Staring Down the Barrel
Staring Down the Barrel: Unveiling the Shadows of Desperation
Lyrics
There was a shootout at that house
Describes a shootout that took place at a specific house
I was headed downtown
The narrator was en route to downtown
Unaware of the SWAT who blocked my path
Unaware of SWAT, which obstructed the narrator's path
I was only aware of the sky
The narrator was preoccupied with the sky, perhaps distracted or detached
Excuse me ma’am, could you go around?
The narrator is advised to avoid the area due to safety concerns
You’re not really safe here
Reiteration of the unsafe situation, urging the narrator to find an alternative route
Better go and find another way
Suggests the urgency of finding another way due to potential danger
Please cross the street right now
A direct instruction to cross the street immediately for safety
Now she’s all gussied up, a fresh coat of paint and new owners
Describes a house with new owners, possibly symbolizing change or transformation
Civil service pension, all the high-tech nylon gear
Mentions the high-tech gear and civil service pension, portraying a sense of authority or official presence
Standing round talking with the neighbours in the park like any old one
Normalizes the scene with neighbors in the park, contrasting with the potential danger
Unless you’re staring down the barrel how could you know what you should fear?
Presents a philosophical question about understanding fear only when facing imminent danger
When you stare
Depicts the intense experience of staring down the barrel of a loaded gun and the anticipation of someone waiting
Straight down the barrel of a long thin gun
-When you stare
-Straight down the barrel and you find someone
-When you stare
-Straight down the barrel of a loaded gun
-Someone’s waiting there
-I heard the neighbours say, “he could have lost everything”
Refers to the potential loss of everything for a man, possibly due to personal issues
His wife had run out of town and the kids were off at school
Highlights the absence of the man's wife and the children being away at school
What turns a man into empty anger?
Ponders on the factors that turn a man towards empty anger
And makes him take his shame and point it out the window
Suggests a manifestation of shame being directed outward, possibly through violent means
When you stare
Reiterates the theme of staring down the barrel, emphasizing the presence of someone waiting
Straight down the barrel of a long thin gun
-When you stare
-Straight down the barrel and you find someone
-When you stare
-Straight down the barrel of a loaded gun
-Someone’s waiting there
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