What does "on the lam mean"?

[St. Jarvitude]

I'm trying to interpret some song lyrics, and "on the lam" is used in the context of

"I spent twelve long months on the lam"

Dictionary.com is useless for phrases.

[soothsayer]

1. running from the law

lam2

PRONUNCIATION: lm
INTRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: lammed, lam·ming, lams
Slang To escape, as from prison.
NOUN: Flight, especially from the law: escaped convicts on the lam.
ETYMOLOGY: Origin unknown.

[miss_kitty]

2. On the run

hiding out.

[argyl]

3. Running from the cops.

[LiviaOlivia]

4. On the run from the police

or the law.

[opihimoimoi]

5. Wanted by the LAW and still loose...on the lam

He was on the lam for a long time.

[qnr]

6. Running away from authorities, basically

or like Grandpa Simpson says, as he is running away from the cops, "I'm gonna make like mint jelly & go on the lam(b)"

[St. Jarvitude]

11. Ahhhhh! I knew I had heard "on the lam" used on the Simpsons

"Call me mint jelly, cause I'm on the lam!"

Here's the whole stanza:

Until this turn in my head
I let you stay and you paid no rent
I spent twelve long months on the lam

[qnr]

12. Yup, your version sounds "more right" n/t

[amerikat]

7. crusing.......not carrying ones weight

what song?

[St. Jarvitude]

13. "Gone for Good" by The Shins

Lyrics:

Untie me, I've said no vows
The train is getting way too loud
I gotta leave here my girl
Get on with my lonely life

Just leave the ring on the rail
For the wheels to nullify

Until this turn in my head
I let you stay and you paid no rent
I spent twelve long months on the lam

That's enough sitting on the fence
For the fear of breaking dams

I'd find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head

You love a sinking stone
That'll never elope
So get used to the lonesome
Girl, you must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there

It took me all of a year
To put the poison pill to your ear
But now I stand on honest ground, on honest ground

You want to fight for this love
But honey you cannot wrestle a dove
So baby it's clear

You want to jump and dance
But you sat on your hands
And lost your only chance

Go back to your hometown
Get your feet on the ground
And stop floating around

I found a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And went out of my head

You love a sinking stone
That'll never elope
So get used to used to the lonesome
Girl, you must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there

[jdots]

8. ask a freeper

and they share a smoke with the lamb afterwards

[mrbassman03]

9. FUGITIVE!

n/t

[ronzo]

10. Here.

http://www.wordorigins.org/wordoro.htm#On%20the%20Lam