There's a green plaid jacket on the back of the chair
It's like a moment frozen forever there
Mom and dad had a lot of big plans for their little man
"So proud."

Mama's gone crazy 'cause her baby's shot down
By some teenage car chase war out of bounds
It was the wrong place wrong time wrong end of a gun.

Shoot straight from the hip
Gone forever in a trigger slip
You know, it could have been
It could have been your brother.

Shoot straight shoot to kill
Blame each other, blame yourselves
God is a bullet have mercy on us everyone
They're gonna call me sir they'll all stop picking on me
Well I'm a high school grad I'm over 5 foot 3
I'll get a badge and a gun and I'll join the P.D.

They'll see
He didn't have to use the gun they put in his hand
But when the guy came at him, well he panicked and ran
And it's thirty long years before they give him another chance

And it's sad sad sad
John Lennon, Doctor King, Harvey Milk
All for goddamn nothing
God is a bullet have mercy on us everyone


Lyrics submitted by hardcor_toonz

God Is a Bullet Lyrics as written by Jim Mankey Johnette Lin Napolitano

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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God Is a Bullet song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    Since no one has commented on this terrific song, I will chime in. I instantly became a fan of Concrete Blonde after hearing this song. I interpret this song as a diatribe against senseless violence, especially gun violence. The mention of Dr. King and John Lennon’s deaths still evoke too many sad memories.

    This song is performed with an urgency and venom that sucks you in from beginning to end.

    grogleyon December 06, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is about the ephemeral nature of life. No matter who you are, a leader, a celebrity, or just some kid, death might be coming for you tomorrow at 800ft./sec.

    Red Octoberon February 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with Grogley. I love all the Concrete Blonde songs, but this is probably my favorite. I like the opening lines about the jacket on the chair...paints a picture and lets you fill in the blanks. Great song.

    kickstart71on November 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song's about guns, and how a life is "gone forever in a trigger slip". Johnette (who I believe is one of the best lyricists ever) is singing about how fragile and cheap life gets on "the wrong end of a gun".

    Zanaryon August 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together can tell you that this is an anti-gun song. What does "God is a bullet" mean?

    dirtyrat11on September 13, 2022   Link

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