The Bartender And The Thief

The lyrics tell a dark, playful story about two people who meet, become lovers, and steal to support themselves. At first, one character watches and follows another, but later he becomes distracted and fails to make a call. The repeated refrain makes their criminal partnership sound almost cheerful, while the ending suggests they escape, begin again, and continue stealing.

Several phrases create a rough, comic tone. “Sussed you out” means figured you out, while “hustles us” suggests someone tricks or pressures people for money. “Gone fishing” may imply disappearing or avoiding responsibility; beside “long digging” and “love drinking,” it also sounds like a jumble of activities rather than a clear plot. The image of “robbing the graves” makes their theft seem grotesque and exaggerated, not ordinary shoplifting.

The story does not explain exactly who is watching whom, or how the characters’ actions connect. The bartender and thief may be an affectionate couple, but their love is presented alongside deception and repeated crime. The church and altar suggest commitment or a fresh start, yet the final line undercuts that hope: even after setting up a bar, they rob the locals. The ending can feel both mischievous and bleak, as if they cannot truly leave their old habits behind.