"Gun Love" reached the #8 spot on Billboard's "Mainstream Rock" chart. The other new track, a cover of the classic tune "Viva Las Vegas" in ZZ Top's trademark southern rock style, hit #16.
Gun Love
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
blues classic "Real Gone Lover." Despite the title, this ballistic
track has more in common with traditional blues themes than the NRA.
Recorded for this occasion, Billy's lead is played on a Fender Jaguar,
standard side arm for surf music warriors of yore.}
She likes to shoot her gun,
Shootin' at the target of love.
Hot and tight like a black leather glove.
She's a little freak, but she'll take you in.
You might be sittin' at the end of a firing pin.
Gun love, gun love, gun love,
She's a real gun lover,
Gun love, gun love, gun love,
She's a real gun lover tonight.
She's so particular, she likes a Smith and Wesson or Colt.
But she'll give you some lovin' as long as she's cockin' the bolt.
Better hold on when she's up to her tricks
Playin' Russian Roulette but she'll load all six.
Gun love, gun love, gun love,
She's a real gun lover,
Gun love, (gun love) gun love, (gun love) gun love,
She's a real gun lover tonight.
She likes the punch deep down in her pistolero.
Running with the wild bunch, makin' like a Robert Dinero.
She's kinda shy but make no mistake,
She'll shoot you full of love till your love bone aches.
Gun love, gun love, gun love,
She's a real gun lover,
Gun love, (gun love) gun love, gun love,
She's a real gun lover tonight.
She's a real gun lover.
She's a real gun lover tonight.
The lyrics to ZZ Top's Gun Love describe a woman who has a passion for guns but uses them as a metaphor for love. She enjoys shooting her gun, aiming at the target of love, and loading her chamber, which is compared to a black leather glove. The woman is characterized as a little freaky, but she will welcome you in, even though you might feel like you are sitting at the end of a firing pin. The chorus repeats the phrase "gun love," emphasizing the woman's love for both firearms and the act of love-making.
The song continues with further exploration of the woman's obsession with guns, detailing her preference for a Smith and Wesson or Colt, and how she uses them to initiate love-making after cocking the bolt. The bridge of the song mentions the woman's love of the punch deep down in her pistolero (Spanish for gunfighter), as well as her ability to fit in with the wild bunch like Robert Dinero. The final verse ends with a warning that although she seems shy, she will still shoot you full of love until your love bone aches.
Overall, the lyrics to Gun Love are a playful yet subversive take on the traditional blues themes of love and guns. It is a refreshing change from the typical masculine portrayal of gun ownership in popular music and instead focuses on a woman's perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
She likes to shoot her gun,
The woman referred to in the song derives pleasure from firing guns.
Shootin' at the target of love.
She shoots her gun metaphorically at the object of her infatuation.
She likes to load her chamber,
She enjoys the act of preparing her gun for use.
Hot and tight like a black leather glove.
She loads her gun with care, in the way a person would treat black leather gloves that fit well.
She's a little freak, but she'll take you in.
The woman is unconventional and unusual but is able to draw people in.
You might be sittin' at the end of a firing pin.
The woman's unconventional behavior towards guns can put someone at potential risk of being harmed by accidental discharge.
She's a real gun lover,
The woman has a real affinity towards firearms.
She's so particular, she likes a Smith and Wesson or Colt.
The woman has a preference for two brands regarding the type of gun she likes.
But she'll give you some lovin' as long as she's cockin' the bolt.
She implies that lovemaking happens when she has the firearm ready for action.
Better hold on when she's up to her tricks
The person should safeguard themselves when she is doing actions with the gun.
Playin' Russian Roulette but she'll load all six.
The woman engages in a high-stakes game of Russian roulette, where she loads a 6-chambered gun which increases the odds of the gun firing.
She likes the punch deep down in her pistolero.
She appreciates the force of the shot emanating from the gun.
Running with the wild bunch, makin' like a Robert Dinero.
She is part of a group of untamed people who behave similarly. A reference to the character played by Robert De Niro in the movie The Deer Hunter.
She's kinda shy but make no mistake,
Although essentially retiring, the woman is not to be trifled with.
She'll shoot you full of love till your love bone aches.
She will shower you with emotions until you are overwhelmed and fatigued.
She's a real gun lover tonight.
The woman is particularly enthusiastic about her love of firearms tonight, possibly in the company of someone else.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRANK BEARD, BILLY GIBBONS, DUSTY HILL, CARL MARSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randycunningham7318
Sounds a little like ZZ Top meets Robert Palmer. Which is cool.
@RideAcrossTheRiver
Sort of Stones in there too and maybe a nod to Prince!
@ThePreciousguitar87
My favorite from the TOP!π€
@codybolt4542
I used to listen to this one waaaay too loud back in the day. I'm sure my neighbors loved me.
@bevo1776
Hell, they should have thanked you!
@231mitsos1
This is music . This is a masterpiece of the kings of rock / blues . :)
@RideAcrossTheRiver
I really really dig it when ZZ does the sleazzy-beat RnB numbers that get everyone wiggling!
@AutoBahnForever
This song HOLDS UP,.........the guitar work and production quality are outstanding.
@jayteebee2041
as always what killer guitar tone and playing....wish it was more...love his use of split harmonics and pinch harmonics.
@i.m-r0d
ok I gotta say first-hand I'm a metal/hard rock fan but got dam ZZ-TOP really are an awesome mix of pop-rock and blues.