I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)

"I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" is a song by English musician Elton John written by John and Bernie Taupin, released in 1976 as a double A-side single with "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" from his tenth studio album Rock of the Westies (1975). The song reached No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1976 and No. 21 Easy Listening, but failed to chart in the singer's native United Kingdom.

"I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)"
Single by Elton John
from the album Rock of the Westies
A-side"Grow Some Funk of Your Own (double A-side)"
Released12 January 1976
RecordedJune–July 1975
Length5:28
LabelMCA (US)
DJM (UK)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Island Girl"
(1975)
"Grow Some Funk of Your Own" / "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)"
(1976)
"Pinball Wizard"
(1976)

Background

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The song's lyrics compare the shooting of Jesse James by James' outlaw-partner Robert Ford to Taupin's failed marriage to his first wife Maxine Feibelman, of "Tiny Dancer" fame.

Since its release, John rarely played the song at his concerts.[1] A live version, recorded in England in May 1977 with just Elton on piano and Ray Cooper on percussion, was released by MCA Records on the To Be Continued... box set released in 1990 (1991 in the UK).

Charts

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Chart (1976) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 14
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[3] 21

References

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  1. ^ "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford) by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955–2012. Record Research. p. 436.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 128.