I fought the law
Sonny curtis and the crickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and a good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
A-robbin' people with the zip gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
"I Fought the Law" by Sonny Curtis and The Crickets is a rock and roll classic that tells the story of a man who breaks the law and pays the consequences. In the first verse, the singer is "breakin' rocks in the hot sun," implying that he is serving time in prison for his crimes. The chorus repeats the phrase "I fought the law and the law won," suggesting that he made a valiant effort to resist law enforcement but ultimately failed. The second verse explains that he is in jail and misses his significant other, who is "the best girl [he's] ever had." He once again laments that he "fought the law and the law won."
The third verse speaks of the singer's criminal activity as he "robb[ed] people with the zip gun," reinforcing the idea that he deserved to be punished for his actions. He justifies his wrongdoing by saying that he "needed money 'cause [he] had none," but ultimately his excuses fall short. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the lines "I left my baby and I feel so bad / Guess my race is run," indicating that the singer has come to terms with the consequences of his actions and is resigned to his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
A-breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I was forced to do hard labor (breaking rocks) in the scorching sun as punishment for my crime.
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law but ultimately faced the consequences and lost against legal authority.
I miss my baby and a good fun
I miss spending time with my girlfriend and having a good time, but my actions have separated us.
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Leaving my girlfriend behind to face the aftermath of my actions weighs heavily on my conscience.
Guess my race is run
I know I have no chance of avoiding punishment now that I have been caught by the law.
She's the best girl that I've ever had
Despite my mistakes, I recognize that my girlfriend is a wonderful person and the best relationship I have had.
A-robbin' people with the zip gun
I used a homemade weapon (a zip gun) to rob innocent people for my own gain.
I needed money 'cause I had none
My financial problems led me to commit robbery out of desperation for money.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sonny Curtis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thgoatofalltime
A-breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and a good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
A-robbin' people with the zip gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Joe Palooka
I grew up on the Bobby Fuller version, but I love the Crickets original the best. It reflects a wonderful time in musical history, when Buddy Holly and the Crickets were enormously talented young guys growing up together and creating some of the greatest original music of all time. Sonny Curtis is a songwriting genius. Anyone who could write a song like this is a real talent. All the hit songs he wrote in later life just prove it even more.
Jackie Selvey
I rember them. Thanks
JumpingTomato
I agree. I grew up with The Clash version. But I just saw a music video of Bobby Fuller doing this song, and I love it.
Patrick Lemire
Sonny Curtis wrote it so this isn’t a cover
Amaruq's Scrapyard
The one song that seemingly compliments with a majority of rock genres. No matter what coat of paint a band gives it, it'll still sound fresh and lovely. Whether it'd be classic rock, surf rock, hard rock, punk rock, etc.
dave davis
that beats certainly got the snap of a nice peace of celery x I dig that x
Adrienne Maller
How I wish Buddy would have sang this song with the Crickets as his back-ups. R.I.P. ETERNALLY BUDDY. You were the best & just about to make the big time. You at least made a huge impact on some of the "greats" today.
Ready-Adhesiveness40
There's a great Sonny Curtis interview on YT - it's a bit long but has info about this song towards the end. I was born in 59 and it took me 60 years to finally hear the original and I'm not dissapointed. Never knew it as a Zip Gun, always thought it was a Six Gun. The fact that he used a zip gun makes the song even better, because they were more dangerous to the shooter than to the target. This is now my favorite, but there's been a few outstanding versions, Bobby Fuller and The Clash of course, but I've heard bands do inspired versions at local bars and clubs. A great first song for a young band to learn, and it always pleases an audience if done well.
Chuffpup
Yeah that interview is fascinating, got me back to this song too. Zip guns new to me as well... I know what it is though. I was born in 61, funny to think I was a punk. (Punk rock). Respect for Sonny Curtis, those boys were trail blazers.
FPS Alan
Ok this is the original one....
I came here because of video of jester arrested for parachuting jump from the bridge... The copyright song belongs to greenday... And the i look up theres a band called the clash n then look up again deeper i thought this song belongs to boby flour for... But somehow the crickets is the original one... This really fascinating to knew about the song that really get cover over2 m over 😂😂
Ok im editing this. This song belongs to sonny curtis apparently 🤣🤣