Run On the Banks
The Stanfields Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I came home from the Anzio shore
Got me a job at a Shiretown store
I married up quick, we had the one son
My limit was hit and my race was run

We raised him right
We put him through school
With a gentle embrace and an iron rule
Our world was shattered when we lost our son
To the business end of a gangster's gun

How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?
Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks

When they buried my boy of twenty-two years
I swore I'd do more than choke on my tears
So I hardened up my heart, I took up the oath
And looked for ways to avenge us both

Me and his mother, we never were the same
She left me one spring and I am to blame
Forgot about living, forgot about her
Forgot about love and the way things were

How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?
Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks

Sixteen guns, twenty-five kilos
A couple thousand rounds when we run her aground
Crew bailed out and headed for the hills
With a barrel of blow and a mountain of pills

No arrest in her majesty's waters
No victory for the mothers and fathers
Of the young and the damned
The guilty walk free
To continue their trade on a cruel black sea

How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?




Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks

Overall Meaning

The Stanfields's song, Run On the Banks, has a story that is worth analyzing. The lyrics talk about the story of a man who came back from the Anzio shore and married quickly after getting a job at a Shiretown store with his wife. They had one son and raised him well, but their world came crashing down after they lost their son to the business end of a gangster's gun. That event changed the course of his life as he hardened his heart, took an oath, and looked for ways to avenge his son's death. His wife left him, and he forgot about living, love, and everything that mattered. He became a pirate, chasing anonymous ships in the night while looking to rob banks to amass riches that would give him power to expose the crooked system that denied justice to parents who lost their children to gang violence.


The first paragraph shows the man's decent into darkness after losing his son to gang violence. The second paragraph shows his transformation into a pirate, doing whatever it takes to expose the corrupt system that favors criminals over the victims. The third paragraph talks about his sailing exploits and taking revenge on the guilty parties. The song is a powerful tale of loss, vengeance, and the human spirit's ability to overcome tragedy and transform into something new. The lyrics are emotional and drive home powerful messages about the fragility of life and the importance of fighting for what is right.


Line by Line Meaning

When I came home from the Anzio shore
Upon returning from the Anzio shore, I got a job at Shiretown store.


Got me a job at a Shiretown store
I found employment at a Shiretown store.


I married up quick, we had the one son
After quickly marrying, we had a son.


My limit was hit and my race was run
Sadly, my time was up and my race had come to an end.


We raised him right
We brought up our son with good values.


We put him through school
We ensured our son received a good education.


With a gentle embrace and an iron rule
We were strict but loving parents.


Our world was shattered when we lost our son
Our world fell apart when we tragically lost our son.


To the business end of a gangster's gun
Our son was taken from us by the deadly hand of a gangster.


How do you go from a burned out light
How does one recover from a loss so great?


To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
To chasing after those who perpetrate such crimes under the cover of darkness?


How do you live with a lingering ghost?
How can we cope with the memory of our dearly departed?


Oh, with a run on the banks
We seek solace in material pursuits.


When they buried my boy of twenty-two years
At the funeral of my twenty-two-year-old son,


I swore I'd do more than choke on my tears
I vowed to take action instead of just grieving.


So I hardened up my heart, I took up the oath
I became resolute and vowed to take revenge for my son.


And looked for ways to avenge us both
I searched for ways to bring justice to my son's killers.


Me and his mother, we never were the same
His mother and I changed after our son's passing.


She left me one spring and I am to blame
I accept responsibility for her departure the following spring.


Forgot about living, forgot about her
I neglected life, and her, consumed by my grief and my quest for vengeance.


Forgot about love and the way things were
I forgot about love and how things used to be.


Sixteen guns, twenty-five kilos
We had sixteen guns and twenty-five kilograms of ammunition.


A couple thousand rounds when we run her aground
We shot off thousands of rounds when we confronted the enemy.


Crew bailed out and headed for the hills
The enemy crew ran away to escape us.


With a barrel of blow and a mountain of pills
They left behind drugs and pills.


No arrest in her majesty's waters
Authorities did not intervene in the pursuit of justice.


No victory for the mothers and fathers
Those parents seeking justice for their lost loved ones found no resolution.


Of the young and the damned
The young people fallen prey to the perils of this world.


The guilty walk free
The perpetrators of the crime were not caught.


To continue their trade on a cruel black sea
These criminals went on to continue their illegal activities in spite of our efforts.




Lyrics Β© Seegang Musik, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Craig Eugene Harris, Jason MacIsaac, Jonathan Landry, Mark Todd Murphy, William Jason Wright

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@heretoownyou5584

When I came home from the Anzio shore
Got me a job at a Shiretown store
I married up quick, we had the one son
My limit was hit and my race was run
We raised him right
We put him through school
With a gentle embrace and an iron rule
Our world was shattered when we lost our son
To the business end of a gangster's gun
How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?
Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks
When they buried my boy of twenty-two years
I swore I'd do more than choke on my tears
So I hardened up my heart, I took up the oath
And looked for ways to avenge us both
Me and his mother, we never were the same
She left me one spring and I am to blame
Forgot about living, forgot about her
Forgot about love and the way things were
How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?
Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks
Sixteen guns, twenty-five kilos
A couple thousand rounds when we run her aground
Crew bailed out and headed for the hills
With a barrel of blow and a mountain of pills
No arrest in her majesty's waters
No victory for the mothers and fathers
Of the young and the damned
The guilty walk free
To continue their trade on a cruel black sea
How do you go from a burned out light
To chasing anonymous ships in the night?
How do you live with a lingering ghost?
Oh, with a run on the banks
Oh, with a run on the banks



All comments from YouTube:

@Brimst0ne_XB

Boy am i glad Spotify suggested this band. What a badass song!

@albatros280

Same xD

@petewaybret72

I'm from N.S. seen em perform twice and always feel that sense of pride when l hear a Stanfields song.

@jesseflores9087

Im a brown kid in Cali and these Canadians get down

@HardcoreIPA

Guys I'm from Italy. This is a great, powerful, emotional song. Love the voice, the overall sound, the guitar, the lyrics. Spotify placed this song in a radio based on The Dropkick Murphys that I created. I'd love to see you live

@DeliciouslyAbsurd

Just saw them live two weekends ago at my local carnival. Second time seeing them. They really put on a show!

@HardcoreIPA

@@DeliciouslyAbsurd where are you located?

@DeliciouslyAbsurd

@@HardcoreIPA Pictou County, Nova Scotia

@femoralslasher

I’m a southern Chico but this jam hits hard!!!!!

@Sacrifice-Loyalty

Fantastic Tune Guys! Heartfelt and true for so many.

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