peeking over a gate
Picked a fat rabbit
Choosing a fat rabbit as the target
He was sittin' in the grass
The rabbit was sitting in the grass
Wait'll he hears my
Anticipating the rabbit's reaction
Whole shotgun blast
The sound the shotgun will make
Shotgun boogie
The joy of using a shotgun
Oh, shotgun boogie
Expressing the excitement again
Oh,shotgun boogie makes me
The exhilaration of firing a shotgun
Boogie woogie all the time
Feeling energized and happy
Well, I met a pretty girl
Encountering an attractive girl
She was tall and thin
Describing the girl's appearance
Asked her what she had
Inquiring about her possessions
She said, "A Vox 410"
She owns a type of guitar amplifier
I looked her up and down
Checking her out
And said, "Boy this is love
Expressing romantic interest
We headed for the bush
Going to a wooded area
To shout a big fat dove"
To hunt a dove with a loud shotgun sound
Look out mister rabbit
Warning the rabbit being hunted
Because they're gunnin' you
The hunters are after you
Sat down on a log
Taking a break on a log
And took her in my lap
Holding the girl in one's lap
She said, "Now wait a minute, honey
The girl requests a brief pause
You got to see my pap"
She wants to introduce her father
He's got a sixteen gauge
Describing the type of firearm her father possesses
Tall gun like a rifle
The gun looks like a rifle
He don't like men that's gonna trifle
Her father dislikes disrespectful men
I wanted wedding bells
The singer desires to marry the girl
And not your pappy's shells
And not be shot by the girl's father
Oh, he was shooting low honey
The father's aim was off
Oh, he got me on that second shot
The artist was hit by the second shot
Ooh, I got it but I'll be back
Despite getting shot, the artist intends to return
I only wanna talk
The singer wasn't hunting, he just wanted to date the girl
Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.