Bankrobber

Album: Black Market Clash (1980)
Charted: 12
Play Video
  • 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 Writer/s: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Denise from Near ElyMy nephew Rob Skipper played it with Ronnie Wood
  • Jl from NycIn 1981 they had a set amount of dates to play at Bond in Manhattan. Promoters oversold even though they knew about the capacity limits of the venue. The Clash doubled the dates so everyone who had bought a ticket could attend. Scalpers had bought up so many tickets that they were stuck with all the added dates and the demand was just not there. I went 6 times and paid no more than $10 and once $2!
    The capacity was 1750 people.
  • Rufus from San Clemente, CaHadn't heard this song til it was featured in Rock N Rolla. Can't stop listening to it!
  • Jon from Hackney, United KingdomTotally useless comment but can't stop. I totally love this, one of my favourites from anyone. Point of minor interest: my indykid daughter got into Clash after she heard the Audioweb cover, so props to them too
  • Ross from Leicester, United KingdomMikey Dread has died since then - hope he'd seen some royalties by then.
    Of course in real life Strummer's father was a civil servant in the diplomatic service and thi ssong has been mocked on more than one occasion because of that.
  • Nicolas from Montreal, QcI saw Mikey dread at a reggae fest three years ago here in Montreal and during his set he kept bitching about the clash stealing this song from him (though he did knowingly write it FOR and WITH them). He was complaining about never getting his royalties. Seeing how this song is so popular and still used on soundtracks and such (i.e. Rock n rolla) he might never get over that...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.