Don't move, stay right where you are
Talking can only give you away
So nothing to say
The voices say hello
Imprisoned, they're invisible
We look a lot alike
We look a lot alike
This is boring, all we talk about is you
Come on, give me a reason

A boy and his machine gun
When you're finished struggling
Are you free tonight?
Did they stick you in here
'Cause you weren't working right?

Don't move, stay just like you are
You look sane, motionless like that
So very flat
It's amazing what velocity can do
When human beings are in season

A boy and his machine gun
If you're quiet we might see some
When you're finished struggling
Are you free tonight?
Did they stick you in here
'Cause you weren't working right?
There's a TV in every room
And it's free even pay-per-view
Which you'll need if no one's going to visit you
Animal, fucking animal

I know who you're waiting for
No one's coming though
No one's coming though
So fuck you and your principles
And fuck whatever made me
Perhaps you think I'm evil
What does it matter if we're crazy?

Fuck you and your principles
And fuck whatever made me
Perhaps you think I'm evil
What does it matter if, matter if we're crazy?


Lyrics submitted by Little Butcher Boy

03:00 A.M. A Boy and His Machine Gun Lyrics as written by Matthew Good

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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A Boy And His Machine Gun song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    One of the best MGB songs. Many people think this song has something to do with the columbine school shootings, but I believe that the song is about a mental patient. I think A Boy With A Machine Gun is talking about the way in which humans view things that don't conform with mainstream society. In this song Matt used the example of a mental patient to ask us a question. What gives society the right to say what is acceptable or not. We lock mental patients up with the excuse that " oh he/she is crazy," but who should determine if they are crazy or not. JUst because they have different views or opinions on things we should be allowed to lock these people up. -tell me what you think

    blenderon June 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe Matt wrote this before the entire Columbine incident. When Beautiful Midnight came out, the media just assumed that there was a relation between the two! Otherwise I agree to what you wrote blender,

    "so fuck you and your principals and fuck whatever made me perhaps you think i'm evil perhaps you think i'm crazy"

    I think those few lines relate pretty well to the point your making. But then again it's Matt Good so you never know quite what his intensions for writing the song were.

    daisie_bfaon July 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can never figure out if it's principals or principles.

    Principal is like, the director of a school. But principles is people's morals or whatever. I'm not sure how to explain it. I could look it up, but I'm lazy. This is the first MGB song I heard, and one of my very favourites. I can't choose any one favourite though, I love all his songs.

    sapphstormon August 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'd have to agree to mental patient theory. Though from hearing it I wouldn't have thought that, I had to read the lyrics to work it out.

    evil_killer_phoneon September 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'd have to agree to mental patient theory. Though from hearing it I wouldn't have thought that, I had to read the lyrics to work it out.

    evil_killer_phoneon September 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    in Beavis voice heh heh... Smell my my finger...eh heheh

    sevenstringthingon September 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    YEah, the song was written long before columbine.

    blenderon September 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The last line is "What does it matter if we're crazy."

    blenderon September 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    animal, fucking animal.
    he says that so tenderly, as if he's holding the boy in his arms. it's the world that calls the kid an animal instead of trying to understand what it really is that makes him tick, also that flaws and capabillity to murder is in all of us.

    battaryacidon March 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actually, it's "so fuck you and your principals and fuck whatever made me perhaps you think i'm evil What does it matter if we're crazy"

    Hyphnipon March 23, 2003   Link

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