Dum, dum, dum, honey, what have you done?
Dum, dum, dum, it’s the sound of my gun
Dum, dum, dum, honey, what have you done?
Dum, dum, dum, it’s the sound
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Janie got a gun
Janie got a gun
Whole world’s come undone
From lookin’ straight at the sun
What did her daddy do?
What did he put you through?
They said when Janie was arrested
They found him underneath a train
But, man, he had it comin’
Now that Janie’s got a gun
She ain’t never gonna be the same
Janie got a gun
Janie got a gun
Her dog day’s just begun
Now everybody is on the run
Tell me now it’s untrue
What did her daddy do?
He jacked a little bitty baby
The man has got to be insane
They say the spell that he was under
The lightning and the thunder
Knew that someone had to stop the rain
Run away, run away from the pain, yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Run away, run away from the pain, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Run away, run away, run, run away
Janie got a gun
Janie’s got a gun
Her dog day’s just begun
Now everybody is on the run
What did her daddy do?
It’s Janie’s last I.O.U.
She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain
She said, “‘Cause nobody believes me. The man was such a sleeze
He ain’t never gonna be the same”
Run away, run away from the pain, yeah, yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Run away, run away from the pain, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Run away, run away, run, run away
Janie’s got a gun
Janie got a gun
Janie’s got a gun
Now everybody is on the run
Janie got a gun
Her dog day’s just begun
Now everybody is on the run (Honey, honey, what’s the problem?)
Because Janie got a gun (Tell me it ain’t right)
Janie got a gun (Was it Daddy’s cradle robbing that)
Her dog day’s just begun (Made you scream at night?)
Now everybody is on the run
Janie got a gun
Janie got a gun
Her dog day’s just begun
Now everybody is on the run
Unraveling the Story Behind “Janie’s Got A Gun”
“Janie’s Got A Gun” by Aerosmith is a powerful narrative song that explores themes of trauma, retribution, and the desperate search for justice. The lyrics tell the harrowing story of Janie, a young woman pushed to her limits by the abuse she has endured, particularly at the hands of her father. The repeated phrase “Janie got a gun” signals a dramatic turning point, as Janie takes control of her fate in the aftermath of unimaginable pain. The song’s haunting melody and evocative storytelling invite listeners to empathize with Janie’s struggle, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of violence and the cycle of pain it perpetuates.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton
- Release Year: 1989
- Label: Geffen Records