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.
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.