04-Banging Camp
The Hold Steady Lyrics

Holly wore a string around her finger.
Holly wears a string on her finger to remember the nights they overcame together.

She said it helps her to remember all the nights that we got over.
Holly believes the string helps her remember their relationship highs and lows.

Besides, it ties her outfit all together.
The string not only helps her remember but also adds to her overall outfit.

There are strings attached to every single lover but still they can't tether us together.
Even though there are emotional strings between lovers, those alone can't keep them together.

Listen to the back of the theater.
There are sounds of emotional connection in the distance.

I think they really love one another.
The sounds from the back of the theater imply that there are others who are truly in love.

When they say great white sharks.
When people use the term 'great white sharks', they're actually referring to menacing individuals in luxury cars.

They mean the kind in big black cars.
The 'great white sharks' are actually rich people in fancy black vehicles.

When they say killer whales.
Killer whales is a metaphor for violence that leads to death.

They mean they whaled on him until they killed him up in penetration park.
The violence inflicted on someone led to their death in a park.

Holly wore a cross to ward them off.
Holly believes wearing a cross keeps her safe from being attacked by certain people.

She said if they think your a christian then they won't bring in the dogs.
Holly believes that if people think she carries Christian ideologies, then they will not harm her.

And if they think your a catholic then they'll wanna meet your boss.
If people think Holly is Catholic, they will demand to meet someone in authority over her.

There's camps down by the banks of the river.
There exist some shady groups down by the riverbanks.

And it's sketchy in the night but they mostly lay low in the light.
These groups are stealthy in the dark, but do some of their activities in broad daylight.

Hey sweet recovery. C'mon won't you wade into the water with me?
Wade into the river with me for good times and recovery.

When they say black and tans.
People who mention 'black and tans' are talking about beer poured from cans.

They mean the kind from the cans.
Black and tan is a referencer to canned beer.

We don't got time to mix it all together.
There is not enough time to mix drinks from different cans.

I'm a very busy man, man.
I am quite busy.

She says I kinda dig the awkward silences.
She likes the silences that aren’t uncomfortable.

Because I grew up in denial and went to school in Massachusetts.
She developed a habit of denial and went to school in Massachusetts.

He said hi, I like to party on the problem blocks.
He introduces himself and mentions his tendency to party in troublesome places.

And I can't stand it when the banging stops.
The idea of peace after intense partying bothers him.

I saw her at the party pit.
She was spotted partying.

She was shaky but still trying to shake it.
She was unsteady, but still trying to dance.

Half naked and three quarters wasted.
She was highly intoxicated and partially clothed.

She was completely alone.
She was alone.

I saw him at the riverbank.
He was seen at the riverbank.

He was breaking bread and giving thanks.
He was enjoying food and expressing gratitude.

With crosses made of pipes and planks.
The crosses were not made of actual crosses but pipes and planks.

Leaned up against the nitrous tanks.
The crosses were propped up against nitrous tanks.

He said take a hit. hold your breath and I'll dunk your head.
He suggests taking a hit, holding one's breath and then submerging the head under water.

Then when you wake up again.
After doing the above advice, when you regain consciousness.

You'll be high as hell and born again.
You will have a new lease on life when you regain consciousness.

There's strings attached to every single lover.
All lovers have emotional strings attached between them.