I've heard the hitman idea too, but I think the line "Keep running keep running, city to city, even if you're innocent" disproves this. It suggests that most people would think he wouldn't run if he was innocent. If a hitman were after someone, they wouldn't care about innocence, they're gonna kill you regardless.
Because this "can cause to much embarrassment" it makes me think he's running away from a trial. That would make the narrator something like Dick Tracy, a cop (the fugitive) or a bail bondsman.
@T.G. Reb close, but look at the lyric again:
"Even if you're innocent // You can cause too much embarrassment"
@T.G. Reb close, but look at the lyric again:
"Even if you're innocent // You can cause too much embarrassment"
This is about the fugitive being punished regardless of guilt - this isn't a bounty hunter or detective...
This is about the fugitive being punished regardless of guilt - this isn't a bounty hunter or detective...
...this is an ASSASSIN. "Well, BANG-BANG-BANG, and down you go" (because we all know everyone survives three bullet wounds just fine and that's the standard procedure to disable someone you wish to apprehend.)
...this is an ASSASSIN. "Well, BANG-BANG-BANG, and down you go" (because we all know everyone survives three bullet wounds just fine and that's the standard procedure to disable someone you wish to apprehend.)
Even the chorus:
"I got a name, and I got a number..."
England under the harsh rule of the union-busting Tories of 'The Iron Lady', in the...
Even the chorus:
"I got a name, and I got a number..."
England under the harsh rule of the union-busting Tories of 'The Iron Lady', in the 1980s? With the Cold War giving all manner of carte blanche for morally questionable acts by government?
a name and a number....James Bond, 007?
A government ASSASSIN (remember, not a regular spy, but someone specifically sanctioned to kill) maybe going after people who MIGHT be bad, or might NOT, doing ethically grey things 'for Queen and Country' (and maybe sweeping some scandal under the rug, too)
I've heard the hitman idea too, but I think the line "Keep running keep running, city to city, even if you're innocent" disproves this. It suggests that most people would think he wouldn't run if he was innocent. If a hitman were after someone, they wouldn't care about innocence, they're gonna kill you regardless.
Because this "can cause to much embarrassment" it makes me think he's running away from a trial. That would make the narrator something like Dick Tracy, a cop (the fugitive) or a bail bondsman.
@T.G. Reb close, but look at the lyric again: "Even if you're innocent // You can cause too much embarrassment"
@T.G. Reb close, but look at the lyric again: "Even if you're innocent // You can cause too much embarrassment"
This is about the fugitive being punished regardless of guilt - this isn't a bounty hunter or detective...
This is about the fugitive being punished regardless of guilt - this isn't a bounty hunter or detective...
...this is an ASSASSIN. "Well, BANG-BANG-BANG, and down you go" (because we all know everyone survives three bullet wounds just fine and that's the standard procedure to disable someone you wish to apprehend.)
...this is an ASSASSIN. "Well, BANG-BANG-BANG, and down you go" (because we all know everyone survives three bullet wounds just fine and that's the standard procedure to disable someone you wish to apprehend.)
Even the chorus: "I got a name, and I got a number..." England under the harsh rule of the union-busting Tories of 'The Iron Lady', in the...
Even the chorus: "I got a name, and I got a number..." England under the harsh rule of the union-busting Tories of 'The Iron Lady', in the 1980s? With the Cold War giving all manner of carte blanche for morally questionable acts by government?
a name and a number....James Bond, 007?
A government ASSASSIN (remember, not a regular spy, but someone specifically sanctioned to kill) maybe going after people who MIGHT be bad, or might NOT, doing ethically grey things 'for Queen and Country' (and maybe sweeping some scandal under the rug, too)