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,
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
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I don't believe there's anything about molestation in this song. I think it's a song filled with metaphors. Daddy and his gun could represent anyone in an authority position (or someone just plain controlling). And that person is gunning for someone who is involved in a romantic relationship...perhaps that which "daddy" doesn't improve of...(dang preposition!)