Sulking
Walking 'round the city after dark
Need protection from street thugs
Who clip the tires and rip the doors
Off rugs like cowards

And all this life we've glorified
Robbing from the blind
Is not easy you see
Don't think I don't know sympathy
My victims, in my shadow
Staring back at me

Not me, I'm knocking
Tip toe outside a stranger's door
I casually let myself in
Fill pockets with trinkets, purses
China antique armoirs

And all this life we've glorified
Robbing from the blind
Is not easy you see
Don't think I don't know sympathy
My victims, in my shadow
Staring back at me

As robbers in my thoughts
They tell me what to think
They're hiding in my clothes
Crawling in the kitchen sink

Overall Meaning

"Robbers" by Cold War Kids is a haunting song that delves into the psyche of a thief that steals from the wealthy. The lyrics convey this theme of being a thief with a somber and remorseful tone that is not glorifying the life of a robber but instead reveals the sadness and the guilt one would feel from such an existence.

The first verse describes the main character of the song walking around the city after dark, seeking protection from street thugs. They witness the cowardly acts of these thugs and can sympathize with their victims. However, they themselves are a thief, and they know that what they are doing is not right. The second verse goes on to describe how they sneak into people's homes and steal trinkets, purses, and other valuables. They are not proud of what they are doing, but they feel a compulsion to steal that they cannot resist.

The chorus "And all this life we've glorified, robbing from the blind is not easy you see. Don't think I don't know sympathy. My victims, in my shadow staring back at me" serves as a reminder that stealing is not a glamorous or heroic act. It is an act that affects the lives of others and haunts the conscience of the thief.

Overall, "Robbers" is a poignant and thought-provoking song about the internal struggles of a thief. It brings a sense of empathy and understanding to issues that are often portrayed as black and white in popular media.

Line by Line Meaning

Sulking
Feeling sad and upset

Walking 'round the city after dark
Strolling around the city in the night time

Need protection from street thugs
Requiring safety from dangerous criminals

Who clip the tires and rip the doors
Vandals that damage car tires and doors

Off rugs like cowards
Committing these acts in a cowardly manner

And all this life we've glorified
The society we live in encourages

Robbing from the blind
Stealing from those that cannot see

Is not easy you see
It is not simple to do

Don't think I don't know sympathy
I do feel empathy towards those affected

My victims, in my shadow
Those I have stolen from are always present

Staring back at me
Looking at me as if to ask 'Why?'

Not me, I'm knocking
I am not doing that type of theft

Tip toe outside a stranger's door
Walking quietly outside the home of an unknown person

I casually let myself in
I enter the house without concern

Fill pockets with trinkets, purses
Take small or valuable items with ease

China antique armoirs
Also taking antiques

As robbers in my thoughts
The idea of being a thief present in my mind

They tell me what to think
I am influenced by my thoughts of robbery

They're hiding in my clothes
Feeling as though the desire to steal is a part of me

Crawling in the kitchen sink
Even present in mundane moments of life

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JONATHAN BO RUSSELL, MATTHEW COLE AVEIRO, MATTHEW SCOTT MAUST, NATHAN ANDREW WILLETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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