Two gunslingers walked out in the street and one said
"I don't wanna fight no more"
And the other gunslinger thought about it and said
"Yeah, what are we fighting for?
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah"
Well the crowd that assembled for the gunfight
Were let down, everyone hissed and booed
And a stranger told his Mrs. "That's the last one of these gunfights
You're ever gonna drag me to.
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah"
Well the two gunslingers went ridin' out of town and
Were never heard from no more
And there ain't been a gunfight for a long time,
Maybe never, but nobody knows for sure
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah
"I don't wanna fight no more"
And the other gunslinger thought about it and said
"Yeah, what are we fighting for?
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah"
Well the crowd that assembled for the gunfight
Were let down, everyone hissed and booed
And a stranger told his Mrs. "That's the last one of these gunfights
You're ever gonna drag me to.
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah"
Well the two gunslingers went ridin' out of town and
Were never heard from no more
And there ain't been a gunfight for a long time,
Maybe never, but nobody knows for sure
I'm takin' control of my life, I'm takin' control of my life,
I'm takin' control of my life now, right now oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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It's about how people are forced to do what they don't want and act like someone they aren't, just to be accepted or to avoid being looked down on--"That's the last one/of these gunfights/you're ever gonna drag me to/"
It might let down other people but it's better for you as a person--"everyone hissed and booed"
I think Petty means this as an allegory; the lines "And there ain't been a gunfight for a long time/maybe never, nobody knowd for sure"-it's lkike he's illustrating an example.
Let me know of I'm wrong here.
Great tune
I hear a little of Petty talking to himself and wrestling with his own demons. A very moving, under appreciated song.
You deserved a reply on this post...even 14 years later!