Loaded Gun

[Moose]

Sorry if this has been dealt with before - liking the song a lot - I'm presuming its an imaginary scenario, but does it actually relate to a real event, or events?

It has echoes of the London shooting of a 'Terror suspect' 3 years ago, who transpired to be a Brazilian Electrician rather than Al Quaida, but its clearly not that case described in the song.

[Caity]

I was saying to Brad the other night that it sounds like it could be a bit related to the War in Iraq ... i.e. a man was on his way home and got shot - his mother's only son but to everyone else, he was Public Enemy Number One ...

I guess just the theme of supposedly innocent civilians being shot, but they aren't?

[Kacky]

The whole gist of the song could fit a few different 'Loaded Gun' situations.

[Colezy]

Sounds as though it's bases in a more developed country though, considering "he was at the station waiting for the train" (not the actual lyrical order! :p) ...i know that other not-so-developed countries have trains, but that's the impression I got anyway.

But like Chelsea said, it could be relating to a few different situations.

[thelivingvines]

sounds like the london one to me- the backpack thing.... i dunno.

[drifta_21]

Yep it was, I remember Chris saying that the song was about Jean Charles in an interview. Here's a little critique I wrote on the song's meaning while I was listening to Monday Night Live:
Loaded Gun's about Jean Charles de Menezes a Brazillian who was catching the train in London. He looked "suspicious" (he looked very much like one of the London bombers) so the British authorities started to chase him as he was going underground to catch the train because he looked like a "terrorist" and had a backpack with something possibly suspicious inside. From here, he got frightened and he tried to run away from the cops but they shot and killed him. The cops said it was an "accident", and was classified as collateral damage. The police basically tried to throw away the case, but of course the public and the international community was angry because they shot at a guy who was scared from an alarming police presence, basically an inoocent man. The police had no real excuse to fire on him and they did, thus causing the uproar.

[Caity]

Ahhh ... that makes sense :)

[Moose]

Yep it was, I remember Chris saying that the song was about Jean Charles in an interview. Here's a little critique I wrote on the song's meaning while I was listening to Monday Night Live:
Loaded Gun's about Jean Charles de Menezes a Brazillian who was catching the train in London.

I'm not sure he was married though, he was very young, but it fits otherwise.

It was quite an outrageous incident, not even near to reasonable cause and the police lied - for example that he had been running away.

I thought it might have been an incident in Australia - y'know, someone asked Grumma to turn his ipod down and it all kicked off.

http://planetsmilies.net/winking-smiley-9360.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[Absolution]

Yep it was, I remember Chris saying that the song was about Jean Charles in an interview. Here's a little critique I wrote on the song's meaning while I was listening to Monday Night Live:
Loaded Gun's about Jean Charles de Menezes a Brazillian who was catching the train in London. He looked "suspicious" (he looked very much like one of the London bombers) so the British authorities started to chase him as he was going underground to catch the train because he looked like a "terrorist" and had a backpack with something possibly suspicious inside. From here, he got frightened and he tried to run away from the cops but they shot and killed him. The cops said it was an "accident", and was classified as collateral damage. The police basically tried to throw away the case, but of course the public and the international community was angry because they shot at a guy who was scared from an alarming police presence, basically an inoocent man. The police had no real excuse to fire on him and they did, thus causing the uproar.

Yeah, there you go. TLE basically used this incident as a form of tokenism for the wider effects of gun use; really just a smart set of lyrics in that song.

Btw, I think what was more controversial was that the suspect was not just shot once, but several times over...so there you go.

[thelivingvines]

give someone a little power nurtured by a panic and fear culture in a society so surveillance reliant as the UK- London in particular- and look what happens.

[Fritz]

Yep it was, I remember Chris saying that the song was about Jean Charles in an interview. Here's a little critique I wrote on the song's meaning while I was listening to Monday Night Live:
Loaded Gun's about Jean Charles de Menezes a Brazillian who was catching the train in London. He looked "suspicious" (he looked very much like one of the London bombers) so the British authorities started to chase him as he was going underground to catch the train because he looked like a "terrorist" and had a backpack with something possibly suspicious inside. From here, he got frightened and he tried to run away from the cops but they shot and killed him. The cops said it was an "accident", and was classified as collateral damage. The police basically tried to throw away the case, but of course the public and the international community was angry because they shot at a guy who was scared from an alarming police presence, basically an inoocent man. The police had no real excuse to fire on him and they did, thus causing the uproar.

thats such a terribly sad story. really screwed up world alot of the time..

[Absolution]

give someone a little power nurtured by a panic and fear culture in a society so surveillance reliant as the UK- London in particular- and look what happens.

True, although one could always argue the possibility of the 'worst-case scenario' in this situation; similar to the whole Dr. Haneef escapade.

*sigh* What sad times we live in eh?

[The Dying Start]

I thought it was blindingly obvious what the song was about the first time i heard it. The lyrics might well have been copied straight out of an article written about the Jean Charles incident!

[Caity]

Shut up Glenn :p

[strahanie]

Glen you should just be glad that the kidlets are actually thinking about the lyrics, even if they are a little slower then you :p

I knew someone once who when she heard this lyric from West End Riot:

"Another Saturday of sun and war shared with our mated"

decided that TLE are pro war and has never listened to them again!

[Caity]

'scuse me Beth, I ain't a kidlet :p far from it!

[Aaron]

Just 'cause you're 18+ doesn't make you a grown-up, Caity!

[strahanie]

very true :p

[thelivingvines]

I thought it was blindingly obvious what the song was about the first time i heard it. The lyrics might well have been copied straight out of an article written about the Jean Charles incident!

but according to you....

Who says that's not what it's about? Lyrics are open to intepretation!

... so supposing one didn't think that was what the lyrics are about at all. Supposing they wanted to argue it was about police raping members of the public.... you wouldn't be in a position to tell them that they're wrong.

[The Dying Start]

but according to you....



... so supposing one didn't think that was what the lyrics are about at all. Supposing they wanted to argue it was about police raping members of the public.... you wouldn't be in a position to tell them that they're wrong.

True, but in this case it's blatantly obvious what it's about. If people want to think it's about their one true love being shot down in a hail of bullets, or it's about a monkey who can pee it's own name in the sand, that's fine with me, but given the situation, i popped my 10 cents in!

[Moose]

True, but in this case it's blatantly obvious what it's about. If people want to think it's about their one true love being shot down in a hail of bullets, or it's about a monkey who can pee it's own name in the sand, that's fine with me, but given the situation, i popped my 10 cents in!

You are shooting your mouth off DS. It's not blatantly obvious which incident, if any, it refers to - hence my question.

From a London point of view the similarity was obvious, but it didn't completely fit. For example..

The lyrics

'....what happened to the poor man at the station tonight', - Menezes was killed in the morning.

'while heading home to his wife' - he was unmarried and on the way to work.

That's not so hard is it?

[Caity]

... I think that those sorts of things are minor issues really - in hindsight, I now can see how it's about that incident.
I don't really think that the matter of whether it was morning or night, or married or unmarried is relevant - chances are, 'night' better fit the song than morning, and it's kinda hard to say "heading home to be alone" when it sounds a little more poignant to say "home to his wife".

[Caity]

Just 'cause you're 18+ doesn't make you a grown-up, Caity!

Haha I can be when I want to!

But I like to consider myself an adultlet, at least in this case :p

[The Dying Start]

You are shooting your mouth off DS. It's not blatantly obvious which incident, if any, it refers to - hence my question.

From a London point of view the similarity was obvious, but it didn't completely fit. For example..

The lyrics

'....what happened to the poor man at the station tonight', - Menezes was killed in the morning.

'while heading home to his wife' - he was unmarried and on the way to work.

That's not so hard is it?

And the Dunblane massacre happened on a Wednesday...but we still knew what Monday was about...

"The similarity was obvious" was exactly what i was talking about!

[matt6n]

I reckon the song was inspired by that incident but it's not directly referring to it. When I first heard it I thought it was a general statement about how we view certain people in this day and age

[Neo]

You are shooting your mouth off DS. It's not blatantly obvious which incident, if any, it refers to - hence my question.

From a London point of view the similarity was obvious, but it didn't completely fit. For example..

The lyrics

'....what happened to the poor man at the station tonight', - Menezes was killed in the morning.

'while heading home to his wife' - he was unmarried and on the way to work.

That's not so hard is it?

maybe it's just easier to rhyme by changing the story/words?
...I haven't heard the song so i can't really comment,.

[thelivingvines]

And the Dunblane massacre happened on a Wednesday...but we still knew what Monday was about...

"The similarity was obvious" was exactly what i was talking about!

i just don't see why you need to be so patronising is all...

[Colezy]

I reckon the song was inspired by that incident but it's not directly referring to it. When I first heard it I thought it was a general statement about how we view certain people in this day and age

I'm with that guy!!

[Craigels]

Can somebody please post the lyrics as i haven't heard it yet.

[Colezy]

I'll try too, although i'm not sure about a few parts of it.

[Shadow]

Loaded Gun

Pre-Chorus / Intro
With a loaded gun, with a loaded gun, in our hands
We can end life, we can decide, the fate of a man

Verse 1
Did you hear what happened, to that poor man, at the station tonight?
He was shot in cold blood, waiting for the train, while heading home to his wife
And the police report said, we had no choice man, we did what we were supposed to do...
He was sweaty enough with a backpack on, who knows what he might've done... we did the only thing that we know how to do

Pre-Chorus
With a loaded gun, with a loaded gun, in our hands
We can end life, we can decide, the fate of a man

Chorus
He was his mother's one and only son,
but to everybody else, he was public enemy number one

Verse 2
Well he fit the profile, there'll be no trial, there is nothing left to say
So what if he's innocent, he's still one of them, and i won't lose any sleep tonight

And the news report said the law protected, the young man never had a clue,
and the message to his mother read, sorry but your son is dead...
this is our job and we were ordered to take his life

Chorus

Bridge (Instrumental)

Pre-Chorus (x2)

Chorus

Outro

Enjoy!

[Colezy]

Beat me too it! :p

I had a few different things though - not that that means I am right or whatever.

I had:

The police report said, we had no choice left, we did what we where forced to do.
Well he was sweating it out with a backpack on, who knows what he might have done? We did the only thing that we know to do.

Originally, I also had supposed instead of forced.

The news reports said, we’re all protected, but the young man never had a clue
And the message to his mother read “sorry, but your son dead”
It’s just our job and we were ordered to take his life.


I agree with what you wrote instead of 'we’re all protected' :)

[Craigels]

Thanks :)
Can't wait to hear it

[Colezy]

Go to 23rd precinct and take a listen to the MNL version that Glenn did not upload :p

[Moose]

And the Dunblane massacre happened on a Wednesday...but we still knew what Monday was about...



I know and what a whiffy song that is, a very rare slip of judgement.

Its just all wrong - too Jaunty.

Loaded Gun is terrific though.

Given that Australia has its fair share of Police Killings, serial murderers, indiscriminate shootings and Islamophobia I thought I'd check it with you guys before assuming the obvious similarity.

I'm sorry for taking up your time DS....

Lots of Love Moose.

[Kacky]

Thanks for lyricage! :)

[The Dying Start]

I know and what a whiffy song that is, a very rare slip of judgement.

Its just all wrong - too Jaunty.

Loaded Gun is terrific though.

Given that Australia has its fair share of Police Killings, serial murderers, indiscriminate shootings and Islamophobia I thought I'd check it with you guys before assuming the obvious similarity.

I'm sorry for taking up your time DS....

Lots of Love Moose.

Don't apologise (presuming you're really apologising), you're entitled to post here and ask questions, whether i think the answers obvious or not. We all look at things differently anyway, and i apologise if you feel I was talking you down, or trivialising your question. I'm not known for my subtlety!


Thanks also for the lyricage. I think a mix of Shadow's and Ferret's is correct.

[Kacky]

Thanks also for the lyricage. I think a mix of Shadow's and Ferret's is correct.

Haii, you stole my word.

[The Dying Start]

I've been *age-ing for alot longer than you, young whipper snapper.

[Kacky]

Oooooooooooage.

[The Dying Start]

More like "Goooooooooage", you digustoid.

[Kacky]

Zippitage. I love Glenn.

[Anfony]

Thanks for the lyrics! But Colezy I'm pretty sure it's "The law protected" I guess we wont know for sure untill the album is released.

[The Dying Start]

Thanks for the lyrics! But Colezy I'm pretty sure it's "The law protected" I guess we wont know for sure untill the album is released.

I think Nicole acknowledged this in her post?!

[Colezy]

I sure did!

[The Dying Start]

Yes, she sure did.

[Anfony]

she did indeed...my bad :o

[WHITE FALCON]

i think this song is one of their most powerful really.
better then wake up for me (if it was to be compared lyrically)

[Colezy]

I agree. It "sets the scene" really well.

[WHITE FALCON]

yeah and chris's melody just fuckin nails the sort of sadness and angryness as well.

[damo0945]

i've always thought situation should come before manipulation in the chorus of wake up...

[The Dying Start]

On Topic, Damo?!!

[carrymehomestead]

If anyone would like to eh....discuss the difficulty of finding a live clip of this, PM me.

[The Dying Start]

Or go to the Monday Night Live website and watch the show...

BogPond MNL (http://bigpondmusic.com/MondayNightLive/Performance/The-Living-End/26.aspx)

[dave790]

The JC London incident was unfortuante, but given the timing, not unexpected. The tension around London was obviously at breaking point. There's no defence, but the guy DID actually run. All I'd say is that it was in the worst possible circumstances to start running from the police towards a train about to move. The source of this incident lies with the initial terrorist attacks.

[carrymehomestead]

Yeah but Big Pond, all that streaming nonsense, fast forwarding/waiting for the song you want to come on, wouldn't it be nice to just have a tidy little downloaded copy on yer hard drive you could play at will? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

[The Dying Start]

Yeas, well planety has been said about how not to download a stream, and what programs you shouldn't use etc etc. I'm sure anyone could successfully not get a copy for themselves.

[Craigels]

Go to 23rd precinct and take a listen to the MNL version that Glenn did not upload :p

ok, I won't listen to it :p

[Moose]

There's no defence, but the guy DID actually run.

No he didn't - that's known now not to be true - he never leapt the barrier and he was shot 8 times in the face when seated.

[The Dying Start]

Charming...