Bank Job
Songs that tell a story are especially nice because it makes visualization so simple. This is the only Barenaked Ladies song from the Are Me/Are Men releases that I really like, but I -really- like it. It begins with a rather enigmatic setup that sounds as though a stage performance went terribly wrong, but as more is revealed, we learn that the performance was, in fact, a bank robbery. In between almost spoken verse is a more melodic chorus with wonderful organ music. As the story continues, we learn that the bank job failed so miserably because the bank was full of nuns (wonderful BNL humor). Unable to rob nuns, the leader aborts the robbery, much to the chagrin of the driver. The ending delivers more humor, yet all of it is down-played through the song, making it even more ridiculous and silly sounding.
Lyrics
It was an upset in two minutes flat We were back on the freeway, foot to the mat I can't understand it; we had it down pat It's very upsetting, could we leave it at that? We all had positions; we each had a role We'd over-rehearsed it; we had full control They can't teach you acting, it's there in your soul It's the same with a bank job, and each thing we stole So I don't need attitude Cause you knew just what to do We all did our best now We all need to rest now Leave me alone Wait by the phone I was the driver; you ran the show You had the last word, the go or no go I knew every laneway in Ontario But it's not what you're sure of, it's what you don't know It should have been filled with the usual ones Throwing their cash into mutual funds We all had our ski masks and sawed-off shotguns But how do you plan for a bank full of nuns? Well, I guess we panicked - we all have taboos And they were like zebras; they had us confused We should be in condos with oceanfront views Instead we're most-wanted on the six o'clock news So I don't need attitude Cause you knew just what to do We all did our best now We all need to rest now Leave me alone And wait by the phone Inside the police car you tried to explain your crisis of conscience; the voice in your brain And now that the whole thing has gone down the drain I think we all know who should shoulder the blame Cause you made a choice there, almost sublime I'm all for compassion, just not on my dime You looked like an amateur, and that's the real crime So I'll take a walk now, and you do the time And I don't need attitude Cause you knew just what to do We all did our best now We all need to rest now Leave me alone There's no need to phone We all did our best now We all need to rest now Leave me alone We all did our best now We all need to rest now Leave me alone Leave me alone
Links
- youtube.com/watch?v=L8dMIzfp8HM - Official album audio.
- youtube.com/watch?v=4oKkdqTjk2A - Performed acoustic by Ed Robertson.
