Shot Down In The Night

Hawkwind

About Shot Down In The Night

Shot Down in the Night is a 1979 song written by Steve Swindells, who was at that time keyboardist with the UK rock group Hawkwind. Swindells and Hawkwind released different versions of the song as a single on 27 June 1980. Hawkwind's version reached #59 in the UK singles chart, being a slightly different version to the one on the album Live Seventy Nine. The song was written by Steve Swindells while rehearsing with Hawkwind (then working under the name "Hawklords") at Rockfield Studios in 1979. He presented it to the band, and they agreed on its potential as a future single. However, Swindells was then offered a solo record deal by ATCO, and left Hawkwind to pursue a solo career. His studio version of Shot Down in the Night was released as a single on the same day as Hawkwind's live version. Swindells claims that his version was "waaay harder, more dramatic and simply better than Hawkwind's version. In both the battle of the butch and the artistic, the queer won." Despite that claim, Simon King (drums) and Huw Lloyd-Langton (guitars) played on both recordings, giving the two versions a musical closeness, although Swindells' gruff vocals perhaps make his version heavier than Dave Brock's folky vocal on Hawkwind's version. 


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Numbers called as they're waiting in a line
Camouflaged like a jungle snake
Acting tough, just enough
'Til they start to break
Then they're off with a rush of adrenalin
Holding on to a world unseen
The only sound is the pumping of the great machine

[Chorus]
The secret's only for a few
Superpower looks down on you
Someone's watching every move
You can break the lock and turn on the light?
You know your danger feelings are right
Try to run or put up a fight
You'll be shot down in the night

Shot down like an animal
See them run like rats from the factory
Push them out to the twilight zone
Let them feed on their needs
'Til they're overthrown
Take them up to a place in the gallery
Show them God with an angel face
Curtain call for the fall
Of the Human race
Play it straight and it seems like a mystery
Tell the truth and it sounds like lies
Looking down at the ground
With your angry eyes
Play the game and you'll see there's a difference
Join the ranks and you'll get your kicks
See the world, and the girls, and the dirty tricks

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Hawkwind

Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures. more »

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Written by: STEVE SWINDELLS

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Involvement
"Shot Down in the Night" is a track by the British rock band, Hawkwind.
Album Release
The song is from the album "Live Seventy Nine" which was released in 1980.
Song Length
This track has a running time of around 6 minutes and 19 seconds, making it one of the longer Hawkwind songs.
Writers and Contributors
The song was written by Hawkwind singer and keyboardist Dave Brock.
Genre Category
"Shot Down in the Night" falls under the genre of Space Rock and Hard Rock.
Live Performance
Despite it being a live album track, it has often been performed in Hawkwind's live shows.
Chart Performance
"Shot Down in the Night" peaked at number 59 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the chart for a total of 4 weeks.
Album Popularity
"Live Seventy Nine" was the first Hawkwind album to enter the UK albums chart since "Quark, Strangeness and Charm" three years prior.
Lyrics Theme
The song narrates a story of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, a common theme in Hawkwind's discography.
Cover Version
The single version of "Shot Down in the Night" was recorded by a slightly different lineup of the band, and that version isn't on the album -- this version was later covered by the band Saxon.

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