This track from Noel Gallagher's self-titled solo debut album dates from his days as leader of Oasis. Soundcheck versions of the song had been floating around the web for a couple of years before he recorded it for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gallagher replied to Mojo magazine's remark that it sounds like an Oasis track by commenting, "When I played it to everyone they said the same thing; it sounds like it's always been around. You play G minor to F sharp a billion times and then one day it's like the first time you've ever played it."
The song was premiered on August 30, 2011 on KROQ Radio and was chosen as Gallagher's debut solo single in North America.
Gallagher told The Sun the inspirations for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds include love, hope and "finding your feet." He said: "Oasis were a very macho rock band and you couldn't really sing songs about love. But I never shied away from writing those songs. - they were just piling up. For 'If I Had a Gun,' I'd like the listener to think about the person they love the most. It could be your mum, girlfriend or wife."
So who are The High Flying Birds? Said Gallagher: "My manager asked me who the High Flying Birds are. They aren't anyone in particular. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is me and whoever is around at the time of whatever it is that I'm doing, a loose collective kinda thing."
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