Mr. Banker
Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyrics


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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mr. Banker

Mister Banker
Mister please, how much does money mean
Won't you reconsider mister
Won't you do this thing for me
Ain't got no house
Ain't got no car
All I got, Lord, is my guitar
But you can have that mister banker
Won't you bury my papa for me
Oh mister banker please
Listen to how that sound

I would not be here on my knees
But hey mister banker
It means so much to me
Oh won't you reconsider mister
Won't you do this thing for me

I told you mister
I ain't got no house
Ain't got no car
I got me a 1950 Les Paul guitar
Won't you take it mister banker




Won't you bury my papa for me
Oh mister banker please

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd's song Mr. Banker are a plea from a struggling musician to a wealthy banker asking him to loan him the money to bury his deceased father. The musician is on his knees begging the banker to reconsider his request, as he has no material possessions except his 1950 Les Paul guitar. The musician is willing to sacrifice his only valuable item in exchange for the banker's help. The song's lyrics also highlight the stark reality of the financial system, where money and power reign supreme, leaving struggling working-class people like the musician hopeless and powerless.


The desperation in the musician's voice is palpable as he implores the banker to listen to him and reconsider his request. The song's narrative is a profound commentary on the economic injustices and the helplessness of ordinary people in the face of financial institutions' power.


Overall, the song speaks to the vulnerability and desperation of society's marginalized people and the need for empathy and compassion from those in positions of power.


Line by Line Meaning

Mister Banker
Addressing the person being spoken to


Mister please, how much does money mean
Asking how important money is to the person being spoken to


Won't you reconsider mister
Requesting the person being spoken to to change their mind


Won't you do this thing for me
Asking the person being spoken to to do a specific favor


Ain't got no house
I don't have a house


Ain't got no car
I don't have a car


All I got, Lord, is my guitar
The only valuable possession I have is my guitar


But you can have that mister banker
Offering the person being spoken to their guitar


Won't you bury my papa for me
Requesting the person being spoken to to help with a funeral


Oh mister banker please
Requesting the person being spoken to to help


Listen to how that sound
Pointing out the sadness in the situation


I would not be here on my knees
I wouldn't be begging if I didn't have to


But hey mister banker
Using a more casual tone to continue the conversation


It means so much to me
Emphasizing the importance of the request


Oh won't you reconsider mister
Asking again for the person being spoken to to change their mind


Won't you do this thing for me
Repeating the request for a specific favor


I told you mister
Recalling what was said previously


I ain't got no house
Reiterating the lack of a house


Ain't got no car
Reiterating the lack of a car


I got me a 1950 Les Paul guitar
Describing the one valuable possession they have


Won't you take it mister banker
Offering the valuable possession in exchange for help


Won't you bury my papa for me
Repeating the request for help with a funeral


Oh mister banker please
Repeating the plea for help




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONNIE VAN ZANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Scott Herrington

No man will ever be able to sing like this guy, then throw in three of the greatest guitar players ever and it's easy to see how this band was destined to be the GOAT of all guitar based Rock and Roll bands and they've left their mark on every band since 1970.

Kevin Terrill

no man could put it down I one take, drunk. then.get mad cause you couldn't keep. like he could.GOAT

PinkOld

Ed just kills it on the bottleneck here.
Hard to believe that this was actually an outtake instead of a regular release.
RIP, Billy, Ed, Ronnie, Steve, Allen, and Leon, and Bob.
Gary is the last man standing.

Jon Dhoe

Um Artemis is alive yeah not an original but still.

michael Greene

He was..... Now they're all gone..... One of the world's best band 's ever... Skynyrd is no more, RIP boy's, y'all earned it.... I'm proud to have been along for the ride, it was fantastic, thank you, Ronnie and Crew....

Richie's Guitar Shanktuary

​@michael Greene that was a sad day. Lynyrd skynyrd truthfully though was already done. That new sound they took on when they reformed to me sounded nothing like lynyrd skynyrd and sounded generic like most every other country rock band today. I give them applause for keeping it going until the last man was gone and keeping the fans happy but to me it was more of a tribute than an actual continuation of the band. Cause LS back in the day (this is coming from a 28 year old) was untouchable. There wasn't a bad guitar riff on any song. They had the most unique and kick ass riffs maybe ever, the singing in the original line up was so dang melodic it even sounds amazing if you play the singing notes on a guitar cause they're so melodic. They were 100 percent original and so unique which is why I say it was so disappointing how generic the new songs under the reincarnation of it was. Nonetheless though I applaud them for keeping it going!

michael Greene

@Richie's Guitar Shanktuary yessir, Skynyrd died in the plane crash, when Ronnie was no more, that was the end....

j durham

These guys have that special place in American 💕. I'm proud to have attended their last concert in Knoxville TN. 1977. Honored then. Honored now.

Byron Rodgers

It was actually in Greenville South Carolina.

Brian Thompson

Ronnie Van Zant and Ed King were one of the greatest song writing duo's in Rock history.

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