Just a dime-store poet
Keeping pace, talking his face blue
Two dollar store tramps
To get a glance, a new chance at you

Walk past the dance floor
It's always been a dear friend of mine
Cuckolds and concubines, dancing in four/four time

"Hey mister" the bellman says,
"I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage

In love, I've always been a mercenary
But I never leave my post when the cash runs out
I want to make you quiver, make your back bone shiver
Hey kid, take the stage and deliver

"Hey mister" the bellman says,
"I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage

[spoken]

How does it feel to stand on the very stones that ran with your parent's blood?
Do you feel sad? Full of rage?
Or does that outfit help bury your feelings? Hiding your true self?
You are a truly extraordinary specimen.
I look forward to breaking you.

I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage

"Hey mister" the bellman says,
"I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage

"Hey mister" the bellman says,
"I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage



Lyrics submitted by babyghostrogue, edited by Xerorei

Track duration: 02:40


Mercenary song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:The song is all about Batman, duh. The spoken part is spoken by HUGO STRANGE which you find on a side mission.

    "Just a dime store poet, keeping pace, talking his face blue. Two dollar store tramps, to get a glance a new chance at you." Isn't about Batman, it's about Selina Kyle. Or, Catwoman. She's a theif, they stay in the store as she steals from them to attempt to catch Catwoman.

    "Walk past the dancefloor, it's always been a dear friend of mine. Curt chords and concubines, dancing in four-four time." Isn't actually meaning a dance, it means going into a fight. Which could mean either Batman or Catwoman, I'm thinking that since it's in first person it would be Batman.

    ""Hey Mister," the bellman says "I can only recall last night's hotel" I said. So he replies "And how do you manage?" I dodge the blast and apologise for collateral damage." Is spoken as Bruce Wayne, not Batman, as a conversation between him and the bellman of the hotel.

    "In Love I've Always Been A Mercenary, but I never leave my post when the cash runs out." Again, refering to the "Playboy" that is Bruce Wayne.

    "I wanna make you quiver, make your back bone shiver!" I think is how he wants to come off against his foes, the reason he took the identity of a batman is because bats scare people, he wants to scare criminals.

    "Hey Kid, take the stage and deliver!" Robin reference.

    The spoken part is obvious, I'm not sure about how obvious it is for people who don't play the games, so here goes. Hugo is talking about the fact that he knows who Batman is, and he leaves this message behind on the same street that Bruce's parents died on. Hugo is determined to one up Bruce, and his little deduction is basically him referencing to how he can one up him.
    Flag CusImMrBrightsideon February 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:That is definitely Dr. Strange. in the game, you find the spot where his parents were shot and theres a tape from Strange that says exactly that.
    Flag theniceguy1135on January 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Besides the chorus, it seems pretty straightforward.

    "Just a dime-store poet, keeping pace, talking his face blue
    Two dollar store tramps, to get a glance, a new chance at you"
    - He's talking about the streets of Gotham
    "Walk past the dance floor. It's always been a dear friend of mine
    Cut coils and concubines, dancing in four/four time"
    - I'm not sure whether the dance floor is a metaphor for Bruce Wayne's extravagant lifestyle, Arhkam, or Gotham's criminal underworld

    I definitely hear:
    "Hey mister, the bellman says, I can only recall last night's hotel, I said
    So he replies, 'Then how do you manage?'"

    The spoken part is Hugo Strange (he is, after all, the main villain). No other villain would analyze Batman in the same way.
    Flag kieranron October 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:it should be "store" not "stone'
    Flag xdragonxfirexon October 07, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Really? I think it's Dr. Strange speaking, since it look like he's becoming a more important villian in both Arkham City and The Dark Knight Rises. Especially when he calls him a 'speciman'.

    "Hey mister, the bellman says, I can only recall last night's hotel, I said
    So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
    I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage"
    -I'm pretty sure this is Batman speaking as Bruce Wayne. He hides that he's been out all night as Batman by pretending that he's really been out partying and remembers nothing of last night except the name of the hotel. The bellman asks how he can do all this (meaning Wayne's success, not his role as Batman) and he replies with a line that can be taken two ways: literally, because he's actually Batman and he literally has to avoid getting killed and then apologize for the mess the villains are making. OR metaphorically, in that Wayne avoids trouble as a businessman and is always apologetic. So he safely answers the bellman's question while still alluding to the fact that he's Batman.
    Flag babyghostrogueon September 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The spoken part is the Joker speaking because this is a song for/about Batman and it is in the Batman: Arkham City video game soundtrack.
    And I'm not sure if it is a xylophone (because I am so used to marimbas) but it defiantly sounds like Mona Lisa and I thought that from the very first time I heard it.

    Here are some things that I picked up on from the lyrics.

    "I dodge the blast and apologize for collateral damage" is about how Batman does just that. He takes all the heat for what the villains do when he's the one trying not to be killed by them.

    "I want to make you quiver, make your backbone shiver" is about how Batman wants the villains to fear him because he is the vengeance and the night.

    "Hey kid, take the stage and deliver" is about Robin.

    He is a mercenary because he thinks that he is only acting for the reward of revenge.
    Flag SomethingBatmanon September 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:WOW, this song is aweeeesssome!!!!! Today, when I found out about this, I started telling all my friends and mashed a key off my keyboard... ._.

    Anyways... I don't exactly get what this means...

    But does anyone else think that in the spoken part, the xylophone sounds like the tune in the beginning of Mona Lisa?
    Flag ObessedWithEverythingon September 23, 2011   Link

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