Before going solo, Robison was in the bands Chaparral, Millionaire Playboys, and Two Hoots and a Holler. At one point, Robison was on Warner Brothers, but apparently did not see eye to eye about his musical career there and left to release some albums on his own. Among his releases was a live disc also featuring brother Bruce Robison and Jack Ingram that was put out by Sony's Lucky Dog label. He then went to Dualtone Records.
Robison was a judge on the first season of the TV singing competition Nashville Star.
He married Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks in 1999 (the couple divorced on August 6, 2008). They have three children together: Charles Augustus, called "Gus", born November 11, 2002 and twins Julianna Tex (9:19pm, 6 lb 10 oz) and Henry Benjamin (9:29pm, 6 lb 14 oz), born on April 14, 2005. All three children were conceived via invitro fertilization.
Discography
High Life (2013) - Charlie Robison
Beautiful Day (2009) - Charlie Robison
Good Times (2004) - Charlie Robison
Live (2003) - Charlie Robison
Step Right Up (2001) - Charlie Robison
I Want You Bad [CD Single] (2001) -Charlie Robison
Unleashed Live (2000) - Charlie Robison/Jack Ingram/Bruce Robison
You're Not The Best [single] (1999) - Charlie Robison
Life of the Party (1998) - Charlie Robison
Barlight [CD/Cassette Single] (1998) - Charlie Robison
Bandera (1996) - Charlie Robison
Official website: http://www.charlierobison.com/
Desperate Times
Charlie Robison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a little Texas town
He finished up and spent the most of next year bummin' around
He couldn't find a job to hold
So on a Friday night
He figured he could see the world and buy a 4-wheel drive
If he'd join the army
Cause these are desperate times
Well he came back four years later
A little higher off the ground
Things there hadn't changed
And that just really got him down
So he went off to San Antone
An hour to the east
And got a job workin' for the San Antone police
Well he had a pistol now
Cause these are desperate times
Well ol Jackie he got married
But his ends they wouldn't meet
His wife worked at the Texas Commerce Bank just up the street
Jackie got an idea
To get him outta debt
And they could live the good life
And drive a new Corvette
If he'd rob the bank he said
Cause these are desperate times
Well he had planned the whole thing
And while his baby worked
He came in after hours
In a black ski mask and shirt
She told him where the money was
And thats just where he went
The minute that he saw it he already had it spent
Well it wasn't easy
But these are desperate times
Well he drove off to Bandera
Cause that was his hometown
He had it in his mind just where he'd lay that money down
He went out to his mom's house
And Jack went up the hill
To bury that old suitcase full of hundred dollar bills
Well he'd let it sit a while
Cause these are desperate times
Well the bank they called the g-men
Cause they were insured by the Fed
And Jill she rolled on Jack
Cause she was in above her head
The g-men gave Jack wind of this
When th
e caught him on the run
And they took him back to San Antone
To hang for what he'd done
Well ol Jackie he still swears
There never was a crime
He says his name's been dragged through mud
Just like all those times before
And he only did it cause
These are desperate times
The song Desperate Times by Charlie Robison tells the story of a man named Jackie who, like many others, faces economic hardship and frustration in finding a job after finishing high school. In a desperate attempt to improve his financial situation, he joins the army and later becomes a police officer. Despite this, he still struggles to make ends meet and comes up with the idea to rob a bank with the help of his wife. The plan ultimately fails, and Jackie is caught and sentenced to hang.
The lyrics offer a commentary on the harsh realities faced by many individuals living in small towns and the limited options available to them. These harsh economic times often result in people turning to drastic measures to survive, such as robbing a bank. Despite the consequences of such actions, the song portrays Jackie as a sympathetic character who is simply trying to provide for himself and his family.
Line by Line Meaning
Jackie went to high school
Jackie attended high school.
In a little Texas town
The high school Jackie attended was located in a small town in Texas.
He finished up and spent the most of next year bummin' around
After graduating from high school, Jackie spent a year wandering aimlessly without finding a job.
He couldn't find a job to hold
Jackie was unable to secure a stable job.
So on a Friday night
One Friday night, Jackie made a decision.
He figured he could see the world and buy a 4-wheel drive
He believed that by joining the army, he would be able to explore the world and purchase a 4-wheel drive.
If he'd join the army
Jackie thought of joining the army.
Cause these are desperate times
The tough economic circumstances influenced Jackie's decision to consider joining the army.
Well he came back four years later
Jackie returned after serving four years in the army.
A little higher off the ground
Jackie was more confident and strong after his experience in the army.
Things there hadn't changed
Jackie's hometown had remained the same during his absence.
And that just really got him down
Jackie felt disheartened by the fact that nothing had changed.
So he went off to San Antone
Jackie decided to move to San Antonio.
An hour to the east
San Antonio was located an hour to the east of Jackie's hometown.
And got a job workin' for the San Antone police
Jackie found a job in San Antonio working for the police department.
Well he had a pistol now
Jackie was now carrying a gun as part of his job.
Cause these are desperate times
The crime-ridden environment in San Antonio made it necessary for law enforcement officers to be armed.
Well ol Jackie he got married
Jackie got married.
But his ends they wouldn't meet
Jackie was struggling to make ends meet financially.
His wife worked at the Texas Commerce Bank just up the street
Jackie's wife worked at a bank located near their house.
Jackie got an idea
Jackie came up with a plan.
To get him outta debt
Jackie's plan was aimed at helping him get out of debt.
And they could live the good life
Jackie's plan was to improve his and his wife's lifestyle.
And drive a new Corvette
Jackie's plan included buying a new sports car.
If he'd rob the bank he said
Jackie's plan involved robbing the bank where his wife worked.
Cause these are desperate times
Jackie's financial struggles drove him to come up with the idea of committing a bank robbery.
Well he had planned the whole thing
Jackie had meticulously planned the bank robbery.
And while his baby worked
While his wife was at work,
He came in after hours
Jackie entered the bank outside of working hours.
In a black ski mask and shirt
Jackie was wearing a black ski mask and shirt to conceal his identity.
She told him where the money was
Jackie's wife provided him with information about the location of the cash.
And that's just where he went
Jackie went to the place where his wife had directed him.
The minute that he saw it he already had it spent
Jackie had already planned how he would spend the stolen money before he had even taken it.
Well it wasn't easy
The bank robbery was not an easy task for Jackie to complete.
But these are desperate times
Jackie believed that the tough economic times justified his criminal actions.
Well he drove off to Bandera
Jackie left the scene and drove to his hometown of Bandera.
Cause that was his hometown
Bandera was the place where Jackie grew up and felt safe.
He had it in his mind just where he'd lay that money down
Jackie had a clear plan of where he would hide the stolen money.
He went out to his mom's house
Jackie went to his mother's house in Bandera.
And Jack went up the hill
Jackie climbed a nearby hill.
To bury that old suitcase full of hundred dollar bills
Jackie buried the stolen money in an old suitcase that contained $100 bills.
Well he'd let it sit a while
Jackie decided to let the money sit where it was buried for some time before using it.
Cause these are desperate times
Jackie believed that holding on to the money instead of spending it immediately was the best way to deal with his desperate financial situation.
Well the bank they called the g-men
The bank alerted the FBI agents.
Cause they were insured by the Fed
The bank was insured by the Federal Reserve.
And Jill she rolled on Jack
Jackie's wife told the police about the bank robbery.
Cause she was in above her head
Jackie's wife regretted her involvement in the crime and felt out of her league.
The g-men gave Jack wind of this
The FBI agents alerted Jackie that they knew about his crime.
When they had him trapped in sight
The FBI ambushed Jackie when they had him in their line of vision.
He knew his life was over
Jackie realized that his life as he knew it was finished.
And he'd have to pay the price
Jackie understood that he would have to face the consequences of his actions.
For his desperation
Jackie committed a crime due to his urgent need for money.
In these desperate times
The difficult economic times influenced and drove Jackie to commit robbery.
Contributed by Lincoln F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mounce Ron Ruby
on Always
And he had a lot more 'loot'....not 'more to lose'. Either way sounds good, though