The Clash’s “Bankrobber” Lyrics Meaning
Being that we currently live in the age of rap music, it is somewhat common to come across songs which present the idea of it being better to live life fast than indefinitely stuck in, for lack of a better term, the rat race. But it seems The Clash were up on that philosophy well before the days before hip-hop took off. Or at least that is the concept upon which this narrative is based.
The narrator depicts his dad as a bank robber, not a violent one but rather being a guy who enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of taking others’ money. And in the only actual verse of this song leading into the chorus, it is implied that the reason he and other likeminded individuals adopt such a modus operandi, even at the threat of being imprisoned, is because the 9 to 5 lifestyle, so to speak, is a form of imprisonment in and of itself.
And beyond that, it also seems as if the vocalist is being advised by an older chap to do whatever it is he has to do while youth is on his side, or something like that.
In Conclusion
But at the end of the day the lyrics of “Bankrobber” are, shall we say convoluted enough that calling it an espousement of criminal activity would be a stretch. Instead, it seems more as if the vocalist is idolizing the bank robber lifestyle because in his eyes, these are men who are able to make a living without breaking their backs to do so, like normal folk.
And as far as how such an ideology translates into his own livelihood, based on the chorus, it seems that The Clash perceive their artistry as possessing that same sorta counter-mainstream energy, one that also refuses, at all costs, to follow a standard career path.
Summary
The “bank robber” in this song is a personification of a person who refuses to follow the traditional path of working hard only to receive meager earnings.
Music Video
The Clash also put together a music video to this song which, being true to the title, consisted of a scene imitating a bank robbery. And apparently said scene was so well produced that some police in the locality (Lewisham, London) actually questioned the crew to make sure it wasn’t real.
When was “Bankrobber” released?
CBS Records put this track out on 8 August 1980. It was not associated with any studio album but rather a Clash compilation project entitled “Black Market Crash”. And apparently part of the reason this single didn’t come out in a more conventional fashion was because CBS was not feeling it.
Credits for “Bankrobber”
The Clash was a band from London that was around for about a decade, from the mid-1970s into the mid-1980s. They were most successful in their homeland though achieved a bit of notoriety stateside also.
And two members of the crew, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer (1952-2002), wrote this song in conjunction with a Jamaican reggae artist known as Mikey Dread (1954-2008), who also produced the track. It is for this reason there is this very strong reggae vibe throughout the song.
Did this song chart?
Yes, it did. “Bankrobber” peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
