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The Story of Them Lyrics
When friends were friends
And company was right
We'd drink and talk and sing
All through the night
Morning same leisurely and bright
Downtown we'd walk
And passers by, would shudder with delight
Mmm! Good times
And there was this man
All the cats were there
Just dirty enough to say, "We don't care"
But, the management have had complaints
About some cats with long, long hair
"Look, look, look" And people'd stare
"Why, you won't be allowed in anywhere!"
Barred from pubs, clubs and dancin' halls
Made the scene at the Spanish rooms on the falls
And man, four pints of that scrumpy was enough to have you, outta your mind
Climbin', climbin' up the walls
Out of your mind
But it was a gas, all the same
Ummm! Good time!
Now just 'round about this time
With the help of the three J's
Started playin' at the Maritime
That's Jerry, Jerry and Jimmy
You know they were always fine
And they helped us run the Maritime
Don't forget Kit, hittin' people on the head
An' knockin' 'em out
You know he did his best and all
Was something else, then
Umm, Lord, good times
And people say,
Who are or what are, Them?
The little one sings
And that big one plays the guitar
With a thimble on his finger
Runs it up and down the strings
The bass player don't shave much
I think they're all a little bit touched
But the people came
And that's how we made our name
Too much it was
Umm, yeah, our good times
Wild, sweaty, crude, ugly and mad
And sometimes just, a little bit sad
Yeah, they sneered an' all
But up there, we just havin' a ball
It was gas, you know
Lord, some good times
It was kind ball for, Them
We are Them, take it or leave it
Do you know how they took it, and it kept comin'
And we worked for the people
Sweet, sweat and the misty, misty atmosphere
Blues come rollin'
Down to all your avenue
Won't stop at the city hall
Just a few steps away
You can look up at, Maritime Hotel
Just a little bit sad, gotta walk away
Wish it well
And company was right
We'd drink and talk and sing
All through the night
Downtown we'd walk
And passers by, would shudder with delight
Mmm! Good times
All the cats were there
Just dirty enough to say, "We don't care"
But, the management have had complaints
About some cats with long, long hair
"Look, look, look" And people'd stare
"Why, you won't be allowed in anywhere!"
Made the scene at the Spanish rooms on the falls
And man, four pints of that scrumpy was enough to have you, outta your mind
Climbin', climbin' up the walls
Out of your mind
But it was a gas, all the same
Ummm! Good time!
With the help of the three J's
Started playin' at the Maritime
That's Jerry, Jerry and Jimmy
And they helped us run the Maritime
Don't forget Kit, hittin' people on the head
An' knockin' 'em out
You know he did his best and all
Was something else, then
Umm, Lord, good times
Who are or what are, Them?
The little one sings
And that big one plays the guitar
With a thimble on his finger
Runs it up and down the strings
I think they're all a little bit touched
But the people came
And that's how we made our name
Too much it was
Umm, yeah, our good times
And sometimes just, a little bit sad
Yeah, they sneered an' all
But up there, we just havin' a ball
It was gas, you know
Lord, some good times
We are Them, take it or leave it
Do you know how they took it, and it kept comin'
And we worked for the people
Sweet, sweat and the misty, misty atmosphere
Down to all your avenue
Won't stop at the city hall
Just a few steps away
You can look up at, Maritime Hotel
Just a little bit sad, gotta walk away
Wish it well
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This song was written so long ago, actually in the early Them days, by Van, clearly reminiscing on that era around 1962. It really is a story name dropping the "Spanish rooms on the falls" in west Belfast and where the band first played at "the Maritime" a hotel, now demolished, near to what is known to locals as the 'Black Man' a few hundred yards from the "city hall". He even mentions himself as "the little one sings" and then goes on to describe other members of the band. The song epitomises a sort of good old days period of life and the lyrics are narrated or spoken by Van rather than sung - something he would return to many years later on "On Hyndford Street" in 1991. "Scrumpy" sounds like that cider stuff still available in the stores. Them weren't always so popular and one story goes that an audience threw pennies at them they were so bad! However, the Maritime was where it all began and there are many Northern Ireland locals out there with great memories of those days. Good times - as is repeated throughout the song.