# 'Raised on Robbery'( Joni Mitchell)--what does that mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145 "2009-04-06T17:22:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145/1 "2009-04-06T17:22:27Z")
I really like this song, and while most of the song seems to make sense, I don’t get that one line that ends each verse–what does she mean, she was raised on robbery? And how does it tie into the rest of the song? And while we’re at it–a lot of Joni’s songs are verrrryy melloooow. But this one is way more upbeat than most of what I’ve heard from her. Does she have any other songs that are more like this one? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145/2 "2009-04-06T17:45:30Z")
I’ve always assumed the phrase “raised on robbery” meant “mister, I’m a wild and fun loving girl.” I think the phrase isn’t original with Joni, but I wouldn’t swear on that. _Robbery_ might be Mitchell’s most up tempo number. _Carey Get Out Your Cane_ from “Blue” rolls a little. And of course there have been hard rocking versions of _Woodstock_ (CrosbySN&Y) and _This Flight Tonight_ (Nazareth). ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145/3 "2009-04-06T18:04:45Z")
If you want to see or hear (seeing is better) Joni Mitchell in an uptempo setting (for her) check out [Shadows and Light](http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Mitchell-Shadows-Light/dp/B00009AV7L). ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145/4 "2009-04-06T18:20:39Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I’ve always assumed the phrase “raised on robbery” meant “mister, I’m a wild and fun loving girl.” > > I think the phrase isn’t original with Joni, but I wouldn’t swear on that. > > _Robbery_ might be Mitchell’s most up tempo number. _Carey Get Out Your Cane_ from “Blue” rolls a little. And of course there have been hard rocking versions of _Woodstock_ (CrosbySN&Y) and _This Flight Tonight_ (Nazareth). I’d say Joni’s most upbeat song is probably _Talk To Me_, with Jaco Pastorius playing the bass. It’s really more like a duet because Jaco’s bass playing is just as much a melodic line as Mitchell’s singing. ---
**Author:** ![TKM51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@TKM51](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TKM51)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raised-on-robbery-joni-mitchell-what-does-that-mean/492145/5 "2014-12-15T21:37:44Z")
I always interrupted this song this way–Back in the day my parents were married in the late thirties Times were tough and money was scarce They often had to rob Peter to pay Paul (other words the rent from Peter would come in and the coal bill from Paul . Only enough money to pay one ) Someone living by her wits, trying make ends meet would often have to rob Peter to pay Paul If she was raised this way through hard times as my family was-- she was raised on robbery Terry