1 Meaning
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
The Proverbial Gun Lyrics
Now I can buy the proverbial gun
And shoot the proverbial child
When my uncle looks me in the eye
And speaks of freedom
My conscience goes up on trial
In the courtrooms of the mind
Where the judges all have sons
And all the lawyers are wounded
And the backs are all broke
And the bailiff is my brother
And the witness is my sister
And I'm guilty as hell
And by the afternoon I'm out
On the pavement walking
Reeking of salt and blood
No hat upon my head
No shoes upon my feet
Picking your body from my teeth
No stars above me
No stripes upon me
Free (x10)
And shoot the proverbial child
When my uncle looks me in the eye
And speaks of freedom
My conscience goes up on trial
In the courtrooms of the mind
Where the judges all have sons
And all the lawyers are wounded
And the backs are all broke
And the bailiff is my brother
And the witness is my sister
And I'm guilty as hell
And by the afternoon I'm out
On the pavement walking
Reeking of salt and blood
No hat upon my head
No shoes upon my feet
Picking your body from my teeth
No stars above me
No stripes upon me
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
First of all, this song is a continuation of "The State", both musically and lyrically. After The State spoke of selling one's morality to the state, this song explains what can follow.
That song ended with:
And once the sin is committed, it is judged not by God, but in the mind of the public. And since the public is inherently made of sinful people, they are 1) more likely to feel guilt in condemning him for things they would do and 2) easy to bribe.
And so he's let off for his sins, even though still covered in proverbial blood, and considers it absolution, because he's married his conscience to the state.