Life is so strange when its changin', yes indeed
Well I've seen the hard times and the pressure's been on me
But I keep on workin' like the workin' man do
And I've got my act together, gonna walk all over you

[Chorus]
Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back my bullets

Sweet talkin' people done ran me out of town
And I drank enough whiskey to float a battleship around
But I'm leavin' this game one step ahead of you
And you will not hear me cry 'cause I do not sing the blues

Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back, gimme back my bullets
I'll put 'em back where they belonog

Been up and down since I turned seventeen
Well I've been on top, and then it seems I lost my dream
But I got it back, I'm feelin' better everyday
Tell all those pencil pushers, better get out of my way

Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back, gimme back my bullets
Oh put 'em back where they belong
Give me back my bullets



Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit

Track duration: 03:28

"Gimme Back My Bullets" as written by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Robert Rossington

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Gimme Back My Bullets song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Being a recovering addict, myself, I can tell you that it's totally symbollic! After you "have been up and down since I turned 17...I've been on top then it seems I've lost my dreams" He's saying he got his life, his sprituality back...."Gimme Back My Bullets" is my front tag on the first car I've owned in 15 years... Since I have come back from the depths of drug addiction!!! Yeah... I know exactly what that song means!!!!!!!!
    Flag Dasnarkon July 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:From songfacts.com:

    "According to Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington in a 1992 Goldmine interview, this song is about the bullets Billboard charts use to signify a song is moving quickly up the chart. If a song is "#12 with a bullet," it is at #12 but will probably go higher next week. Skynyrd had not had a hit in a while and this was a message that they wanted to get back on the charts."

    From LYNYRD SKYNYRD: REMEMBERING THE FREEBIRDS by Gene Odom:

    "The song that became the album's title track, 'Gimme back My Bullets,' had nothing to do with ammunition and everything to do with recognition. 'Bullets' were symbols of success in a magazine for artists whose records were selling like hotcakes. Ronnie wanted his bullets back, but he knew they weren't something you could just ask for; they had to be earned."

    *************
    Just to give credit, I copied the above material from a discussion on Lynyrd Skynyrd at amazon.com because it was conveniently laid out. But I've seen the same explanation at a number of sites on music, and the first quote can indeed be found at songfacts.com (iow, google it).
    Flag Duchampson April 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Can't confirm, but I always thought that this was a metaphor for the music business and how the band did not like the BS (e.g., fast talking people done ran me out of town/pencil pushers, etc) and that they were talented enough they would rise up again to spite them (i.e., Well I've been on top, and then it seems I lost my dream).
    Flag jschaffon April 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is basically about relationships. How men tend to little-by-little lay down their own needs to the nagging voice of their girlfriend/wife. 'Gimme back my bullets' can be substituted for 'Gimme back my testicles' because she has slyly grown to dominate the relationship, as women tend to do, putting men 'out of ammunition.'
    Flag mnstrkrftron July 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:greta song. i assume the bullets are inside the person he's asking.
    Flag SerpentSeedon April 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Balljack's right - their previous album to this one wasn't received as well as their first two. "Gimme back my bullets" really means "watch out, we're back and gunning for the top again."
    Flag jnsnonbrdon October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:no this song deffinatly does not talk about actual bullets at all, it is about a black dot that is put to your name when u are number one on the bilborad charts for something like 4 weeks and it is just talking about how the band struggled to get on top and then got all messed up with drugs and all that and fell and now he wants to b number one again

    and i am not sure where it talks about a guy from georgia since it is about himself the whole song
    Flag iamchapelleon June 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The part where he says "Gimme back my bullets" is a statement that bonnie used when she talked to clyde, she would take his bullets from him and he would say "Bonnie, gimme back muh bullets."
    The only way i know this is i watched a documentary on skynrd, with his younger brother (now the lead singer for whats left of Lynrd Skynrd ) Now as for the rest of the song, he's talking about a man who lives on the streets of georgia and doesnt answer to anyone, he owes noone anything, and he does what he pleases.
    Flag CTDIDDY2k7on June 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:...and the "pencil pushers" are advertising executives who are basically pimps seeing how much they can twist an artist to squeeze every drop of money-potential out of them.
    Flag gregorybrianon March 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Personally, I think he's apologizing for the the things he has said and done when he was drunk, down, having hard times etc. The Bullets would be his bad behavior/ insults, etc.
    Flag ruarchitecton January 05, 2007   Link

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