In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
And that's the way the world is
But I don't believe in laying back
Sayin' how bad your luck is
So he came to jazz it up
Never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
Don't forget to grovel
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to take your money
He's gone now
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said "I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison"
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
While we was being clever
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
'Cause that's where we're spinning
There's no point to want to comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
Oh
Hey, my daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
So he came to jazz it up
We never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
And don't forget to grovel, hey
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Hey
Run, rabbit run
Brrrp, strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
I know that they never will
Daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
And that's the way the world is
But I don't believe in laying back
Sayin' how bad your luck is
So he came to jazz it up
Never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
Don't forget to grovel
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to take your money
He's gone now
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said "I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison"
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
While we was being clever
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
'Cause that's where we're spinning
There's no point to want to comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
Oh
Hey, my daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
So he came to jazz it up
We never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
And don't forget to grovel, hey
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Hey
Run, rabbit run
Brrrp, strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
I know that they never will
Daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
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