Bankrobber

This song describes a boy whose father robs banks, but refuses to harm anybody in the process; he simply loves to live life as a criminal. Unfortunately many people took these lyrics literally, prompting sniffy critics to point out that Joe Strummer's dad was a foreign office diplomat and not actually a bankrobber. The lyrics aren't meant literally - instead they are a continuation of the themes of dead-end jobs and escaping oppression by 'the man' that run through so many Clash songs, starting on the first album with "Career Opportunities."

What started out sometime in 1979 as a jaunty ska tune demoed as "The Bank Robber's Song" became what was supposed to be: the first in a long line of singles released through 1980. Except record label CBs hated it, calling it "all of David Bowie's records played backwards." Harsh criticism for one of the band's best charting singles, and another move away from the traditional sound of the band after the already fairly radical-sounding "London Calling."

A reggae version by Audioweb went to #19 on the UK charts in 1997. The song has also been covered by The Pistoleers (in a rockabilly style) and by The Soul Merchants.