A lot of the discourse around Luke Bryan‘s new Signs album has been about whether or not the single is AI, and whether or not his fun-loving, party-boy persona is getting old nine albums in.
The full album dropped on Friday, and a first listen through the track list is pretty aligned with those conversations — that is, until you get to Track 11, which turns the whole narrative of this album on its head.
Yes, Signs includes a lot of fun party tracks, and a lot of songs that sound like less-punch-packing versions of hits Bryan released years ago.
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It also includes what might be the first-ever country song sung from the perspective of a firearm. “Killer” — while not explicitly anti-gun — sure makes it sound like the gun in the song would rather have been made into a little kid’s bike.
What Is Luke Bryan’s Song “Killer” About?
“Killer” starts in a factory where a hunk of metal is excited to see what kind of limited-edition object the manufacturers have turned him into — and is appalled when he realizes “They gave me a trigger / And made me a killer.”
The gun in Bryan’s song seems to be a pretty peaceful personality. He’s content to sleep in a locked safe, and “freaked out when I looked up and saw that kid / He pulled me out and tried to show me to his friend / Oh, I wasn’t made to miss, thank God he did.”
Though the gun is resistant to his violent destiny, he eventually realizes his purpose when “The devil broke in with a knife one night / And I knew right then it was my time.”
Is Luke Bryan’s Song “Killer” Anti-Gun?
Not exactly. But it is, at the very least, promoting responsible gun ownership. There’s a cautionary tale about a child who grabs the gun out of a safe and accidentally fires it.
The gun in the song also seems to experience some existential sorrow, admitting at one point, “I hated myself and the stories I’d heard.”
Luke Bryan hasn’t overtly shared his views on gun control. He is, famously, a hunting enthusiast who frequently sings about the topic. In fact, the most famous (and mocked) lyric on Signs — “Wake up / Coffee / Camo / Climb tree” — is a reference to his love for hunting and other outdoor pursuits.
What Did Luke Bryan Say About His Song “Killer”?
Speaking to Billboard in August, Bryan said “Killer” was “one of the more well-written songs” he’d ever recorded, and that he wanted to cut it because of the strong storytelling — not because he wanted to espouse a position for or against guns.
Davis Corley, Mark Addison Chandler and Nate Kenyon wrote “Killer,” and Bryan said that the first time he heard it, “Ii took my breath away.”
“When I think about my reaction when I first heard ‘Drink a Beer,’ and how it just floored me, I think this song does the same thing,” he added. “I think it’ll take the listener on a ginormous emotional ride.”
Luke Bryan, “Killer” Lyrics:
I overheard ’em talkin’ as they laid me out / Right there on the table at the factory / I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about / My edition, it was limited, apparently / They took me out back, they said to test me / Didn’t really care for whatever they fed me / All I know is, next thing I felt empty / And I couldn’t hear a thing
Chorus:
I coulda been a railroad spike / I coulda been a little kid’s bike / I coulda been something real nice / With my white pearls and silver / But they gave me a trigger / And made me a killer
They stuck me on a shelf at some mom and pop’s / In between some medals from World War II / Wasn’t 24 hours before I got bought / And ended up in some safe in some livin’ room / I was sleeping when my handle felt that hand / I freaked out when I looked up and saw that kid / He pulled me out and tried to show me to his friend / Oh, I wasn’t made to miss, thank God he did
Repeat Chorus
Oh, I hated myself and the stories I’d heard / From a .30-06, swore I must’ve been cursed / ‘Til the devil broke in with a knife one night / And I knew right then it was my time
Repeat Chorus
Oh, they gave me a trigger / And made me a killer
The 50 All-Time Best Luke Bryan Songs, Ranked
Luke Bryan’s massive catalog of songs perfectly walk the line between heartfelt and fun. Here are our 50 favorite hits and deep cuts.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
