Running Gun Blues Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I count the corpses on my left, I find I'm not so tidy
So I better get away, better make it today
I've cut twenty-three down since Friday
But I can't control it
My face is drawn, my instinct still emotes it
[Chorus]
I slashed them cold, I killed them dead
I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads
I'll bomb them out from under the beds
But now I've got the running gun blues
[Verse 2]
It seems the peacefuls stopped the war
Left generals squashed and stifled
But I'll slip out again tonight
'Cause they haven't taken back my rifle
For I promote oblivion
And I'll plug a few civilians
[Chorus]
I'll slash them cold, I'll kill them dead
I'll break them gooks, I'll crack their heads
I'll slice them till they're running red
But now I've got the running gun blues
I'll slash them cold, I'll kill them dead
I'll break them gooks, I'll crack their heads
I'll slice them till they're running red
But now I've got the running gun blues
I count the corpses on my left, I find I'm not so tidy
So I better get away, better make it today
I've cut twenty-three down since Friday
But I can't control it
My face is drawn, my instinct still emotes it
[Chorus]
I slashed them cold, I killed them dead
I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads
I'll bomb them out from under the beds
But now I've got the running gun blues
[Verse 2]
It seems the peacefuls stopped the war
Left generals squashed and stifled
But I'll slip out again tonight
'Cause they haven't taken back my rifle
For I promote oblivion
And I'll plug a few civilians
[Chorus]
I'll slash them cold, I'll kill them dead
I'll break them gooks, I'll crack their heads
I'll slice them till they're running red
But now I've got the running gun blues
I'll slash them cold, I'll kill them dead
I'll break them gooks, I'll crack their heads
I'll slice them till they're running red
But now I've got the running gun blues
About
Genius Annotation
“Running Gun Blues” is the fifth track from Bowie’s third studio album, The Man Who Sold The World.
Written at the same time as the Vietnam War, it tells a story of a maniacal soldier in a murderous frenzy, both during war and in a peaceful time, carrying an uncharacteristically strong political statement for Bowie.
Q&A
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Credits
Produced By
Written By
Bass
Recorder
Organ
Saxaphone
Stylophone
Lead Vocals
Backing Vocals
Acoustic Guitar
Lead guitar
Slide Guitar
Drums
Tambourine
Moog synthesizer
Engineering
Recorded At
Trident Studios, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London, England; Advision Studios, Fitzrovia, Greater London, England
Release Date
November 4, 1970
Running Gun Blues Translations
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