Man Down

I apologize in advance for the length of this post but I’ve got to show everyone that this song is not about rape! It’s about police violence. Rihanna’s video is an artistic interpretation of a song written by someone else and it’s great but it does not accurately portray the meaning of the lyrics.

Start with the title. “Man Down” is the phrase the police use when someone is shot during an altercation. Then notice the sirens in the background. From there, nearly every line makes it clear that the song is about a police officer who has recently killed a man after shooting him in a busy public place during a “simple altercation” that “turned into a real sticky situation.” The officer explains that he never intended to kill the man and that he had hoped he’d never have to kill anyone in the line of duty. The lyrics suggest the officer is afraid of the consequences of his mistake and that he feels guilty for what he has done.

First the officer explains that he didn’t mean to shoot the guy and he can’t stop thinking about it and is worried about going to jail:

“I didn't mean to end his life I know it wasn't right I can't even sleep at night Can't get it off my mind I need to get out of sight Before I end up behind bars”

Then he says the incident started out routinely but quickly got out of control:

“What started out as a simple altercation Turned into a real sticky situation Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing Makes me wanna cry”

Here he shows remorse for his actions:

“Cause I didn't mean to hurt him Could've been somebody's son And I took his heart when I pulled out that gun Mama, mama, mama I just shot a man down In Central Station In front of a big old crowd Oh why, oh why Oh, mama, mama, mama I just shot a man down In Central Station”

Next the officer explains that he basically lost his cool and reached for his firearm without thinking:

“It's a 22, I call her Peggy Sue When she fits right down in my shoes What you expect me to do If you're playing me for a fool I will lose my cool And reach for my firearm”

Like many officers, this guy had hoped that he’d never have to shoot, much less kill someone. He’s wondering how he could have lost control like that and regrets pulling the trigger:

“Look, I never thought I'd do it, never thought I'd do it, never thought I'd do it. Oh gosh, what ever happened to me, ever happened to me, ever happened to me? Why did I pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull the trigger? Boom! And end a nigga, end a nigga’s life so soon. When me pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull it 'pon you. Somebody tell me what I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do.”

Anyway, you get the idea… Just a few more points though… It seems unlikely to me that a woman who just shot her rapist would…

1. Say she didn’t mean to
2. Call what happened an altercation
3. Call her weapon a firearm
4. Say the phrase “man down” afterward
5. Talk about how she never thought she’d do it (why would she have?)
6. Act surprised and wonder why she shot him