Under the Gun
The Sisters of Mercy
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You don't have to say you're sorry To look on further down the line Into the sun Too close at heaven Love is fine But you can't hold it like a... Two worlds apart two together Into that good night kiss away One takes the hard, one the other Kiss away Are you living for love? Are you living for love? When the road gets too tough Is your love strong enough? Are you living? Are you living for love? Are you living for love? Are you living? Are you living for love? Are you living for love? Do you feel your head is full of thunder? Questions never end? Empty nights alone? No wonder It all comes back again Are you living for love? Are you living for love? I've been under the gun I've lost and I've won Are you living for love? Are you living for love? I've been under the gun I've lost and I've won (two, three, four) Forget the many steps to heaven It never happened and it ain't so hard Happiness is a loaded weapon and a Short cut is better by far Explosive bolts, ten thousand volts At a million miles an hour Abrasive wheels and molten metals It's a semi-automatic, get in the car Corrosive heart and frozen heat We're worlds apart where we could meet Where the street fold round and the motors start And the idiot wields the power Where the chosen hold the highest card On the field of honour where the ground is hard So the highest hand is joking wild And the house soon fold and no one stand I put my finger on and dialled The tower, the moon, the gun and Nine nine nine, singer down Cloudburst and all around The first are last, the blessed get wired The best is yet to come I put my finger on and fired Heat-seeking, out of the sun You can set the controls for the heart or the knees And the meek'll inherit what they damn well please Get ahead, go figure, go ahead and pull the trigger Everything under the gun
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Written by: ROXANNE SEEMAN, BILLIE HUGHES, ANDREW ELDRITCH
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
22 facts about this song
Creation Background"Under the Gun" is a song by Gothic rock band The Sisters of Mercy. It was released in 1993 as the band's first single from their third album "Vision Thing."
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Song DevelopmentThe song actually evolved from an earlier track "Two Worlds Apart," which was released by band member Patricia Morrison's old group, "The Gun Club."
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Lineup Changes"Under the Gun" featured a new line-up for The Sisters of Mercy with Andreas Bruhn and Tony James joining founder Andrew Eldritch.
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Chart PerformanceThe song made it to the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 3 and even entered the Billboard Modern Rock tracks chart in the USA.
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Music VideoThe accompanying music video for "Under the Gun" showcases the band's darker, more gothic aesthetic and is known for its cinematographic quality.
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Guest AppearancesTerri Nunn, the lead vocalist of the band Berlin, provides the female vocals for "Under the Gun."
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Notable LyricsThe track features noticeably gloomy lyrics, like, “Innocence just ain’t what it used to be”. These are characteristic of The Sisters of Mercy’s distinct gothic rock style.
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Song ThemeThe song explores themes of regret, failed relationships, and the inevitability of change.
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ReceptionAlthough it divided opinion among fans, "Under the Gun" is broadly seen as a classic within the genre, and it highlighted the more commercial direction that The Sisters of Mercy were pursuing at the time.
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Live Performances"Under the Gun" remains a fan favorite and is often included in The Sisters of Mercy's live sets.
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Genre"Under The Gun" by The Sisters of Mercy is classified as gothic rock, a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1970s.
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Release InformationThe song was released in 1993 as part of the album "A Slight Case of Overbombing," a great compilation of the Sisters of Mercy's greatest hits.
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Featuring ArtistThe song features guest vocals from Terri Nunn, who is best known as the lead vocalist of the new wave/synth-pop band Berlin.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Under the Gun" was directed by Stephan Petty who has directed other bands like Depeche Mode and U2.
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RemixThe song was notably remixed by Andrew Eldritch and released separately as a single in addition to its album release.
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LyricsAndrew Eldritch, the lead vocalist of The Sisters of Mercy, is known for his richly dark and ambiguous lyrics, and "Under The Gun" is no exception. The song is widely believed to explore themes of regret and lost memory.
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Chart PerformanceUpon its release, "Under The Gun" charted in the Top 40 in the UK, underlining the continuing popularity of The Sisters of Mercy despite their gothic rock style being less prevalent in the 1990s.
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Line-UpDuring the time "Under the Gun" was released, The Sisters of Mercy consisted of Andrew Eldritch (vocals), and Doktor Avalanche (drums). Eldritch had created Doktor Avalanche, a drum machine, after several band members left The Sisters of Mercy.
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Cover ArtThe cover art for the single "Under The Gun" features an infrared photograph, reflecting the band’s unique artistic aesthetics.
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CriticismWhile the song gained commercial success, it attracted criticism from fans who felt it was too commercial and not representative of The Sisters of Mercy's usual style.
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Live PerformancesDespite the controversy surrounding the song, "Under the Gun" has remained on the band's setlist during live performances to date, suggesting its continued popularity amongst fans.
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Song LengthThe song, "Under The Gun," has a total duration of 6 minutes and 16 seconds in its album version.
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Citation
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"Under the Gun Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2344889/The+Sisters+of+Mercy/Under+the+Gun>.
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