Shooting Straight in the Dark is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Columbia Records on October 9, 1990.

11 on the Billboard's Country Albums chart, with four of its tracks reaching the Hot Country Songs chart: "You Win Again" (No.

Members of the Cajun band BeauSoleil provide guest instrumentation on "Down at the Twist and Shout".

Shawn Colvin provided backing vocals on three of the album's songs.

All songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter unless noted.