Robbers (song)

The concept of the song, about an ill-fated robbery heist, was inspired by the 1993 film True Romance, particularly Patricia Arquette's character Alabama Worley.[2]

Following its release, it debuted at number 179 on the UK Singles Chart.[3]

The official music video for "Robbers" was released on 27 April 2014,[4] directed by Tim Mattia. A large portion of the video was filmed in Taft California [5] The video depicts a couple who rob a shop to obtain money to "fund their alcohol and drug addiction."[4]

Robbers is an ode to those toxic relationships. The type of relationship all humans long for. All for nothing.[6] This song is about two lovers who aren't good for each other. They know that their relationship is going to be ended someday but they are still holding each other, robbing happiness from each other and pretending that they will be happy forever.

Matty Healy used to say about this song that the music video was inspired by one of the singer’s favorite movie characters. "I got really obsessed with the idea behind Patricia Arquette's character in True Romance when I was about 18," he said. "That craving for the bad boy in that film, it's so sexualized," he added. "It was something I was obsessed with."

"'Robbers' is about a heist that goes wrong," Healy added. "I suppose you can read it as a metaphor, and a girl who's obsessed with her professional killer boyfriend. It's a romantic ideal."[6]

She had a face straight outta magazine

God only knows but you’ll never leave her

Her balaclava is starting to chafe

When she gets his gun he’s begging, babe stay, stay, stay, stay, stay

Probably not different from general people In the initial moments that we fell in love with someone We often admire him. As though using feelings rather than reason And whether it's bad or good We always have space for forgiveness. Seems like unconditional love.

But the metaphor in the lyrics to the robber hat that started to move That's because the awkwardness began to plunge into the feeling under that 'mask' and when the hat fell off What appears is the truth in relationships. The perfection in the beginning, begins to crumble. We begin to see shortcomings. Began to feel as though we were just a parasite of each other Is just a burden that lies beside one another only. A gun could mean an end to a relationship that could be the way out. The only problem that is not able to do so maybe 'attachment' or 'covenant' which makes it still indivisible. And still forced to bear the love In the midst of ambiguity As it gradually bites the soul between two people.[7]

I’ll give him one more time

We’ll give you one more fight

Said one more lie

Will I know you

Sometimes, giving a chance to each other may sound good to help the relationships to be restored. But at times it was just an extension of suffering. And sometimes, it just gives an opportunity to lie to each other again and again.[8]

Now if you never shoot, you’ll never know

And if you never eat, you’ll never grow

You’ve got a pretty kinda dirty face

When she’s leaving your home she’s begging you, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay

The word “shoot” that seem like a violent meaning may express about “Break up”. If you never try to be isolated from each other, how could you ever know that it could be right or wrong about our unstable relationship? Sometimes we need to take risk in order to get the consequences. Because of no matter what It may be good to the unclear and lagging relationship between us.

The fact about eating. Eating food means that you get nutrients to thrive. And it is in the same way with relationship either. All of the nutrients from many sources may be like the right or wrong relationship that we have tried. And that is an important experience of growing up in the world in the coming day.[9]

I’ll give you one more time

We’ll give you one more fight

Just said one more line

There’ll be a riot, ’cause I know you

It is surely that sometimes giving each other an opportunities are just a loop of conflicts that could be repeated over again and again.[10] To be honest, sometimes it looks most useless. Because two people may know each other’s habits. If you have to keep maintain it, it may be just a repeat of wound of love.

Well, now that you’ve got your gun

It’s much harder now the police have come

And I’ll shoot him if it’s what you ask

But if you just take off your mask

To find out that everything’s gone wrong, wrong, wrong

In a relationship We all have our own guns. That is the ability to consider and end the relationship at any time. The police reflect the realities that are coming into the relationship. The evil of the world that is ready to attack you. Sometimes, in the relationship, one or another will do anything just because of love, just because they want to keep their relationship last.  To take off the mask symbolizes to give up the heist and expose oneself, which is a metaphor to let go of their relationship and focus on themselves. Only then they’d find out they are in a toxic relationship in which they are robbing each other of happiness.[11]

Now everybody’s dead

And they’re driving past my old school

And he’s got his gun, he’s got his suit on

She says, babe, you look so cool

You look so cool, you look so cool

You look so cool, you look so cool

When a relationship occurs and goes on No one will be the same We have all changed our views, thoughts and actions. We are not the same person as on the first day we met. The experience between each other has shaped oneself. Attitudes towards each other change Guns and death in the lyrics may be interpreted as We can never go back to yesterday anymore. He’s got his gun, he is ready to end the relationship. He’s got his suit on and he is ready to leave.[12] She says, babe, you look so cool. And keep repeating it. It may show us that she is expressing her love to him. No matter what might be happening after the broken relationship, their memories together will be staying forever.

Adapted from liner notes.[16]