Meaning of Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC & The Story Behind

Frankly at the risk of incurring the wrath of ardent AC / DC fans, I dare to express the opinion that the songs of this Australian band are not particularly meaningful and thoughtful. Not for philosophical texts full of wise sayings, millions of fans love them. Rather, the creativity of AC / DC attracts as an inexhaustible source of unbridled drive, which the band’s music charges for a long time.

And yet, individual AC / DC songs haunt the most meticulous music lovers, who definitely want to find a hidden meaning in every line. These tracks include Shoot to Thrill from the album Back in Black.

Story of creation and meaning

In the name Shoot to Thrill, you can trace the connection with the expression “shoot to kill”, which means “shoot to kill”. Accordingly, the phrase can be understood as “shoot on excitement”, although this is a very free interpretation.

The text of the song Shoot to Thrill causes not the most decent associations (however, everyone can interpret it to the best of their depravity). The author, addressing the women, warns that he has already taken out his gun and is ready to fire wherever he pleases.

Some homegrown critics have decided that Shoot to Thrill is being played from the perspective of a maniac. Others saw hints of drugs in it (“I am like evil, I am under your skin … I am outlaw”).

But Brian Johnson, who wrote the lyrics to Shoot to Thrill, explained that he wrote them with British housewives in mind. Many of them suffer from depression, so doctors prescribe Valium for them. Hence, they say, the line “too many women, too many pills.” And how serious he was when he told this – decide for yourself.

Video Shoot to Thrill

In April 2010, thirty years after the recording of the song, the fantastic feature film Iron Man 2 was released, the soundtrack of which included several AC/DC hits. Three months before the premiere, the video clip Shoot to Thrill – AC / DC was launched on TV channels. It features clips from a 2009 concert in Buenos Aires interspersed with stills from the film.

Interesting Facts

  • The Shoot to Thrill song can also be heard in other movies, popular TV shows, computer games, and football, basketball, or hockey matches.
  • In the movie The Avengers, the song Shoot to Thrill sounds like the Iron Man theme.

Shoot to Thrill Lyrics by AC/DC

All you women who want a man of the street
But you don’t know which way you wanna turn
Just keep a coming and put your hand out to me
‘Cause I’m the one who’s gonna make you burn

I’m gonna take you down – down, down, down
So don’t you fool around
I’m gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun and I’m ready, gonna fire at will

I’m like evil, I get under your skin
Just like a bomb that’s ready to blow
‘Cause I’m illegal, I got everything
That all you women might need to know

I’m gonna take you down – yeah, down, down, down
So don’t you fool around
I’m gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun and I’m ready, gonna fire at will
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, and I’m ready to kill
I can’t get enough, I can’t get the thrill
I shoot to thrill, play to kill
Yeah, pull the trigger

Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women, with too many pills
I said, shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun and I’m ready, gonna fire at will
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, and I’m ready to kill
And I can’t get enough, and I can’t get my thrill
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, play it again

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