this is just what the song meant to me. when i first heard this song i was serving 3 years in state prison and the lyrics fit perfect for that situation. indeed it felt like all the walls were paper thin and everything you said or did was broadcast to the world. everyone was constantly watching trying to make sure someone wasn't going to try something and you had to watch everyone else for the same reason. 'Oh Lord, don't shake me down' was particularly interesting because thats what it was called when the guards went through all your stuff looking for contraband and most people tried to look out for their buddies and warn them if they got advance word of guard movement, thus 'They're shaking hands, they're shaking in their shoes '
as it's been said, 'Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank' always made me think of how much money the whole ordeal cost me for lawyer fees and restitution and how much some people seemed to profit from my problems. 'It's been a long time since you've been around' struck home with how many people said they would be there for me but quickly forgot i existed once i was out of sight. 'I can't be blamed for nothing anymore' was how i felt about doing my time and the false hope that once it was over it would be over. 'Tow the line to tax the time, you know That you don't owe' was how i felt about being punished for something i didn't feel i deserved, or at least the punishment not fitting the crime. 'I can't be a fool for everyone that I don't know' was how i felt about people that i never met and had nothing to do with letting me know exactly what they thought of me and how i had to decide that i couldn't worry myself with everyone's opinion.
there are a lot of versus in MM songs that have some sort of jail reference. you can take these songs however you feel and apply them to whats going on in your life at the moment. i believe that's what gives them substance.
this is just what the song meant to me. when i first heard this song i was serving 3 years in state prison and the lyrics fit perfect for that situation. indeed it felt like all the walls were paper thin and everything you said or did was broadcast to the world. everyone was constantly watching trying to make sure someone wasn't going to try something and you had to watch everyone else for the same reason. 'Oh Lord, don't shake me down' was particularly interesting because thats what it was called when the guards went through all your stuff looking for contraband and most people tried to look out for their buddies and warn them if they got advance word of guard movement, thus 'They're shaking hands, they're shaking in their shoes ' as it's been said, 'Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank' always made me think of how much money the whole ordeal cost me for lawyer fees and restitution and how much some people seemed to profit from my problems. 'It's been a long time since you've been around' struck home with how many people said they would be there for me but quickly forgot i existed once i was out of sight. 'I can't be blamed for nothing anymore' was how i felt about doing my time and the false hope that once it was over it would be over. 'Tow the line to tax the time, you know That you don't owe' was how i felt about being punished for something i didn't feel i deserved, or at least the punishment not fitting the crime. 'I can't be a fool for everyone that I don't know' was how i felt about people that i never met and had nothing to do with letting me know exactly what they thought of me and how i had to decide that i couldn't worry myself with everyone's opinion. there are a lot of versus in MM songs that have some sort of jail reference. you can take these songs however you feel and apply them to whats going on in your life at the moment. i believe that's what gives them substance.