When explaining his lyrical inspiration for the song, lead singer and then-songwriter Brian Johnson recalled reading a UK article about a neighborhood pusher who made daily rounds (almost like a milkman) throughout the London suburbs, selling narcotics to bored, lonely, depressed housewives.

These substance-effected homemakers would then peruse the local clubs and bars, seeking out torrid, extra-marital relationships. The term "Shoot to thrill.." most likely refers to certain solutions such as diazepam (valium), which is often administered via injection to treat anxiety and depression.

Lyrics

All you women who want a man of the street

But you don't know which way you want to turn

Just keep a coming and put your hand out to me

'Cause I'm the one who's gonna make you burn

I'm gonna take you down - down, down, down

So don't you fool around

I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger

Shoot to thrill, play to kill

Too many women with too many pills

Shoot to thrill, play to kill

I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will

Yeah

I'm like evil, I get under your skin

Just like a bomb that's ready to blow

'Cause I'm illegal, I got everything

That all you women might need to know

I'm gonna take you down - yeah, down, down, down

So don't you fool around

I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger

Shoot to thrill, play to kill

Too many women with too many pills

Shoot to thrill, play to kill

I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will

'Cause I shoot to thrill, and I'm ready to kill

I can't get enough, I can't get the thrill

I shoot to thrill, play to kill

Yeah, pull the trigger

Pull it,

Pull it, pull it, pull the trigger

Oh

Shoot to thrill, play to kill

Too many women, with too many pills

I said, shoot to thrill, play to kill

I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will

'Cause I shoot to thrill, and I'm ready to kill

And I can't get enough, and I can't get my thrill

Cause I shoot to thrill, play it again

Yeah

Shoot you down

Yeah

I'm gonna get you to the bottom and shoot you

I'm gonna shoot you

Oh hoo yeah yeah yeah

I'm gonna shoot you down yeah yeah

I'm gonna get you down

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down

Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ooooooh

I'm gonna shoot to thrill

Play to kill

Shoot to thrill

Yeah, ooh yeah

Songwriters: Brian Johnson / Angus Mckinnon Young / Malcolm Mitchell Young

Shoot To Thrill lyrics © BMG Rights Management