Guns of Umpqua by Drive-By Truckers

Album: American Band (2016)

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

This song references the Umpqua Community College shooting on October 1, 2015, at the UCC campus near Roseburg, Oregon, United States, when one of the students, Chris Harper-Mercer, fatally shot an assistant professor and eight students in a classroom.
Drive-By Truckers co-vocalist Patterson Hood imagines here a terrified student desperately barricading a door against the shooter hunting him. He told Uncut magazine:

"The day I wrote 'Guns of Umpqua' I had just moved to Portland, Oregon. It was a stunningly beautiful day, and I picked up my phone and they were announcing this shooting maybe a couple of hours' drive away. We'd spent a night in that town on our journey to Portland, so I could picture the landscape of where it happened. What makes somebody wake up on a beautiful day like that and f--k up a lot of people's lives. That's one of the reasons why the flag's always at half-mast these days."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

AngelSarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan wrote "Angel" about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.

I SwearAll-4-One

"I Swear" was a #1 country hit for John Michael Montgomery before All-4-One made it a #1 pop hit.

Wonderful TonightEric Clapton

Eric Clapton wrote "Wonderful Tonight" while waiting for his girlfriend, Pattie Boyd, to get ready for a night out. By the time she was ready, he had written the song.

Video Killed The Radio StarBuggles

"Video Killed The Radio Star" by Buggles was the first video to air on MTV when the network started broadcasting on August 1, 1981.

Auld Lang SyneTraditional

The New Year's Eve favorite "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish song that roughly translates to "Days Of Long Ago."

Sloop John BThe Beach Boys

"Sloop John B" is a traditional West Indian folk song, and it was a huge hit for The Beach Boys in 1966. They tweaked the lyric, "This is the worst trip since I've been born" to "...I've ever been on" as a wink to acid culture.