Story Behind The Song
It's an actual event. One of my students (I teach Tae Kwon Do) experienced his fiance leaving him for another man. I remember talking with him, trying to be an incouragement, and a few days later I heard that he had shot himself. The song is an anthlem
Song Description
It's about a young man (editorially known as "johnny") who "contimplate a squeeze", or who contimplates suicide as a way out of his pain.
| Song Length |
4:33 |
Genre |
Rock - Classic, Blues - Rock |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Infuriated |
Subject |
Doom, Loneliness |
| Similar Artists |
The Black Crowes, John Lennon |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1970 - 1979 |
| |
Lyrics
JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN, AND CONTEMPLATES A SQUEEZE.
THE TRIGGER KNOWS HIS THUMB, AND THE PRINT THAT IT WILL LEAVE.
HE DOESN?T WANT THE PAIN, THIS COULD BE HIS TICKET OUT.
HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY, TO GET OUT FROM ?NEATH THIS CLOUD...
(FIRST CHORUS)
LIFE AIN?T ALL SO GRAND WHEN YOUR STILL SO YOUNG.
TO SIDE -STEP THE PAIN, JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN!
JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN, TRIES TO LOAD THE CHAMBER,
WIPES AWAY THE TEARS, DECIDES TO KEEP THE ANGER.
HE GIVES INTO THE PAIN, ONE IN SIX WILL KILL YA,
WOULDN?T WAIT ANOTHER DAY, IT?S THE RUSSIAN WAY TO THRILL YA!
(SECOND CHORUS)
LIFE CAN BE SAD, WHEN YOUR ON THE RUN, YOU CAN WIND UP MAD,
SO JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN. THERE?S A BARREL AND A BULLET FOR MOST ANYONE! (SOLO)
(FIRST CHORUS)
LIFE AIN?T ALL SO GRAND WHEN YOUR STILL SO YOUNG. TO SIDE -STEP THE PAIN,JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN! THERE?S A BARREL AND A BULLET FOR MOST ANYONE!
JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN, SPILLED HIMSELF OUT ON THE FLOOR.
HE FELT A LITTLE DUMB, THAT WAS THE LAST THOUGHT BEFORE,
HE CHECKED OUT OF THE GLOOM. HE CHECKED OUT OF THE STRIFE
HE CHECKED OUT OF THE BLUE , CHECKED OUT THERE ON HIS LIFE!!
(SECOND CHORUS)
LIFE CAN BE SAD, WHEN YOUR ON THE RUN, YOU CAN WIND UP MAD,
SO JOHNNY BOUGHT A GUN. THERE?S A BARREL AND A BULLET FOR MOST ANYONE!