He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel
He was drinking for diversion
He was thinking for himself
A little money riding on the Maple Leafs
Along comes a lady in lacy sleeves
She says let me sit down
You know, drinkin' alone's a shame (It's a shame it's a crying shame)
Look at those jokers
Glued to that damn hockey game
Hey honey-you've got lots of cash
Bring us round a bottle
And we'll have some laughs
Gin's what I'm drinking
I was raised on robbery

I'm a pretty good cook
Sitting on my groceries
Come up to my kitchen
I'll show you my best recipe
I try and I try but I can't save a cent
I'm up after midnight, cooking
Trying to make my rent
I'm rough but I'm pleasin'
I was raised on robbery

We had a little money once
They were pushing through a four lane highway
Government gave us three thousand dollars
You should have seen it fly away
First he bought a '57 Biscayne
He put it in the ditch
He drunk up all the rest
That son of a bitch
His blood's bad whiskey
I was raised on robbery

You know you ain't bad looking
I like the way you hold your drinks
Come home with me, honey
I ain't asking for no full length mink
Hey, where you going
Don't go yet
Your glass ain't empty and we just met
You're mean when your loaded
I was raised on robbery


Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by ThomasC

Raised On Robbery Lyrics as written by Joni Mitchell

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

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Raised On Robbery song meanings
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    General Comment

    Clearly she is a prostitute. Anyone have any ideas about the line "raised on robbery"? Is it meant to imply she feels she is getting something (cash) for nothing (prostitution) or stealing something from others (or herself)? [Like trading your body is no big deal.] Or is it more blatant in that she steals from johns?

    I'm sure there are several interpretations of this specifically. Just curious if anyone has any...

    princejonion October 31, 2013   Link

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