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Raised On Robbery Lyrics

Artist: Joni Mitchell
Album: Court & Spark

He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel
He was drinking for diversion
He was thinking for himself
A little money riding on the Maple Leafs
Along comes a lady in lacy sleeves
She says let me sit down
You know, drinkin' alone's a shame
It's a shame it's a crying shame
Look at those jokers
Glued to that damn hockey game
Hey honey-you've got lots of cash
Bring us round a bottle
And we'll have some laughs
Gin's what I'm drinking
I was raised on robbery

I'm a pretty good cook
I'm sitting on my groceries
Come up to my kitchen
I'll show you my best recipe
I try and I try but I can't save a cent
I'm up after midnight cooking
Trying to make my rent
I'm rough but I'm pleasin'
I was raised on robbery

We had a little money once
They were pushing through a four lane highway
Government gave us three thousand dollars
You should have seen it fly away
First he bought a '57 Biscayne
He put it in the ditch
He drunk up all the rest
That son of a bitch
His blood's bad whiskey
I was raised on robbery

You know you ain't bad looking
I like the way you hold your drinks
Come home with me honey
I ain't asking for no full length mink
Hey, where you going
Don't go yet
Your glass ain't empty and we just met
You're mean when your loaded
I was raised on robbery

Comments/Interpretations
by Ohio 1944 Man on 7/6/2008 9:46am I seen wayy too many like her. Just cause' they got that thang they think I neeed it sooo. Bye
by Archie 54 on 11/22/2008 10:55am Thats a bitching good song by the Queen of music
by richard on 6/4/2009 3:24am she does not sing "I'm up after midnight cooking"!!! I've been trying for years to learn what that line really is! Does anyone know?
by andrea on 6/19/2009 1:59am maybe she joni was working in some 24hour diner
by frank on 6/25/2009 10:01am yes she does sing "I'm up after midnight, cooking". I have the original recording with lyrics and when enhanced, it is clear that is what it is. also - the line in the first stanza is "...let me sit down here" not "...let me sit down"
by pete on 11/1/2009 2:57pm I don't think "I'm up after midnight cooking" has much to do with food. The analogy follows on from "sitting on my groceries", a popular euphemism for prostitution. The lady in the lacy sleeves is clearly a hooker altough the listener may sympathise with this woman who having fallen on hard times has been forced into the oldest profession.
by Sean on 11/20/2009 11:54am I have been listen to this wonderful album since it was first released. I have always been under the impression that "robbery" was a Liqueur. Can anyone confirm or correct?
by Scott on 12/11/2009 9:53am I thought it was, "along came a lady who makes him sneeze", and, "I'm up at three the night cook, tryin' to make my rent", but then I also thought the Beach Boys sang, "When I cruise around the other parts of the town I got my Ten Gallon Hat"!!!
by Beatlebob2 on 6/7/2010 12:41pm it's "blue money riding", not "little money riding"
by Van on 7/31/2010 12:37pm Definitely "blue money", i.e., five dollar bets. Americans have different dead statesmen on different denominations, Canadians have the queen on all of the, but different colors.
by Scourge on 8/16/2010 4:26pm "Pretty good cook; sittin' on my groceries" "show you me best recipes" and "up after midnight cooking"...she's whoring herself.
by Ksp on 9/8/2011 1:11am It's also, at the end, "Don't Leave When Youre Loaded..." as in he's both rich, and drunk. Not "you're mean"
by JR on 1/5/2012 4:10pm Laurier is on the Canadian $5. The Queen is only on the 20 now. The $5 is definitely blue.
by Don on 4/15/2013 12:19pm I heard Joni Mitchell on NPR several years ago; she was specifically asked about Raised on Robbery, and said the lady is a prostitute. But to conclude she "is whoring herself" risks overstatement, I believe. Joni Mitchell wears her heart on her sleeve in virtually every song. She's great.

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