Saint John
Cold War Kids Lyrics

Supper time in the hole
The singer is trapped in a place with little hope and is forced to have dinner.

I shame my family, shame my home
The singer feels guilty for not living up to the expectations of his family and community.

Old Saint John on death row
A man named Saint John is awaiting execution.

He's just waiting for a pardon
Saint John is hoping for a reprieve from his sentence.

All the white boys in the stay pressed slacks
A group of privileged young men are out on the town dressed in expensive clothes.

They're home for the summer from college
These boys are enjoying a break from their studies.

Staying out late, getting rowdy at the bar
They are partying and causing trouble at a local drinking spot.

And looking for trouble uptown
The young men are actively seeking out conflict.

They come up my block, 'bout 5 or 6 of them
The group of young men arrive on the artist's street.

Smashing their bottles in the gutter
They are being loud, violent and destructive.

Yelling all kinds of obscenities
The boys are using offensive language and slurs.

About woman and God and law
Their insults are directed towards women, religion and the justice system.

A young girl turned the corner with a clerk dress on
The singer's sister, who works as a clerk, comes around the corner.

That girl was my sister
The singer identifies the girl as his sibling.

Just got off the night shift at Pennington's Place
The sister has finished her job at a specific location.

Just wanna go home and get some sleep
The sister is tired and wants to rest after work.

Butch grabbed her by the waist with the caffeine eyes
One of the young men named Butch grabs the sister from behind aggressively.

The hands all [Incomprehensible]
It is unclear what Butch is doing with his hands.

I picked up a brick from my papa's front yard
The singer finds a brick on his father's property and uses it as a weapon.

And threw it at the tallest boy's face
The artist aims the brick at the leader of the group.

Well, blood was streaming like a well that sprung
The injured boy is bleeding heavily from his head wound.

I couldn't believe what I had just done
The artist is in shock over their violent outburst.

Well, the other boy ran and this one stayed
The other boys flee the scene, but the injured leader is left behind.

On the ground and he would never move again
The boy is severely injured or dead.

All us boys on death row
The singer and his friends feel like they are waiting for inevitable punishment.

We're just waiting for a pardon
They are wishing for a way out of their situation.

Yours truly on trial, I testify
The singer is being put on trial and is speaking in his own defense.

I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry
The artist feels like he has to keep moving to avoid his own punishment.