Mr. Banker

Album: Legend (1987)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is about begging the bank to borrow money to bury a deceased father. It is not about Ronnie's father, Lacy Van Zant, who is often referred to as the "Father of Southern Rock."
  • Skynyrd recorded this at their original Muscle Shoals sessions in 1972, but the song went unreleased until it was released on Legend 14 years later. When Pronounced Leh-nerd skin-nerd was re-released, this song was added to the album. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Aaron - Twin Cities, MN, for above 2

Comments: 4

  • Brett B from Center MassRonnie had an unhealthy distrust of everyone when it came to money. When drinking heavily, he often accuse even bandmates of stealing from him. Then again, with Ed buying up snacks to sell them for 5 or 10 times the price to bandmates on the road, it's hard to say who was taking whom.
  • Sanitarium from Sharon, KsSteve, I believe you are referring to Cry For the Badman. Anyway, this is one of my favorites, along with the Blues medley from Thyrty
  • Steve from Alexandria, VaAccording to an interview with Ronnie Van Zant, the lyrics to this song were based on a situation which occurred after Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album where they got taken advantage of in a business deal by someone Van Zant described as a greedy "meiser". Van Zant declined to say who it was for legal reasons.
  • Oldpink from New Castle, InGreat lyrics truly in the tradition of the old time bluesmen.
    Then, Ed King treats you to an absolutely scorching piece of bottleneck slide work that will make the hairs stand up on your neck.
    And, oh yeah, Ronny's vocals are just vicious.
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