For My Sunday Song #275, we are going after the brutal song “3 Warning Shots” by Rick Springfield. This is another from the 2008 album ‘Venus in Overdrive’. The album went to #28 on the Billboard charts upon its release and I think was a very overlooked album by many as it had some great tracks including this one.

The song is about the murder of John Lennon and it is not what you’d expect. It is a letter to the man that killed Lennon and there is so much anger in this letter and it is really shocking (I’m not saying the killers name for a reason as he does deserve to be named). Rick is basically telling the guy, if I find you, I am going to basically kill you by shooting you 3 times in the head. I love how he tells the guy that Lucifer might have promised you you’d be legit, but everybody thinks your shit. It is not a song you would expect Rick Springfield to write, but it is awesome.

I love how the song opens with Rick’s son reading the news like an actual broadcast of Lennon’s death. Rick then sings with so much anger and to match that the music is a lot heavier. The drums pound with a veracity that amplifies that anger. The whole song is Rick calling out Lennon’s killer and the song wouldn’t be as impactful if the music didn’t match the intensity of the lyrics and Rick’s vocals. It all works perfectly. I remember hearing the song the first time and being taken back. I had to hit repeat and listen to it again and again. I think I listened to it 5 times in a row. It is one of my favorites of his, plus I love songs about Lennon for some reason.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. It is so cool to see Rick really rock out and I think the heavier he gets, the better. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you each have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!

“3 Warning Shots”

Dear disillusioned boy,
Who taught you to destroy
Everything that’s beautiful
Everything that shines
You’re the monster underneath your bed and I’ll

I’ll give you 1 warning shot, I’ll give you 2 warning shots,
I’ll give you 3 warning shots to the head

I know you
I give Lucifer his due
He promised you you’d be legit
But everybody thinks you’re shit
I hope every dream you dream, you dream in red and I’ll

I’ll give you 1 warning shot, I’ll give you 2 warning shots,
I’ll give you 3 warning shots to the head

Yeah you caught Johnny-on-the-spot
But no one gives you a second thought and I’ll
I’ll give you 3 warning shots to the head

Standing on a New York sidewalk with a loaded gun

Mommies depressed little joy
Holden Caulfield’s stable-boy
Hey come on wake up you sleepy head, and I’ll give you

I’ll give you 1 warning shot, I’ll give you 2 warning shots,
I’ll give you 3 warning shots to the head

You got empty brain and crazy thoughts
‘The voices’ had you tied in knots and I’ll
I’ll give you 3 warning shots to the head

Written by Rick Springfield and Matt Bissonette