What's your Favorite Handgun Song

[the pistolero]

No mention yet of "Bubba Shot the Juke Box"??

*gasp* Yeah! And I'm in Chesnutt's hometown every day, I oughta be ashamed of myself! Every time I hear that song now, though, I wonder to myself, was he using a wheelgun or a 1911. Two more songs came to mind, from Texas/Oklahoma red-dirt country band Cross Canadian Ragweed, "Walls of Huntsville":

Thought she was clever, I pulled up in the rear
I pulled out my Old Timer, I cut that boy from ear to ear
Yeah, she begged me not to do it, said her runnin' days are through
I said I forgive you, as the bullet casings flew
Satisfaction, it locomotived through my brain
Now the walls of Huntsville keep me under lock and chain...

and "Cold Hearted Woman":

Cold hearted woman, you're bringing me down in flames
Runnin' around all over town, runnin' down my name
Gonna get me a loaded pistol, hey,was that out loud?
Cold hearted woman, I'm gonna put you in the ground...

Cody Canada and the boys have an eerie fascination with violent death, I know, but they still make some great music...

 

[CornCod]

Headless

Another Warren Zevon song: "Roland, the Headless Thompson Gunner".

 

['Card]

Out on the town, lookin' for a woman, gonna give me good love.
Anybody wanna hang out with me, maybe burn me up?
She was standing alone, over by the jukebox, like she had something to sell...
I said 'Baby, what's the goin' price?' - she told me to go to hell.
AC/DC - Shot Down in Flames

 

[usmccpl]

i never stopped to think about how many songs mention guns of shooting til now and every marine I have served with call me the human jukebox.Now that I stop and think about it there are probly enough songs like that to fill a few months worth of sundays.





one shot one kill

 

[Brass Balls]

Hank Williams Jr.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I used to have a friend in NY City
Never called me by my name, just 'hillbilly'
He used to send me pictures of the broadway lights
And I'd send him some home made wine.

But he was killed by a man with a switch blade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
I'd like to spit some beech-nut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my ol' .45

Cuz a country boy can survive

+1

 

[Grunt]

Lyle Lovett's "Lights of L.A. County"


She left Dallas for California
With an old friend by her side
Well he did not say much
But one year later
He'd ask her to be his wife

And the lights of L.A. County
Look like diamonds in the sky
When you're driving through the hours
With an old friend at your side

One year later I left Houston
With an old friend by my side
Well it did not say much
But it was a beauty
Of a coal black.45

And the lights of L.A. County
Look like diamonds in the sky
When you're driving through the hours
With an old friend at your side

So I drove on all the day long
And I drove on through the night
And I thought of her a'waiting
For to be his blushing bride

And the lights of L.A. County
They looked like diamonds in the sky
As I drove into the valley
With my old friend at my side

And as she stood there at the altar
All dressed in her gown of white
Her face was bright as stars a'shining
Like I'd dreamed of all my life

And they kissed each other
And they turned around
And they saw me standing in the aisle
Well I did not say much
I just stood there watching
As that.45 told them goodbye

And the lights of L.A. County
Look like diamonds in the sky
When you're kneeling at the altar
With an old friend at your side

And the lights of L.A. County
Are a mighty pretty sight
When you're kneeling at the altar
With an old friend at your side

 

[Darkker]

The Refreshments - Interstate

"Handgun and bottle of Boone's in a 69' Ford and new pair of shoes..."

 

[GrandmasterB]

+1 on the Robert Jonson, .32-20 blues.

But the favorite has to be ZZ Top's Gun Love:


She likes to shoot her gun,
Shootin' at the target of love.
She likes to load her chamber,
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.

 

[clang]

Lots of good ones already mentioned, but don't forget "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring.

...When the Bullet hits the bone.....

It was a great video back when MTV played music.

 

[distortion9]

"Give Me Three Steps" for sure


Sublime was always good for guns in their lyrics.

Don't Push

If I had a shotgun, know what I'd do,
I'd point it straight up at the sky,
and shoot heaven on down for you.
Because the bars are always open,
and the time is always right.
And if God's good word goes unspoken,
the music goes all night.
And it goes:


Santeria

Tell sanchito that if he knows what is good for him
He best go run and hide
Daddy's got a new .45
And I won't think twice
To stick that barrel straight down sancho's throat
Believe me when I say that I got something for his punk-a**

But, perhaps my fav...

"Paul Revere"

Now here's a little story I've got to tell
About three bad brothers you know so well
It started way back in history
With Adrock, M.C.A., and me - Mike D.
Been had a little horsy named Paul Revere
Just me and my horsy and a quart of beer
Riding across the land, kicking up sand
Sheriff's posse on my tail cause I'm in demand
One lonely Beastie I be
All by myself without nobody
The sun is beating down on my baseball hat
The air is gettin' hot the beer is getting flat
Lookin' for a girl I ran into a guy
His name is M.C.A., I said, "Howdy" he said, "Hi"

He told a little story that sounded well rehearsed
Four days on the run and that he's dying of thirst
The brew was in my hand and he was on my tip
His voice was hoarse, his throat was dry he asked me for a sip
He said, "Can I get some?"
I said, "You can't get none!"
Had a chance to run
He pulled out his shotgun
He was quick on the draw I thought I'd be dead
He put the gun to my head and this is what he said,

"Now my name is M.C.A. I've got a license to kill
I think you know what time it is it's time to get ill
Now what do we have here an outlaw and his beer
I run this land, you understand I make myself clear."
We stepped into the wind he had a gun, I had a grin
You think this story's over but it's ready to begin

"Now I got the gun you got the brew
You got two choices of what you can do
It's not a tough decision as you can see
I can blow you away or you can ride with me" I said, I'll ride with you if you can get me to the border
The sheriff's after me for what I did to his daughter
I did it like this, I did it like that
I did it with a whiffleball bat
So I'm on the run the cop's got my gun
And right about now it's time to have some fun
The King Adrock that is my name
And I know the fly spot where they got the champagne."
We rode for six hours then we hit the spot
The beat was a bumping and the girlies was hot
This dude was staring like he knows who we are
We took the empty spot next to him at the bar
M.C.A. said, "Yo, you know this kid?"
I said, "I didn't." but I know he did
The kid said, "Get ready cause this ain't funny
My name's Mike D. and I'm about to get money."
Pulled out the jammy aimed it at the sky
He yelled, "Stick 'em up!" and let two fly
Hands went up and people hit the floor
He wasted two kids that ran for the door
"I'm Mike D. and I get respect
Your cash and your jewelry is what I expect"
M.C.A. was with it and he's my ace
So I grabbed the piano player and I punched him in the face
The piano player's out the music stopped
His boy had beef and he got dropped
Mike D. grabbed the money M.C.A. snatched the gold
I grabbed two girlies and a beer that's cold.

 

[shu]

my friends call me two-gun
i answer when they call
[repeat two lines]
i got one in my pocket,
one in my overall

- jimmie rogers

 

[Lucky 7]

"In Time" by Mark Collie

"I can hear what you're thinking, All your doubts and fears, And if you look in my eyes, in time you'll find, The reason I'm here.

And in time all things shall pass away, In time, you may come back someday. To live once more, or die once more, But in time, your time will be no more.

You know your days are numbered, Count them one by one, Like notches in the handle of an outlaw's gun. You can outrun the devil, if you try, But you'll never outrun the hands of time.

In time there surely, come a day In time all things shall pass away, In time you may come back some say. To live once more, or die once more, But in time, your time will be no more.

I can hear what you're thinking"

Good stuff. Love the second verse.

-L7

 

[bender]

Close second is Saturdaynight Special by Skynard

a big anti-gun song? or was it a joke?

Hand guns are made for killin
Aint no good for nothin else
And if you like your whiskey
You might even shoot yourself
So why dont we dump em people
To the bottom of the sea

 

[No_Brakes23]

{Saturday NightSpecial}-a big anti-gun song? or was it a joke?

Not a joke.

"Gimme Back My Bullets" by Lynard Skynard.

Not a song about firearms. Van Zant was vocally anti-gun. The bullets he refers to are the "Bullets" given by Billboard on the music rating system. Same origin as the phrase, "Number One with a bullet."

A shame, since Skynyrd is good wholesome comfort food, musically speaking.

As for rap, most references are horribly inaccurate or idiot posturing. There are a few exceptions, one of which is the clever "Gun as Lover" metaphor of Tupac Shakur's Me and My Girfriend. I am not a big fan of Shakur's style of rap, but I can appreciate his comparison of clumsy teen fondling with the first time he held his pistol, (A direct quote would raise the ire of Art's Grammaw, so I will spare you. The link has already been posted by someone else.)

Doesn't film Zachariah have a song about the Colt 45, (As in 45LC)?

The Rugburns have a tragic song called The Ballard of Tommy and Marla about a couple of meth-dopers from L.A.

"Tommy had a passion for firearms
His confidence they really seemed to bolster
He bought a ninety dollar pistol for his Mar-Mar
She kept it in her little girly holster"

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Ray Charles/ Willie Nelson

Seven Spanish Angels
-----------------------------------------------------


He looked down into her blue eyes, and said
"Say a prayer for me". She
Threw her arms around him, whispered
"God will keep us free".
They could hear the riders comin', He said
"This is my last fight...If they
Take me back to Texas, they won't
Take me back a-live.

There were seven Spanish angels, at the
Altar of the sun.
They were prayin' for the lovers, in the
Valley of the gun.
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared,
There was thunder from the throne,
And seven spanish angels, took a-nother
Angel home.

She reached down and picked the gun up,
That lay smokin in his hand.
She said, "Father please forgive me;
I can't make it without my man."
And she knew the gun was empty,
And she knew she couldn't win,
But her final prayer was answered
When the rifles fired again.

There were seven Spanish angels, at the
Altar of the sun.
They were prayin' for the lovers, in the
Valley of the gun.
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared,
There was thunder from the throne,
And seven spanish angels, took a-nother
Angel home.

 

[gremlin_bros]

how about LYNYRD SKYNYRD
who can forget three stepps
I was cutting the rug
Down at a place called The Jug
With a girl named Linda Lu
When in walked a man
With a gun in his hand
And he was looking for you know who.
He said, "Hey there fellow,
With the hair colored yellow,
Watcha tryin' to prove?
'Cause that's my woman there
And I'm a man who cares
And this might be all for you."

I was scared and fearing for my life.
I was shakin' like a leaf on a tree.
'Cause he was lean, mean,
Big and bad, Lord,
Pointin' that gun at me.
I said, "Wait a minute, mister,
I didn't even kiss her.
Don't want no trouble with you.
And I know you don't owe me
But I wish you'd let me
Ask one favor from you."

(Chorus)
"Won't you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And you'll never see me no more."

Well the crowd cleared away
And I began to pray
As the water fell on the floor.
And I'm telling you son,
Well, it ain't no fun
Staring straight down a forty-four.
Well he turned and screamed at Linda Lu
And that's the break I was looking for.
And you could hear me screaming a mile away
As I was headed out towards the door.

 

[Bart Noir]

Memory fails me again, but isn't there a song with a phrase something like "spat smoke and lead and 17 inches of flame"? I think of that phrase when I shoot a full 40 grain blackpowder charge in my Dragoon (replica of course).

If anybody can recall the song and singer I'll dedicate my next six shots to him or her.

Bart Noir

 

[stiletto raggio]

Rocky Racoon.

Also, "The Other Shoe," by the Old 97s. It's about killing your cheatin' wife and her lover, but it's a fun song with great imagery.

One old brown shoe falls in slow motion,
And the bedsprings hover right above your head,
As bed springs do, when you're beneath them.
Someone else just climbed into your bed.

By the time she thought you'd probably got to Phoenix,
She'd arranged for your shoes to be filled.
Well you've got your pride, and a blue-steel '45,
And you're waiting for the other shoe to fall.

You'll dig a double grave out in the meadow,
And you'll curse the rain that turns the dirt to mud.
You'll take I-35 south towards Laredo,
Then you'll try to find a doctor who can prescribe an elixir
That'll make everything better, except your late wife and her lover.

By the time she thought you'd probably got to Phoenix,
She'd sealed her fate and gotten herself killed.
Well you've got your pride, and a blue-steel '45,
And you're waiting for the other shoe to fall.

 

[hankdatank1362]

Honestly?

Paul Oakenfold's techno song "Ready Steady Go". The song has absolutely nothing to do with guns, but it was the song they played in the Korean dance club Fever in the movie "Collateral" with Tom Cruise. And that was such an awesome scene, I felt that the song played while he does his thing should count.

And "Here comes the Boom!"...DMX, from the movie "Belly" Soundtrack.

 

[joab]

Delia's gone,
one more round
Delia's gone

 

[lepmik]

Bubba shot the jukebox is a pretty tight song. I've always assumed it was a 1911, but i guess it just as easily could have been a .45 colt revolver.

Hey Joe is great too.

My vote for the best goes to Stagger Lee (version by anyone.)

What's the Sublime song about "daddy's got a new .45?" that's a good one too.

 

[lepmik]

Oh, there was some rap song where part of the percussion/chorus was a handgun going off. I only heard it once, but I loved it. Yes, I like rap music as much as I like rock, bluegrass, real country and western, folk, etc. If you don't appreciate rap music, then you're not listening to the right stuff. Try older stuff like Public Enemy or NWA. Wu-Tang Clan is great too. You don't have to like it, just appreciate it for what it is.

 

[spooney]

I love Cocaine Blues, its my favorite Johnny Cash song.

One that hasn't been mentioned is Lights of Loving County by Charlie Robison,

Well I loved a girl.
She lived out in Pecos and she was pretty as she could be.
Well I worked them oil rigs on out in Odessa.
Just to give her whatever she needs.
Well that girl run, with an oil company bum
Because the diamond was not on her hand.
He left her soon beneath the big Loving moon
To go out and X-ray the land.
Now I sit in my car at the new Rainbow Bar downtown.
The frost on the windshield shines toward the sky
Like a thousand tiny diamonds
In the lights of Loving County.

Now I walked in that bar and I drank myself crazy
Because I was thinking about her and the man.
Then in walked a woman she's looking richer than sin
And she had ten years worth of work on her hand.
Well I followed her home when she was alone
And I put my gun to her head.
And I don't recall what happened next,
But now that rich woman... Well, she's dead.
Now I drive down the highway ten miles from my sweet baby's arms.
The moon is so bright that it don't look like night.
And the diamond, how it sparkled
In the lights of Loving County.

She opened that door and I knelt on the floor.
And I put that ring in her hand.
She said "I do" and that she'd leave with me soon
To them ol' oil rigs out in South Alabama.
Well I told her to hide that ring there inside
And wait 'til the timing was good.
And I drove on home and I was alone
Because I thought that she understood. (But you know she didn't)
Because the next night an old friend
Just called me to wish us both well.
He said he'd seen her downtown sashayin' around
And her diamond... Oh, how it sparkled.
In the lights of Loving County.

Well that sheriff he found me out wandering all around El Paso
The very next day.
You see, I'd lost my mind on that broken white line
Before I even reached Balmorhea.
Well now she's in Fort Worth and she's just giving birth
To the son of that oil company man.
And they buried that sheriff's poor old dead wife
With the ring that I stole on her hand.
You know sometimes they let me look up at that East Texas sky.
And the rain on the pines...Oh Lord, how it shines!
Like my diamond that sparkled
In the lights of Loving County.

 

[SACOLT]

Mike and the Mechanic's Silent Running
Ted Nugent's Kiss My Glock (see youtube.com)
Warren Zevon's Lawyers Guns and Money

 

[warwagon]

Bart,

If memory serves me right, the song you refer to is Mr. shorty, by Marty Robbins.