The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
It started with the hay loft a creakin'
Well it just started in the hay (loft)
With his long johns on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom, to the hay
Young lovers and they are not sleeping
Young lovers in the hay (loft)
With his gun turned on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom, through the hay (loft)
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
Ga ga ga ga ga...
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
It started with the hay loft a-creakin'
Well it just started in the hay
With his long johns on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom to the hay (loft)
Young lovers with their legs tied up in knots,
Young lovers with their legs tied up in (knots)
With his long tall gun pop went a creepin'
To blow the hay loft dead head's straight off
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
Ga ga ga ga ga...
Ga ga ga ga ga...
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
It started with the hay loft a creakin'
Well it just started in the hay (loft)
With his long johns on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom, to the hay
Young lovers and they are not sleeping
Young lovers in the hay (loft)
With his gun turned on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom, through the hay (loft)
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
Ga ga ga ga ga...
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
It started with the hay loft a-creakin'
Well it just started in the hay
With his long johns on pop went a creepin'
Out to the bottom to the hay (loft)
Young lovers with their legs tied up in knots,
Young lovers with their legs tied up in (knots)
With his long tall gun pop went a creepin'
To blow the hay loft dead head's straight off
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
you better run
My daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun
my daddy's got a gun ga ga ga ga ga
Ga ga ga ga ga...
Ga ga ga ga ga...
Lyrics submitted by korq
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Here is my theory. There are two young people making love in a hayloft. One of the lovers' Dad (it never says which one, this is left to the listener to decide) has a gun. This point cannot be over emphasized. The father puts on his long johns with the intention of shooting 'the hay loft deed head's straight off.' I think by this it is meant the person sleeping with his child.
It can be inferred that it is very cold out because the narrator often stutters, but this might not be necessary to understanding the song.
Small point, but it's more than likely the girl's dad, seeing as the girls sing it in the song, and father's are always protective of their daughters.