Shot Down
Sonics (the) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Little girl,
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.

I even drive
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.

I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been shot down.

Hey little girl,
I need you so.
If you want my love,
Just let me know.
Stop running around,

I've been shot down!
I've been shot down!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Shot Down" by The Sonics are about a man who is trying to win over the affections of a girl who seems uninterested in him. He is boasting about his achievements, such as playing guitar and driving a brand new car, to impress her. However, she still wears a frown and he feels like he has been "shot down" or rejected. He pleads with her to let him know what he can do to win her love and stop running around.

The tone of the song is a mix of sadness and frustration, as the man cannot seem to understand why the girl is not interested in him. He thought he was having fun, but now he is unable to even show his face in town because of how rejected he feels. The lyrics are simple but effective in conveying the emotions of rejection and desperation.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey little girl,
Addressing a young girl

What's the matter with you?
Asking the reason for her unhappiness

Don't you like
Do you not appreciate

The things I do?
My actions?

You're wearing a frown.
Your expression shows discontentment

I've been shot down.
I've been rejected

Hey little girl,
Addressing a young girl again

I play a guitar.
I am a musician

I even drive
I possess

A brand new car.
A newly acquired vehicle

Big man in town,
Well-known and respected in the city

I've been shot down.
I've been rejected

I thought he was having fun,
I believed I was enjoying myself with her

Now see what you've done.
You have caused me emotional pain

Can't show my face in town
I am embarrassed to be seen in public

Cause I've been shot down.
Due to rejection

Hey little girl,
Addressing a young girl once again

I need you so.
I have a deep longing for you

If you want my love,
If you are interested in a romantic relationship with me

Just let me know.
Please inform me of your feelings

Stop running around,
Stop avoiding me and focus on our relationship

I've been shot down!
I've been rejected once more

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, DAVID STYLES, EARL SIMMONS, SALAM E. NASSAR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@keithwerner3218

4y↑12

@andreaslattmann1813

5y↑1

Hey Little girl,
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.
I even drive
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.

I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been shot down.

Hey little girl,
I need you so.
If you want my love,
Just let me know.
Stop running around,
I've been shot down!
I've been shot down!

All comments from YouTube:

@samantha5460

3y↑17

Best band in the history of rock'n'roll!

@Mikeyt369

5y↑13

Should be on every garage band's must-play list.

@TitlowPark

16y↑9

These guys were the soundtrack for my youth! We would play their albums through a P.A. system with speakers hanging out my bedroom window while we played hoops in the driveway or worked on our cars. Like many kids of the day, we had a garage band that was inspired by the sound we heard from those vinyl LP's. Bob Bennett's drumming was as powerful as any rhythm maker I've ever heard and I still get that feeling I had then when I cue up "have Love Will Travel" or "Strychnine" on my IPod. REAL ROCK

@bensturm3525

2y↑1

Knowledge

@MsLoosylou

5y↑12

I saw them open for the Liverpool Five and the Stones in Seattle in 1965,...........three of the best rock bands in the World.

@cav5659

8y↑26

The animals and the sonics really were my favorites. They had so much energy

@glynnthomas1328

8y↑4

Agreed, lead singers who can melt your face off.

@kamran102

7y↑6

Early Kinks...

@stoprejectingmynames

14y↑5

THIS is blues. Absolute, pure blues.

@scottcampbell1958

14y↑13

Great band with just a killer drummer. Love the Sonics.

@MichaelMosesHammer

9y↑65

I was at the Metro Rock Lounge in NY city Summer 1969. This song was being covered by a band, and Go-Go girls were dancing on the stage. Beer cost us $1.65 each that night, which was a lot then. It was worth it. That place really Rocked! That was a great weekend in Downtown Manhattan. Will never forget it. )

@MrJett1971

8y↑1

Beer couldn't possibly have cost you $4.95 in 1969, unless you were buying a case...

@MichaelMosesHammer

8y↑1

+Jett Crash your right. i am old and wasn't remembering correctly. i gave the bartender $5 and he gave me back a nickle. they cost 1.65 each which was a lot to us back then. thank you.

@MultiCgp

7y↑2

Summer of 1969? Wish to hell i was there with you. I was on a survey crew job which totally sucked!
Oh well we, I , all survived. Great group

@geniusmchaggis

FUCKING COOL MAN....im 63 and i think thats FUCKING COOL........Beer cost us $1.65!!!!! WTFFF.....beer at a bar cost less than 2O cents!! at that time....WHAT A fancy jernt that musta been back then!!!

@MisterWhist

14y↑4

A band that could write the same great song over and over again. The use of hand claps in this is key. For circa '65, mind blowing.

@DavidAMarin

11y↑30

The Black Keys' guitarist. He made a playlist in the Rolling Stone magazine where he mentioned this song, saying they influenced him. Quite an awesome band, you should definitely check them out.

@Detroit1967

3y↑2

Who are the Black Keys?

@MyFuckballs

12y↑14

These guys are so totally amazing and don't get near as much credit as deserved!

@stankalmighty

12y↑2

the hand claps completely seal the deal on this one.

@toocheaptobuyatripod

12y↑30

I'm here because of the Sonics.

@bsetzer3298

17w

ソニックスの中で１番好きな曲です❤

@aisle_of_view

1y↑1

Stellar vocal performance. An underrated track in the lexicon of rock and roll.

@mickeymousebiker1

12y↑6

Music for motorcycle people circa 1965 - 1966. Little Steven -- this one's for you, man.

@tcr023

14y↑10

this is rock n' roll

@ephramtherabbit

keyboard drum solo

@mdbrumbach1

5y↑6

Love the combo guitar/sax solo.
Fucking amazing.

@surroundsister

5y↑6

The drumming cracks me up, every time!

@starbabi7

11y↑15

this band was ahead of it's time.

@MichaelMosesHammer

8y↑8

Yes this song was way underrated. Was hard rock with a great backbeat. The guitar solo was bad to the bone for back in 1966.

@michaeldy3157

2y↑1

Great group.

@cityrocker4450

5y↑2

Love this band!

@summerscindy1946

5y↑3

Danced with this band good frds wayyy back would like to hear from some of you

@JHATDRUMMER1976

9y↑7

my band love doing this song we love the sonics good stuff

@peterpentakis9307

WOWSERS 🙌🙌🙌🙌😭 NOTHING BUT GREAT 👍😎

@marcocasas6148

always a great smashing piece .... from these bad boys in Tacoma!!!!!!!

@geniusmchaggis

smashing!...very uk...luv it luv...

@bensturm3525

I wondered why I like this so much.
Then realized it's the story of my life.
It's also quite rawkin.

@RanDeeVee

11y

My feets told me there is no better dance tune in the whole frickin world! I love everything they do, but, this possesses amazing magic when it comes to the art of dancin !!!!!!!!!!!! STROLL on.........xxxxxxxxxx R

@tlares5589

3y↑2

Just discovered the sonics cant believe they're from the 60s great raw band.

@sebastianhee6547

12y

omg that is my fave <$ of all time

@dagmerrie

That snare fill sounds like a fucking machine gun!! 🤩

@bluebassett2

I used to play this song in a Eugene, OR group. Great stuff!

@1960gal

15y

Greetings from the UK/London to KOOLE0329 - 'T'Bird were....'? More like 'are'!! I know that, I saw them at the 100 Club, London in June 09. Been in love with Kim Wilson since I saw him in London in '89.x I'd never heard this song before - think I might be too young lol!! I'm in the UK so when I was a kid I was spoonfed on 'home grown' bands.

@TacticaISpork1

12y↑1

There probably wouldnt be Coachwhips without this. That alone is reason enough to love this band.

@Rock-iw7ov

5y↑1

TacticaISpork1 Who the hell are the coachwhips?

@TEODATENE

14y

@tcr023 spot on! Truly unbeatable sound.

@doggystaves

This tune rips!

@emilybryyson5760

11y↑3

Can't show my face in town cause I been shot down.....Hey lil gurl....I BEEN SHOT DOWN!! THIS is the coolest song EVER!!!!!!

@readygolfer

12y↑1

@Arg1ros The Black Keys should send a check to these guys - every month.

@orlyf00l

11y↑1

oh god so much this

@TheOilman747

10y↑1

What a great tune

@WorldRockumentaryChannel

8y↑4

excellent

@geniusmchaggis

8y↑6

MY FAVOURITE ROCK SONG OF ALL TIME.......im 60 years old....this is fuccking ITTT!!!!!

@drutgat2

Great record. Thanks for posting it.

@jmx1900

13y↑5

So this is where the Mummies got their sound....

@mtvso8000

4y↑1

I love the mummies!

@MrCarpediem75

14y

@al2pavon : Indeed my friend, so much influence in the Black Keys own music from The Sonics. That raw sound it's just addictive...

@skipkapur1

11y↑1

love it

@jamiekantonky8999

6y↑1

That rhythm section, wow. Thick like a brick hitting you

@yescure6

15y↑1

sounds cool!!:)

@keithwerner3218

4y↑12

@bbooz

13y

just a rockin song

@tommymichaels1982

15y

Oh yeah!

@chriscorvi5287

These guys fuckin rock awsome band

@cinecitta66

11y

Me too.

@TheSonicmule

14y↑3

ac/dc intro have a drink on me i think

@p00phead14

14y

@ashetonpop the origins of pretty much any great band right now haha. sooooo good

@Sml1keW4ka

I knew this song before I heard the original version, because The Strypes covered it.

@1960gal

15y

First heard this live by the Fab T'Birds at a gig in Southampton, UK in '07. Nick Curran sang lead, backed by a great band. Sadly that line up split, think at end of Euro tour that year(?). Love Kim and any T'Bird line up he has (great at the mo), but miss this number by Nick. Like this :)

@patrickhoulihan7210

I miss the late Nick Curran

@Khultan

15y

Fuck yeah!!

@sphinx1072

Sonics Sonic BOOM

@markk2403

snaremaster general on this one.

@vespafitz

14y

@huzoso I've heard that about at least a dozen bands, from Link Wray to the Kinks.

@bwiggy

13y

song of the movie , Knight And Day - 2010

@bcjaliu

14y

Hey this reminds a bit of that Compulsive Gamblers song The Sonics are where its at man

@88stangmoz

14y↑1

just how I does yo

@OtherTwin

16y

best ever a buck ormsby production no doubt that band should have lived in newcastle they would have been as big as the animals j vincent edwards

@grilledsamurai

16y

I hate myself for not getting hip to the sonics until recently.

@p00phead14

13y

@sclapione yeah these guys are amazing, but there's bands now that are not bad as well. this is a sonics video though, and that's what we all came to this page to watch, haha :)

@ashetonpop

14y

Yes, the Origins of The Hives, no doubt.

@lustforliveable

11y

whhhhooooow

@MB300TE

16y

Amazing ...MY A*****. I saw them twice get blown off the stage by an English band , The Liverpool Five , that moved briefly to the Pacific Northwest in 1965.Finally this "Best kept secret of BritRock" is getting some attention. I have noticed a few sites on You Tube that are worth checKing out as is their recently released cd on Sundazed Records available on all major internet sites. They embarrased the Sonics, Wailers ,Revere and the Raiders whenever they played with them.I will not forget them

@michaeldy3157

2y↑1

That is your opinion. They were great garage by most peoples standards. That other band was really good too . .

@maurobueno5835

8y↑1

loucura

@edwardhenrick7710

11y↑2

Actually I'm here cause of Dan & Pat's record.

@bucurdragos

14y

Sepultura at the beginnings !

@marksimpson7477

7y↑1

i used to buy 24 beer in canada for 7$ in 1977.

@3sunsystem

Mark Simpson eh! Brother

@jmazz303

14y

Just bought this on vinyl. 7" format. Check out Norton Records...

@dweingast

That snare sounds just like a Tommy gun rat-a-tat- tat on some of those fills. Knock Em Dead

@jenslumbye7996

People giving this song the thumbs down have probably gotten infected by the virus of the current pandemic. It is known to seriously affect your taste.

@marialinietsky8365

6y↑1

Try holding still while listening to this song. It’s impossible.

@shogdite1636

💣💥🖤🤟🤪

@stubert94

13y

FUCK YEAAAAAHHHHHH ROCKNFUCKINROLL! YOW!

@dweingast

Would have been a smash hit in 1998. That good

@sberu9528

Who needs practice just play it like that and play it loud let's get psycho a go go go ahead shoot me down

@FernandoCovarrubias

13y↑1

sounds like king khan

@user-xk7yc5vg4f

Странно почему я их раньше не знал.

@MrCarpediem75

14y

More like origins of the Black Keys!

@stalledrangen

16y

Im´m so greatful that my friend gave me a record of The sonics. They are so cool!

@Arg1ros

13y↑1

Thumbs up if you're here b/c of Dan Auerbach's rec.

@SerChyvak

13y

COS I'M BIT FUCK DOWN! AAAAAH!! FUCK, YEAH! XD

@winespodeeodee

11y

Nick Curran RIP CD Reform School Girl

@UberLummox

Ha! Yup, he/we first started playing this song way before he moved from here (Maine) to Texas.
Someone up here told him his voice sounded like the Sonics singer in how we started doing this song. Nikki ws a wiz kid for sure!

@al2pavon

14y

in this song the black keys sound like the sonics

@tonfan

15y

freedom highway

@FALCONSQUIRE

13y

barence whitfield and the savages do this song on thir new album

@johngardiner8043

lee fields

@shogdite1636

🖤🤟🤪😎🕶💣💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

@andreaslattmann1813

5y↑1

@silentscratch

14y

@hafizhatta1 word.

@tiendacadillac

12y

:-)

@clecant

15y

u mean above xD

@ZkyoAFI

15y↑2

The saicos are great but they are from 1964 ...and no 1995 =P ...

@LawrenceD

12y

Nick Curran

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