I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics


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Oh Miss Effie was her name
Through the west she won her fame
Being handy with the gun
But she drove the men insane

'Cause she'd whip out her pistol
And shoot most any guy
And sing out this alibi

I didn't know the gun was loaded
And I'm so sorry, my friend
I didn't know the gun was loaded
And I'll never, never do it again

But one night she made a slip
Shot the sheriff in the hip
So the law, it took a hand
And made Effie take the stand

And she pled, "Oh, your honor
I'll know you'll turn me loose
When you hear my one excuse"

I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded
And I'm so (and I'm so) sorry, my friend
I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded
And I'll never, never do it again

I didn't know (she didn't know)
The gun was loaded (that the gun was loaded)
But regarding the gun that I toted

All I did was hold it high
And go
I'll never, never do it again

Yes, the jury all agreed
That Miss Effie should be freed
But the sheriff's jealous wife
Was indignant (yes, indeed)
So she borrowed a pistol
And shot this village belle
And sang as Miss Effie fell

I didn't know the gun was loaded
And I'm so (and I'm so) sorry, my friend
I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded
And I'll never, never do it again

I didn't know (she didn't know)
The gun was loaded (that the gun was loaded)
But regarding the gun that I toted

All I did was hold it high




And go
I'll never, never do it again

Overall Meaning

The Andrews Sisters' song "I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded" tells the story of a woman named Miss Effie who was known for being handy with a gun in the wild west. She was also notorious for whipping out her pistol and shooting any man who crossed her. However, one night she accidentally shot the sheriff in the hip, which landed her in court with the law. She claimed that she didn't know that the gun was loaded and promised never to do it again.


The lyrics of the song are satirical in nature, as they poke fun at the idea that one can casually use a gun without knowing whether the bullets are loaded or not. The line "All I did was hold it high and go, I'll never, never do it again" serves as a metaphor for the carelessness of gun use, and how it can have harmful consequences.


The song highlights the dangers of guns and how they can cause harm, even if the person using them doesn't intend to do so. It also reflects a society that was accustomed to guns, and how the use of guns was seen as a normal aspect of everyday life.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh Miss Effie was her name
Introducing the character, Miss Effie


Through the west she won her fame
Miss Effie became famous in the west


Being handy with the gun
Miss Effie was skilled with firearms


But she drove the men insane
Men were attracted and enamoured by her skill and beauty


'Cause she'd whip out her pistol
Miss Effie would show off her firearm


And shoot most any guy
Miss Effie would use her gun to intimidate men


And sing out this alibi
She would give this common excuse when people were hurt


I didn't know the gun was loaded
Miss Effie claimed she didn't know the gun was loaded


And I'm so sorry, my friend
She expresses remorse for what happened


But one night she made a slip
Miss Effie made a mistake one night


Shot the sheriff in the hip
Miss Effie accidentally shot the sheriff


So the law, it took a hand
She was arrested for what she had done


And made Effie take the stand
Miss Effie had to give a testimony in court


And she pled, "Oh, your honor
Miss Effie begged the judge for mercy


I'll know you'll turn me loose
She believed she would be set free


When you hear my one excuse"
Miss Effie pleads for leniency from the judge


I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded
She repeats her excuse


And I'll never, never do it again
She promises she will never make the same mistake again


Yes, the jury all agreed
The jury came to a collective decision


That Miss Effie should be freed
Miss Effie was exonerated from her charges


But the sheriff's jealous wife
The sheriff's wife was jealous of Miss Effie


Was indignant (yes, indeed)
The sheriff's wife was furious


So she borrowed a pistol
The sheriff's wife acquired a gun illegally


And shot this village belle
The sheriff's wife killed Miss Effie


And sang as Miss Effie fell
The sheriff's wife sang as Miss Effie was dying


But regarding the gun that I toted
She wants to clarify her side about the gun


All I did was hold it high
She only used the gun to show off


And go I'll never, never do it again
She repeats her promise to not repeat her mistake




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HANK FORT, HERBERT LEVENTHAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@swifter46ter

@@comput3r Fact. That wasn't a fact. Fact. Opinions vary from person to person.
Opinion time:
New Vegas is the best story. Mediocre gameplay.
Fallout 3 is a bad story.
Mediocre gameplay.
Fallout 4 is a horrible story.
Amazing gameplay!
Fallout 76 was originally an abysmal story, however it is now on Fallout 4's level, horrible. Good Job 76!
Sadly for Fallout 76, the gameplay is a god-awful loop of fighting and looting, with the pacing and progression of a regular Fallout thrown out the window to shoe-horn in a multiplayer mode that doesn't even have enough players to fill the needlessly large map. It seems to me half the devs wanted Rust and the other half wanted Fallout 5. Instead of picking a side, they created a fucking disaster that took two years to clean up.



All comments from YouTube:

@perkyrusalka

I only looked this up because I heard my 80 year old mother cheefully singing "I didn't know the gun was loaded" and it was such a shock, lol. I don't know if it's better or worse now that I know what it's about!

@JensMorrison

Jackass comment redacted.

@perkyrusalka

@@JensMorrison Just wasn't expecting it from my mom, lol! She usually sings Christmas carols, year-round.

@JensMorrison

@@perkyrusalka Haha, nice.

@ZiemakAttack

That’s funny, I looked it up because my dad once told me a story of his grandmother (back when she was still alive) singing that same line and how much it shocked him

@rosieb471

What a nice name ! Perky . Rusalka. Polish? ?

2 More Replies...

@alecbaldwin7696

Oh I love this song

@jack002tuber

I can just hear you sing it.

@19stormbreaker91

really underrated comment. well player, sir

@jarlcohnson4738

AYO 💀💀

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