"Mr. Banker" is a song by American

Southern rock Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals. Author Scott B. Bomar speculat ...

band

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...

. It was recorded in early 1973 at Studio One,

Doraville, Georgia Doraville is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, DeKalb County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,623. History Doraville was incorpor ...

, and was first released as the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

of "

Gimme Three Steps "Gimme Three Steps" is a song by American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released from the band's debut album, ''(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)'' (1973). It was written by bandmates Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant. The single rele ...

" (a U.S. single release) in November 1973. It was not featured on any album until the compilation album ''

Legend A legend is a Folklore genre, genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human valu ...

'' in 1987. It was also included as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of the band's debut album, ''

(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) ''(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)'' is the debut album by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1973. Several of the album's songs remain among the band's most well-known: "Gimme Three Steps", " Simple Man", "Tuesday's Gone", a ...

.'' The song was written by

Ronnie Van Zant Ronald Wayne Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American singer, best known as the original lead vocalist, primary lyricist and a founding member of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the older brother of current ...

Gary Rossington Gary Robert Rossington (born December 4, 1951) is an American guitarist. He is the only remaining original member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, in which he plays lead and rhythm guitar. In 2009, he became the last original member to re ...

, and

Ed King Edward Calhoun King (September 14, 1949 – August 22, 2018) was an American musician. He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975 ...

Content

The song is notable for its lyrics and simple blues

guitar riff A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accomp ...

. The song is sung by Ronnie Van Zant, about a man begging the bank for money to bury his father. Despite misconceptions, the song is not about Van Zant's father, Lacy Van Zant.

References

1973 songs Lynyrd Skynyrd songs Songs written by Ronnie Van Zant Songs written by Gary Rossington Songs written by Ed King Songs about occupations Songs about poverty MCA Records singles {{1970s-rock-song-stub