I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I get up every day.
It's a miracle, I'm told.
Somehow I live to work.
So I hit the road.
Squeeze into my hybrid car,
Drive as fast as I can
While I scan the rooftops.
Yeah, I scan the rooftops.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
So don't shoot, I'm a man.
I live in every city
All around the world.
Sometimes its way too hot.
Sometimes its friggin' cold.
One thing's always the same,
No matter what they say,
There's way too many problems.
Way, way too many problems.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
You wish you were swinging from the trees.
You wish you were slicing through the breeze
You wish you were a king or a queen.
You wish you'd hit the lottery.
But wishin' is for chumps, high hopin' is for fools.
They'll hunt you down.
They'll taze you bro for playin' with the rules.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
I've got a big dilemma
To punt or go for broke
It's got me goin' sleepless
Well I'm about to choke
Let me ask you something
Answer if you can
Think before you answer
There is no correct answer
So don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
It's a miracle, I'm told.
Somehow I live to work.
So I hit the road.
Squeeze into my hybrid car,
Drive as fast as I can
While I scan the rooftops.
Yeah, I scan the rooftops.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
So don't shoot, I'm a man.
I live in every city
All around the world.
Sometimes its way too hot.
Sometimes its friggin' cold.
One thing's always the same,
No matter what they say,
There's way too many problems.
Way, way too many problems.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
You wish you were swinging from the trees.
You wish you were slicing through the breeze
You wish you were a king or a queen.
You wish you'd hit the lottery.
But wishin' is for chumps, high hopin' is for fools.
They'll hunt you down.
They'll taze you bro for playin' with the rules.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
I've got a big dilemma
To punt or go for broke
It's got me goin' sleepless
Well I'm about to choke
Let me ask you something
Answer if you can
Think before you answer
There is no correct answer
So don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't shoot, I'm a man.
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
Don't taze me bro!
Lyrics submitted by fractured_sanity
Don't Shoot (I'm a Man) Lyrics as written by Mark Allen Mothersbaugh Gerald V. Casale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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Page
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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.
There was a New Traditionalist era DEVO video with someone wearing the "Don't Shoot, I'm a Man" vest.