The Hold Steady - Banging Camp Lyrics

Holly wore a string around her finger
She said it helps her to remember all the nights that we got over
Besides, it ties her outfit all together
Holly wore a string around her finger

There are strings attached to every single lover
But they still can't even tether us together
Listen to the back of the theater, I think they really love one another
There are strings attached to every single lover

When they say great white sharks
They mean the kind in big black cars
When they say killer whales
They mean they whaled on him 'til they killed him up in Penetration Park

And Holly wore a cross to ward them off
She said if they think you're a Christian then they won't bring in the dogs
And if they think you're a Catholic then they'll want to meet your boss
Holly wore a cross to ward them off

Yeah, there's camps down by the banks of the river
And it's sketchy in the night but they mostly lay low in the light
Hey sweet recovery, come on, won't you wade into the water with me?
You know, there's camps down by the banks of the river

When they say black and tans
You know they mean the kind from the cans
We don't got time to mix it all together
I'm a very busy man, man

She said I dig those awkward silences
'Cause I grew up in denial and went to school in Massachusetts
And he said hi, I like to party on the problem blocks
And I can't stand it when the banging stops

I saw her at the party pit
Yeah, she was shaky but still trying to shake it
Half naked and three-quarters wasted
She was completely alone

And I saw him at the riverbank
He was breaking bread and giving thanks
With crosses made of pipes and planks
Leaned up against the nitrous tanks

And he said take a hit
Hold your breath and I'll dunk your head
Yeah, then when you wake up again
Yeah, you'll be high as hell and born again

Yeah, there's strings attached to every single lover
Well, there's strings attached to every single lover