In August of 2002, the group upped the rock quotient on its second album (and first for In the Red), Time Bomb High School, and the group landed a high-profile gig opening for Swedish garage wunderkinds the Hives on their North American tour. Alex Greene dropped out as a full-time group member by the time 2004's Too Much Guitar was released, though he did appear on the disc as a guest musician, and the band followed its release with more touring, both as a headliner and once again as opener for the Hives. The band also gained another well-known champion in Little Steven Van Zandt, who gave the band frequent airplay on his syndicated radio show. In September 2005 Reigning Sound released Home for Orphans through Sympathy for the Record Industry. It featured reworked versions of Too Much Guitar material along with some unreleased tracks.
Their album Abdication… For Your Love was originally available in 2011 solely as a promotional giveaway, but was given a wide release in 2019 on Merge Records.
Banker And A Liar
Reigning Sound Lyrics
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With his chalices of wine
And his niece who wears your penis like a crown
All that power has escaped you
Though you toiled all the day through
With the promise of a hummer and a pound
I could draw you a picture of the world and a screw
I could've loved you but your dreams are on fire
And your prophet is a banker and a liar
And if their money don't fulfil you
There are medicines that will do
All the thinking for you so you can relax
The poison kiss of easy living
Full of shit and unforgiving
To the ? who rest its burden on their backs
And I don't know what to do for you
I could draw you a picture of the world and a screw
I could've loved you but your dreams are on fire
And your prophet is a banker and a liar
And I don't know what to do for you
I could draw you a picture of the world and a screw
I could've loved you, but your dreams are on fire
And your prophet is a banker and a liar
The song "Banker And A Liar" by Reigning Sound is a commentary on power, corruption, and the dangers of blind faith. The lyrics describe a person who has been seduced by the promise of wealth and success, only to be left empty and disillusioned. The opening lines, "You played sapphire to the swine / With his chalices of wine / And his niece who wears your penis like a crown" suggest that the person in question has aligned themselves with those in power, using flattery and sexual favors to gain favor.
However, despite their efforts, they have been unable to attain the level of success they were promised. "All that power has escaped you / Though you toiled all the day through / With the promise of a hummer and a pound" implies that the person has worked hard, but has not been rewarded for their efforts. This is further reinforced in the chorus, where the singer offers to "draw you a picture of the world and a screw" - a bitter reminder that the promises of the powerful are often empty.
The song also touches on the dangers of blindly following those in power, particularly when they are willing to use drugs and other forms of mind control to maintain their hold over their followers. "And if their money don't fulfil you / There are medicines that will do / All the thinking for you so you can relax" warns the listener about the dangers of relying on those in power to make decisions for us.
Overall, "Banker And A Liar" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of power, corruption, and blind faith. It encourages the listener to think critically about those in positions of authority, and to be wary of promises that seem too good to be true.
Line by Line Meaning
You played sapphire to the swine
You tried to impress someone who doesn't deserve your attention
With his chalices of wine
With his flashy and expensive possessions
And his niece who wears your penis like a crown
And his family member who is too close to him and using your power for her own benefit
All that power has escaped you
You have lost control over the situation
Though you toiled all the day through
Even though you worked hard and put in effort
With the promise of a hummer and a pound
With the promise of money and material things
And I don't know what to do for you
I am at a loss for how to help you
I could draw you a picture of the world and a screw
I could show you a bleak and harsh reality that might shock you
I could've loved you but your dreams are on fire
I could have cared for you, but you are too consumed by your own ambition
And your prophet is a banker and a liar
The person you follow as a leader and guide is corrupt and dishonest
And if their money don't fulfil you
And if money doesn't bring you the happiness you seek
There are medicines that will do
There are drugs and other things that can numb your senses and make you feel better
All the thinking for you so you can relax
They will do all the thinking for you so you don't have to worry or stress
The poison kiss of easy living
The seductive trap of a life that seems comfortable but is actually harmful
Full of shit and unforgiving
Deceitful and unyielding
To the ? who rest its burden on their backs
To the people who bear the weight of society's problems on their shoulders
And I don't know what to do for you
I am still unsure how to help you
I could've loved you, but your dreams are on fire
I could have been there for you emotionally, but you are too focused on your own goals
And your prophet is a banker and a liar
And your mentor is someone who prioritizes money and dishonesty over everything else
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.