Girls With Guns
Written by Tommy Shaw
Lead Vocals by Tommy Shaw
I'll tell you now
And I won't tell you twice
Where when and how
I got some bad advice
I never thought I could handle
A girl with guns
And let me tell you
You can bet that I'm not the only one
Stand tall, don't think small
Don't get your back against the wall
Shoot straight, I can't wait
Aim for the heart and fire away
I've come around
I understand today
And she's the target now
I'm gonna have my way
I always heard
Don't go messing with a girl with guns
She don't need you
She couldn't love you
She couldn't be any fun
Stand tall, don't think small
Don't get your back against the wall
Shoot straight, I can't wait
Aim for the heart and fire away
An innocent bystander
Who forgets to look both ways
Who never tries to understand her
Won't feel the heat 'til it's too late
Stand tall, don't think small
Don't get your back against the wall
Shoot straight, I can't wait
Aim for the heart and fire away
Interpretation
A "girl with guns" is an assertive, self-reliant woman. She doesn't fit the old stereotype of a weak, naive girl swooning for any guy that shows interest in her. The other references to guns ("shoot straight", "aim for the heart", "she's the target now") are appropriately keeping with the analogy.
In a 1984 interview on Japanese television, Tommy described the song as follows:
"Girls With Guns is sort of a tribute to liberated ladies...that's really not saying it right...but just the modern girl who can go out there and compete on a one to one level with men yet still be a girl."
In another 1984 interview, also on Japanese television, Tommy went a little farther in describing the song:
"It's about...really about standing up for yourself and...Girls With Guns really means girls who can compete on an equal basis but still be girls , and I think there's been a misconception about girls who can keep up with the guys--you know, that theiy were stiff and wouldn't be any fun, and Girls With Guns is kind of a tribute to those kind of girls."
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