Cold War Kids – Saint John

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Supper time in the hole Supper time in the hole I shame my family, shame my home Supper time Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting for a pardon Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting for a pardon Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting for a pardon Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting All the white boys in the stay pressed slacks They're home for the summer from college Staying out late, getting rowdy at the bar And looking for trouble uptown They come up my block, 'bout 5 or 6 of them Smashing their bottles in the gutter Yelling all kinds of obscenities About woman and God and law Another supper time in the hole Supper time I shame my family, shame my home Supper time A young girl turned the corner with a clerk dress on That girl was my sister Just got off the night shift at Pennington's Place Just wanna go home and get some sleep Butch grabbed her by the waist with the caffeine eyes The hands all [Incomprehensible] I picked up a brick from my papa's front yard And threw it at the tallest boy's face Well, blood was streaming like a well that sprung I couldn't believe what I had just done Well, the other boy ran and this one stayed On the ground and he would never move again Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting for a pardon Old Saint John on death row He's just waiting for a pardon All us boys on death row We're just waiting for a pardon All us boys on death row Yours truly on trial, I testify I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry Yours truly on trial, I testify I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs Yours truly on trial, I testify I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry Yours truly on trial, I testify I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry

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Lyrics submitted by laura_anne_rock

Track duration: 03:27

"Saint John" as written by Matthew Maust Jonathan Russell

Lyrics © DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Saint John song meanings
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45 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Well, actually the reference to "St John" is much different than what wscanlon is alluding to. The reference, in a historical/theological context refers to St John The Baptist. St John the baptist was a martyr who is famous for his beheading by Herod. Before he was beheaded, he spent time in a dungeon waiting (hoping) to be pardoned.

    And just tossing this up for sake of conversation, does anybody think that the line "well gone dry" is a reference to the previous line "Well blood was streaming like a well got sprung"?
    Flag Tinturnabbey90on November 14, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:ha. 'fidget-electric.' as in the chair.
    Flag thk7on April 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:In my opinion, this song seems to be from the perspective of a black man in an era where racism was still rampant.
    For starters, he mentions "white boys" home from college, in "stay-pressed slacks...getting rowdy at the bar".
    Why mention the skin color unless it's different?
    Now-a-days, I you don't find that many college kids at bars in slacks.
    Also, if you take into consideration that he was probably sparing his sister rape, it would be most likely deal out to his side in court, not landing him in death row. It seems to me that the other white boys ran away and had him arrested and tried, meaning it had to have been in a racist era, for these days he would be seen as the saint he is and released.

    That's just my interpretation.
    Flag SathingtonWon February 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the caffeine eyes hands all fidget electric, is a great line.


    I love the details. Like, the names and stuff.
    This song is SO good.
    Flag letsriothailbbyxon October 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about a black guy (nothing offensive intended) who is poor who has seen the rougher side of life. Who is also is not a big fan of rich white kids (nothing offensive intended).
    When he saw that some rich white kids feeling-up his sister he just snapped.

    An amazing song that I just cannot get tired of. I love Cold War Kids. They opened my eyes to a whole new genre.
    Flag Bluwon October 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:these are the only lyrics i can find on the net that i agree with
    Flag jonah1977on July 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It is yours truly on trial. And the question mark is 'Their hands all fidget/electric. He puts fidgety and electric into one word. Clever.
    Flag Dukeofdrummingon May 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song reminds me of John Coffee from 'The Green Mile'. .. that's how I think about this song. Cold War Kids are the best.
    Flag cassie_on April 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's "rapist". Pfft.
    Flag rachel laurenon April 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about a boy who is waiting to be pardoned from death row for (accidently) killing his sister's would-be raper.

    Is raper a word?

    I love the "Tell My Sister Jane" in the background. That backup singer could be the lead singer in just about any other band.
    Flag Miraclemanon April 04, 2008   Link

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