Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers (you want some earnings and stuff?)
Try to have their cake and eat it too (yes, ma'am)
(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
You are such a romantic hero
The way you dress and look yourself over
(It's no wonder you would ponder that image
Of your preening self in the mirror (go on)

Sharp-shooter into breakin' hearts
Baby gigolo, a sex pistol
Hollerin' at everything that walks (uh)
No substance, just small talk
Now why you're feelin' on that girl's behind
You got a sleazy, one track mind
And workin' your back until you think you'll find
Who's goin' home with you tonight?

Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to?
Who you gonna cheat on?
Who you gonna leave alone?
Oh, what you gonna tell her after she discovers
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown, knock down, drag out
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up

I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?

Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too
(Son of a gun)
You tell 'em, Carly
Clouds in my coffee (go on)
Clouds in my coffee
Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too

Sweatin' me but I'm not your type (no)
You think you irkin' me and you're so right
I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out
Stupid bitch in my beach house
No, I ain't gon' go and act a fool
And be the lead story on nigga news
Never me, sucker, I'd never be your lover
I'd rather make you suffer, you stupid motherfucker

Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to?
Who you gonna cheat on?
Who you gonna leave alone?
Oh, what you gonna tell her after she discovers (uh)
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown, knockdown, drag out
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up

I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?

Ha, ha, hoo, hoo
Thought you'd get the money too
Greedy motherfuckers
Try to have their cake and eat it too (let's dance)

You tell 'em, Carly (uh)
(Clouds of various shapes and sizes)
(Most guys like to evaluate their prizes) alright now
(We come with so many different tricks)
(The apricot scarf was worn by Nick)
(Nothing in the words refer to Mick)

Got a chip upon your shoulder, I just knocked it off
Show me what you're gonna do, I ain't 'bout to run
You have just run out of ammunition (I'm storm cloud, baby)
Shootin' blanks now, you son of a gun (you can roll like thunder all over me)

Oh, who you gonna give it to?
Who you gonna steal it from?
Who's your next victim?
Oh, who you gonna lie to? (No, no, no, no, no)
Who you gonna cheat on? (It's not what you say)
Who you gonna leave alone? (It's what you do)
Oh (you're so vain, go on)
What you gonna tell her after she discovers (you probably think this song is about you)
You don't really love her?
Oh, it's gonna be a showdown (don't you, don't you, don't you)
Knockdown, drag down (don't you)
Gun slingin', shoot 'em up (don't you?)

I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (don't you?)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?

I bet you think this song is about you
I bet you think this song is about you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I bet you think this song is about you (I bet you)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you, don't you?

I'm gone
(Son of a gun)
Go on
Janet and me, thick as thieves
Never met yet but I'll venture a bet
There's a common threat to our common dream (tell 'em, Carly)
And if it wasn't for that damned cream
There'd be no clouds in my coffee (talk to 'em, come on)
clouds in my coffee
Who do you think you are, Rambo?
Or a cumulonimbus capillatus or a cirrus or an altostratus?
Somebody to make somebody like me proud (you tell 'em, Carly)
In the encyclopedia of clouds? (Alright now)
No, no, no, no
It's not what you say, it's what you do
You're so vain (go on)
You probably think this song is about you
You tell 'em, Carly
probably think this song is about you
Don't hurt 'em now
Yeah, you probably think this song is about you
That's my girl
Is about you (go on)
Is about you (go on)
You probably think this song is about you
(You son of a gun)

(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)
(Son of a gun)


Lyrics submitted by loppop

Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) Lyrics as written by James Samuel Iii Harris Carly E Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

7 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love the beats on this song... the message is a little harsh to those of the male persuasion but we'll bounce back from Ms. Jackson's little tyrade, won't we fellas? :p

    MrAcidXon December 15, 2001   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The best version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    loppopon May 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this is a really great song ( until the radio kills it)and it's good to listen to when you're getting over someone. I also like the line " clouds in my coffee" and i think it's a good metaphor for waking up and just knowing you're going to have a bad day.

    roxyglamouron June 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To Roxyglamour: It was killed a bit, but its really good for curing a broken heart!!! Thanx 4 commenting! Loppop

    loppopon July 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    love this song just gives you the confidence to swing back after a relationship filled with woes or contreversy or whatever you want to call it.

    skaloverxiuxiuon July 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just a few lyrics corrections, or at least suggestions because I hear something different.

    "It's no wonder you would ponder that image of your PREENING self in the mirror."

    Janet and me, thick as theives Never met YET but i'll venture a bet There's a common THREAD to our common dream And if it wasn't for that damn cream there'd be no Clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee"

    And also, in the "clouds of various shapes and sizes" verse, were the last two lines intentionally made to say 'nick' in one line and 'mick' in the next?

    Anyway, GREAT song! GREAT video! Loves it so much. It's basically saying that she is over her ex and that she is trying to expose him for the vain, self-centered, womanizing, ignorant ass that he is.

    jamesxhimboon August 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Indeed, indeed... Sing-a-long when the motherfucker thinks "He's Rambo or a cumulonimbus capalatus or a ceres or a altostratus. Somebody should make somebody like me proud. In the encyclopedia of clouds.."

    "You're such a romantic hero, the way you dress and look yourself over. It's no wonder you would ponder that image of your preening self in the mirror."

    "Oh who u give it to Who you gonna steal from Who's your next victim Oh, who you gonna lie to Who you gonna cheat on Who you gonna leave alone Oh, what ya gonna tell her After she discovers You don't really love her" - OOOOOOOH!

    "I'd rather keep the trash and throw you out"

    "I'll never be your lover I'm gonna make you suffer You stupid motherfucker"

    "I betcha think this song is about you"

    LyricsCrazyGirlon July 03, 2008   Link

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

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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,
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.