Ron Hawkins is a independent Canadian rock singer, songwriter and painter. … Read Full Bio ↴Ron Hawkins is a independent Canadian rock singer, songwriter and painter. He has been the lead singer and songwriter for The Lowest of the Low, Hummer and Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails, and has released several solo albums.

Not to be confused with Canadian rock and roll pioneer Ronnie Hawkins

Three Penny Operator
Ron Hawkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The night just taunts me
And the morning isn't mine
I'm kneeling at the monument of hate you left behind
And lying next to you
Still feels like pulling off a crime
The blanket's stained with guilt
When your dreams are full of wine
There'll be a pistol at my head

Either now or later
Bullets preying at the temple of a three penny operator

You can see the Kamikazes
In the lovers that you pick
She pulls neurotic rabbits
From her basket full of tricks
You lay with one eye open
While the other gets some sleep
You trust that woman like the R.C.M.P.
'Cause she's going up
A down escalator
It's a running gag, she's a three penny operator

Walk the moon-soaked doorways
The fresh air will do you well
Fill a jar up with pennies
And secrets you don't want to tell
Keep your pockets full
You never know when she'll return
When the keyhole clicks and the handle turns
Who's driving this thing?

There are spys
Working inside the love that you thought was bulletproof
And every time you smile with your eyes
Your throat feels a noose
But, I don't understand
I don't want to be your hangman
No, I don't understand
I just want to be your lover
At least for tonight
Or 'til the stock-market changes
Two cents worth from a three penny operator

Beeswax, cinnamon and L.S.D.
My friend's got pains where his butterflies should be
And the branches are all twisted in the leaves of these trees
And the taboos that have been lifted don't give me any ease

So it's one shot for now and two shots for later
Freezing in Tequila like a three penny operator

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ron Hawkins's song "Three Penny Operator" describe the singer's complicated and troubled relationship with someone ("you") who has left behind feelings of hate and guilt. The night is tormenting and the morning is not a relief. Even lying next to this person feels like a crime. The song's title refers to the singer's own position in this relationship, as he views himself as a "three penny operator" - someone of little value or significance, who is constantly threatened by bigger, stronger, more dangerous forces. This is emphasized in the chorus, where the singer describes the possibility of a pistol being held to his head, with bullets preying at his temple.

The verse also contains several images that suggest deception, danger, and mistrust. The "neurotic rabbits" suggest someone who is emotionally unstable or unpredictable, while the idea of someone "going up / a down escalator" implies a futile or self-defeating struggle. The mention of spies and a love that is supposed to be "bulletproof" emphasizes the sense of danger and vulnerability that the singer feels. However, there is also a sense of desire and longing in the singer's voice, as he expresses a wish to be the other person's lover - or at least for a night.

Line by Line Meaning

The night just taunts me
The night feels like it's mocking me

And the morning isn't mine
I don't feel like I have any control over the morning

I'm kneeling at the monument of hate you left behind
I'm stuck in a place of anger and pain because of what you did

And lying next to you Still feels like pulling off a crime
Being close to you is like doing something wrong

The blanket's stained with guilt When your dreams are full of wine
Even your unconscious mind is filled with regret and shame

There'll be a pistol at my head Either now or later Bullets preying at the temple of a three penny operator
I know that there's danger and violence coming my way because I'm someone who barely gets by

You can see the Kamikazes In the lovers that you pick
You tend to choose destructive people to love

She pulls neurotic rabbits From her basket full of tricks
She's always manipulating and playing mind games

You lay with one eye open While the other gets some sleep You trust that woman like the R.C.M.P.
Even when you're supposed to be resting, you're on high alert because you don't fully trust her

'Cause she's going up A down escalator It's a running gag, she's a three penny operator
She's someone who seems to always be working against herself, and it's become a joke

Walk the moon-soaked doorways The fresh air will do you well Fill a jar up with pennies And secrets you don't want to tell Keep your pockets full You never know when she'll return When the keyhole clicks and the handle turns Who's driving this thing?
You're always on the move, trying to avoid getting caught. You hold onto your secrets like they're precious, but you're never sure who's in control.

There are spys Working inside the love that you thought was bulletproof And every time you smile with your eyes Your throat feels a noose
Even love isn't safe, and it feels like it's suffocating you

But, I don't understand I don't want to be your hangman No, I don't understand I just want to be your lover At least for tonight Or 'til the stock-market changes Two cents worth from a three penny operator
I don't know what's going on, but I don't want to be the one to punish you. I just want to be with you for a short time, and I know I'm not worth much.

Beeswax, cinnamon and L.S.D. My friend's got pains where his butterflies should be And the branches are all twisted in the leaves of these trees And the taboos that have been lifted don't give me any ease So it's one shot for now and two shots for later Freezing in Tequila like a three penny operator
Everything is weird and twisted, and no one feels comfortable in their own skin. You're drinking to numb the pain, but it's never really going to work.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS