Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk-rock
Song Meaning of “The Jolly Banker” by Billy Bragg
The Jolly Banker is a folk-rock song written and performed by British singer-songwriter, Billy Bragg. The song is about a banker in London called Tom, and in this song, Tom’s heart isn’t in his job, but rather in things like reading novels and playing games. Through his songs, Bragg encourages Tom to not stay so downhearted, because he has the power to do something about the money-driven system he’s a part of.
The song serves as a commentary about how the banking system systemically oppresses people’s livelihoods and well-being, with a choice for the banker to make to either go along with it or find solace and change somewhere else. It speaks to the idea of a capitalist system that focuses on money more than human values, and also speaks to the people in those positions of power, who must face a moral dilemma when adhering to the system.
The chorus lyric, “Carry on, carry on working for the jolly banker,” rings out as a warning and a reminder to those in positions of power that they might not always have a choice in matters they are a part of if they are to stay in the game. The jolly banker is a metaphor for the banks and financial institutions themselves, with Tom being the embodiment of an individual deeply compromised by the system and its ramifications.