In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Shirt's on fire, church on fire
Billy's dream boat stills as the house alights
Sailors come from miles for a drink and a fight
But the harbour thrills pull back from the light
To the belly of a boat in a hammer try tight
Holler
Pleasures of the night
Seaman's delight
Holler
(refrain)
Pleasures of the night
What a sight
Oh no, the organ plays by itself
It doesn't need the grinder's help and the monkey
And the monkey stow away to sea
Back to his wife and a nest in the trees
Billy's brother plays bass in a band called man
He fancies himself as a travelling ham
Strutting and fretting them into fame
In a torn t-shirt he'll carve his name
Holler
(refrain)
Looking for adventure and some mystery
He doesn't need the grinder and he doesn't want me
Stripped off his suit
So let the poor beast be
Oh, let the poor beast be
The man said, "ho ho wee, this is too hot for me!"
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night
He said, "ho wee this is too hot to see."
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night
Billy's dream boat stills as the house alights
Sailors come from miles for a drink and a fight
But the harbour thrills pull back from the light
To the belly of a boat in a hammer try tight
Holler
Pleasures of the night
Seaman's delight
Holler
(refrain)
Pleasures of the night
What a sight
Oh no, the organ plays by itself
It doesn't need the grinder's help and the monkey
And the monkey stow away to sea
Back to his wife and a nest in the trees
Billy's brother plays bass in a band called man
He fancies himself as a travelling ham
Strutting and fretting them into fame
In a torn t-shirt he'll carve his name
Holler
(refrain)
Looking for adventure and some mystery
He doesn't need the grinder and he doesn't want me
Stripped off his suit
So let the poor beast be
Oh, let the poor beast be
The man said, "ho ho wee, this is too hot for me!"
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night
He said, "ho wee this is too hot to see."
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night
Lyrics submitted by MaskOfSanity
Billy's Shirts Lyrics as written by James Glennie Gavin Whelan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is brilliant and very under-rated. The band have been pretty dismissive of this track and dropped it from their live sets early on, but in my opinion it's one of the best tracks on Stutter. It sounds like a good sea shanty, and the backing music has more of a 'Rock' feel than later James songs.
The lyrics don't seem to make much sense, it could possibly be a metaphor for someone's craving for Rock stardom... but Tim Booth has been quoted as saying that on several tracks on Stutter he has no idea now what he was singing about, so this may well be one of them.
Interestingly enough, another of my favorite bands, The Bolshoi, did a song a few years before this called "Billy's New Boots"... whoever Billy is, the contents of his wardrobe sure must have fascinated the Rock bands of the era. ;)