Story Behind The Song

This is a song about escaping one's circumstances. The night guard at the bank (who has done nothing but labor-type jobs his entire life) steals all the money in the vault and takes off for Mexico, never to return, like he has always wanted to do. He drives all night, case of beer by his side, and resolves to not get too philosophical what he has done.

Song Description

Bank guard on night duty steals everything in the vault and takes off for Mexico.

Lyrics

WANTED MAN

The sky above is full of stars, my tank is full of gas
Case of beer beside me, I just paid for with cash
And I?m movin? on
They don?t even know I?m gone.

A bank has got to be concerned with lax security
Just a guard at night presents an opportunity
For a big withdrawal
Tonight that guard was me.

Don?t know how much they had, but what they had I took
I doubt they?ll snap to me until I don?t show up for work
Then the FBI will be sniffin? for my trial
And by the time the sun goes down
I?ll be a wanted man.

Always had the wantin?, just never had the jack
To go across the border without ever coming back
I guess that now
It?s my new plan of attack.

Learned a little Spanish in my road construction days
Can?t say I?ve mastered it, but I know how to say
Cerveza, por favor.
Once I finally find a store.

I don?t regret the things I did back in my youth.
I don?t pretend to find some universal truth in all this.
I just know from here there?s only one demand
I?ve got to run.
?Cause I?m a wanted man.

Folks say the running life will make a wreck of me
I just can?t see it, I?ve planned it perfectly
I?ve thought it through
Here?s the first thing I?m gonna do.....

I?ll put my money in the Banco Nacional
Get a senorita and a bottle of mezcal
Drink all night long and wake up on the sand
Just another day
In the life of a wanted man.

Words & Music by Greg Westfall
© 2003 Greg Westfall, BMI

Voice, Electric & Acoustic Guitar ? Westfall
Lead Guitar ? Will Ray
Bass ? Bob Prince
Drums ? Steve Froese