Don’t smoke, don’t fight, don’t light no cigarettes
Or else you’ll wind up in the can
No jokes, don’t write, sit tight, don’t fool around
You are a guest of Uncle Sam
Stand up, look right, don’t slouch and stand at ease
Allow no sex above the knees
And when I snap, you jump into the master plan
I’ll be damned
Well, I’ll be damned
I’ll be
Damned, if I drink or smoke
Damned, if I steal your joke
I’ll be damned, if I go for broke
Damned, if I do
Damned, if I don’t
Don’t talk, don’t fool, don’t try to mess around
I’ll make a monkey out of you
You sign your name right on that dotted line
Boy, I’ll be damned
I’ll be
Damned, if I drink or smoke
Damned, if I steal your joke
I’ll be damned, if I go for broke
Damned, if I do
Damned, if I don’t
Damned, if I drink or smoke
Damned, if I steal your joke
I’ll be damned, if I go for broke
Damned, if I do
Damned, if I don’t
Damned, if I drink or smoke
Damned, if I steal your joke
I’ll be damned, if I go for broke
Damned, if I do
Damned, if I don’t
I’ll be damned
I’ll be damned
I’ll be damned
I’ll be damned
I’ll be damned
I’ll be damned
Rebellion and Irony: Exploring the Lyrics of “Damned”
AC/DC’s “Damned” is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on authority, conformity, and the ever-present double standards of societal rules. The song’s narrator lists a series of prohibitions—no smoking, no fighting, no joking—painting a picture of strict discipline, possibly referencing the military or any institution demanding obedience. The repeated refrain, “Damned, if I do / Damned, if I don’t,” highlights the futility of pleasing authority, suggesting that no matter what you do, criticism is inevitable. AC/DC delivers this message with their trademark swagger, using sharp wit and rhythmic repetition to drive home the frustration and irony of being perpetually judged.
Song Credits
- Artist: AC/DC
- Songwriters: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson