Sink Hole
Struggle Against Financial Power: Drive-By Truckers' Powerful Narrative
Lyrics
I've always been a religious man, I've always been a religious man
The speaker identifies as religious but feels betrayed by a banker who rejected their bailout request.
But I met the banker and it felt like sin, he turned my bailout down
The banker's refusal feels morally wrong or sinful to the speaker.
The Banker Man, he let into me, let into me, let into me
The banker criticized or attacked the speaker repeatedly.
The Banker Man, he let into me and spread my name around
The banker spread negative information about the speaker.
He thinks I ain't got a lick of sense cause I talk slow and my money's spent
The banker underestimates the speaker due to their slow speech and financial situation.
Now, I ain't the type to hold it against, but he better stay off my farm
The speaker doesn't hold grudges but warns the banker to stay off their inherited farm.
Cause it was my Daddy's and his Daddy's before
Emphasizing the farm's lineage, passed down through generations.
And his Daddy's before and his Daddy's before
Highlighting the farm's long history within the family.
Five generations and an unlocked door and a loaded burglar alarm.
Indicating the farm's security measures despite being open and welcoming.
Lots of pictures of my purdy family, lots of pictures of my purdy family
The house is adorned with many cherished family photographs.
Lots of pictures of my purdy family in the house where I was born.
Further emphasis on family pictures in the speaker's birthplace.
House has stood through five tornadoes,
Describing the house's endurance through various natural disasters.
Droughts, floods, and five tornadoes.
Reiterating the house's resilience against multiple adversities.
I'd rather wrassle an alligator than to face the Banker's scorn
The speaker would rather face physical danger than the banker's disdain.
'Cause he won't even look me in the eye
The banker avoids direct confrontation with the speaker.
He just takes my land and apologize,
The banker takes the speaker's property without showing remorse.
With pen, paper, and a friendly smile, he says the deed is done.
Formally confirms the transfer of ownership, seemingly indifferent to the speaker's emotions.
The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning, The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning
Expresses the speaker's deceased father's anguish over the banker's actions.
The sound you hear is my Daddy spinning over what the Banker done.
Continues to highlight the father's distress over the banker's deeds.
Like to invite him for some pot roast beef and mashed potatoes and sweet tea
The speaker sarcastically invites the banker for a meal to show them the farm's beauty.
Follow it up with some banana pudding and a walk around the farm
Extending a seemingly polite but ironic invitation to the banker.
Show him the view from McGee Town Hill
Offering to share the view from a particular hill on the farm.
Let him stand in my shoes and see how it feels
Challenging the banker to empathize with the speaker's situation.
To lose the last thing on earth that's real
Highlighting the deep emotional loss caused by losing the farm.
I'd rather lose my legs and arms
Expressing the magnitude of the loss by equating it with losing limbs.
Bury his body in the old sink hole
A visceral desire for revenge against the banker by burying them in a sinkhole.
Bury his body in the old sink hole
Repeating the desire to bury the banker in a sinkhole.
Bury his body in the old sink hole under cold November sky
The specific location and atmosphere for the proposed act of revenge.
Then damned if I wouldn't go to church on Sunday
The speaker, despite their anger, emphasizes their commitment to religious obligations.
Damned if I wouldn't go to church on Sunday
Reiterating the speaker's determination to adhere to religious practices.
Damned if I wouldn't go to church on Sunday
Continuing to stress the speaker's intention to attend church despite their anger.
And look the preacher in the eye.
The speaker's resolution to face the preacher despite their conflicted emotions.
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