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9mm And A Three Piece Suit
Catch 22 Lyrics


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Well I know I shouldn't care
but I do and I don't
and I always crack a smile
when I see your punk rock clothes
and you try try but you never fit in
and you're never going to pack it up
pack it in, so there
Steve took three or four
heather took more,
lit a cigarette
now they're walking out the door
with a semi automatic and a ski mask on
and they look to one another
and they say to themselves
what fun.
well I never want to bother
and I never want to hover
over his or her affairs
'cause that's not fair
and it seems to me that you're
running out of time and it seems to me
like you're never going to do
what's right
Jack dropped 21
Jill 22
the look in his eye said
brother what are you going to do
with a 9mm and a three piece suit?
they look to one another and say
hey motherfucker, who's the fool?

Steve took three or four
heather took more,
lit a cigarette
now they're walking out the door
with a semi automatic and a ski mask on
and they look to one another
and they say to themselves
Jack dropped 21
Jill 22
the look in his eye said
brother what are you going to do
with a 9mm and a three piece suit?
they look to one another and say
hey motherfucker, who's the fool?

Overall Meaning

The song "9mm And A Three Piece Suit" by Catch 22 is a punk rock anthem that critiques society's obsession with violence and materialism. The lyrics explore two different scenarios, one where a person doesn't fit in with the crowd and another where two individuals are about to commit a heist. The first situation is portrayed as relatable, with the singer acknowledging that they shouldn't care about how others perceive them but doing so anyway. The second scenario is shown as more problematic, with the two individuals donning ski masks and carrying semiautomatic weapons as they prepare to commit a crime for fun. The lyrics suggest that these actions stem from a sense of alienation and a desire for power.


The song paints a bleak picture of the world where people feel the need to take drastic actions to fit in or feel powerful. The line "it seems to me like you're never going to do what's right" implies that the characters in the song are on a path to self-destruction, and society as a whole is heading in the same direction. The chorus, "hey motherfucker, who's the fool?" can be interpreted as a rhetorical question, with the individuals involved in the heist questioning their own motivations and whether their actions are worth the consequences.


Overall, the lyrics of "9mm And A Three Piece Suit" effectively capture the angst and frustration of the punk rock genre while offering social commentary on contemporary issues.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I know I shouldn't care
I am aware that I shouldn't be concerned, but I still am.


but I do and I don't
I have mixed feelings about the situation.


and I always crack a smile
It brings me joy to see something.


when I see your punk rock clothes
Seeing your punk rock clothes triggers my feelings.


and you try try but you never fit in
You make the effort to fit in, but it doesn't work out.


and you're never going to pack it up
You will not stop being who you are.


pack it in, so there
You are determined and resolute in your decision.


Steve took three or four
Steve consumed three or four of something.


heather took more,
Heather consumed even more of something.


lit a cigarette
They started smoking.


now they're walking out the door
They are leaving the place/scene.


with a semi automatic and a ski mask on
They are armed and disguised.


and they look to one another
They made eye contact with each other.


and they say to themselves
They had an inner monologue.


what fun.
They are excited about what's happening.


well I never want to bother
I prefer not to intrude or disturb.


and I never want to hover
I have no intention of being clingy.


over his or her affairs
I don't want to interfere with their personal matters.


'cause that's not fair
It's not right to do things that way.


and it seems to me that you're
This is how I perceive your current situation.


running out of time and it seems to me
I think you are running out of time.


like you're never going to do
You have no plans or intentions of doing something.


what's right
What's right for the situation.


Jack dropped 21
Jack lost 21 of something.


Jill 22
Jill lost 22 of something.


the look in his eye said
You could see from his expression that he was thinking.


brother what are you going to do
What action are you going to take, my friend?


with a 9mm and a three piece suit?
Having a 9mm and a three piece suit, what will you do?


they look to one another and say
They directed their remarks to each other.


hey motherfucker, who's the fool?
They're questioning each other's judgement or intelligence.




Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Alif A E

Lyrics

Well i know i shouldn't care but i do and i don't and i always crack a smile
When i see your punk rock clothes and you try try try but you never fit in and
You're never going to so pack it up pack it in, so there. steve took three or
Four heather took more. she lit a cigarette and they're walking out the door
With a semi automatic and a ski mask on they look to one another and they say
To themselves "what fun". well i never want to bother and i never want to

Hover over his or her affairs because that's not fair and it seems to me that
You're running out of time and it seems to me like you're never going to do
What's right jack dropped 21, jill 22. the look in his eye said "brother what
Are you going to do with a 9mm and a three piece suit?" they look to one
Another and say "hey motherf**ker, who's the fool?"



All comments from YouTube:

Tom

They refer to Ska as waves, but some tracks just stick live long. Alot of Catch22 tracks still pick me right up, no matter how foul my mood

TheSinfultictac

Ska has a lot of history I mean there are people playing stuff that is The Skatalites

pannacotta fUWUgo

ahh this version is so good! you can definitely hear a difference in energy between this and the streetlight version- both sound kickass, though

13thRegen

I prefer Catch 22's version of Keasbey Nights (the whole album) because it has a rougher, raw sound that just really fits the music.

SirActionSlacks

Streetlight went too “emo” for my tastes. Catch-22 was always upbeat.

I have gcc

i think in generally the rawness fits really well, however i will say theres some parts i prefer from streetlight's namely the instrumental solos are much cleaner and also some parts changed such as the extra saxophone part in dear sergio which mimics the botar french horn part that i think really adds somethin

Mark Necro

Agree

Fire Striker

No way. Streetlight manifesto is better and most prefer that version of Keasbey nights and it has a way rougher and rawer sound

Fire Striker

Also no this DOES NOT fit the music. Shut up dude. The original is factually better and it’s tougher and rawer and rougher

3 More Replies...

Frank TrebbneReid

One of my favorite ska songs. the streetlight manifesto version of this one isnt to bad either

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