Bang Bang Bang (1992) – Tracy Chapman

Bang Bang Bang finds Tracy in very fine songwriting form. This socially conscious song tackles gun violence, cyclical poverty, and societal neglect in American communities. It is sincerely and sensitively realised, containing an enticing acoustic melody, a glorious bongo percussion accompaniment, and poignant words that make you pay close attention.

There are as many questions asked here as there are answers, and by raising them Tracy shines a light on the futility of it all. Chapman uses the story of giving a young boy a gun to explore how society breeds its own violence and then attempts to solve it with more violence (“Bang bang bang, we’ll shoot him down“).

We sell the “bad boy” image – He feel mighty, he feel strong. Well, once you’ve got your gun and start poking it about, there’s no turning back. Keeping the poor poor and give them drugs and alcohol to anaesthetise them. Give him drugs and give him candy / Anything to make him think he’s happy.

If he still comes after them, they blame him for his lifestyle. And if he finds himself to be / A reflection of us all, they’ll kill him and say that he deserved it. Problem solved – we’ll shoot him. He is dead. Fixed. The cycle repeats.

Everything about this song, including the video, is class and substance. Musically, my favourite part comes just after the refrain – Bang bang bang / We’ll shoot him down – when a swirling, wavering guitar echo creates a reflective sustain that perfectly suits the song’s message. It raises the bar considerably, and the song smartly ends with it too.

The music video was directed by filmmaker Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk, My Own Private Idaho).

“Bang Bang Bang” was released as the lead single from Tracy’s third album, Matters of the Heart, in 1992.

What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain’t place to run to
Ain’t no place to run to

When he hold it in his hand
He feel mighty he feel strong
Now there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run

One day he may come back
Repay us for what we’ve done
Then where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run

But one fine day
All our problems will be solved
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him down

Give him drugs and give him candy
Anything to make him think he’s happy
And he won’t ever come for us
He won’t ever come

But if he does
And if there’s no one else around
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him down

If he preys only on his neighbors
Brothers sisters and friends
We’ll consider it a favor
We’ll consider justice done

But if he comes for you or me
And we can place a gun in his hand
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him dead

What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run

Now we’ll all be at his mercy
If he decides to hunt us down
Cause there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run

If he wants the chances that you took from him
And nothing that you own
Then there’ll be no place to run to
There’ll be no place to run

And if he finds himself to be
A reflection of us all
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot us down

Before you can raise your eyes to read
The writing on the wall
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot you down

Before you can bridge the gulf between
And embrace him in your arms
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot you down

References:
1. Matters of the Heart (Tracy Chapman album) – Wikipedia