The Dual Meaning Behind Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town”

Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” could be perceived to have two meanings. Both are personal to the song’s writer, Phil Lynott. Uncover the two possible meaning behind this rock classic, below.

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The Dual Meaning Behind Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town”

Guess who just got back today?

Them wild-eyed boys that’d been away

Haven’t changed, hadn’t much to say

But man, I still think them cats are crazy

The life of a touring musician is often one rife with excess partying and other rough-and-tumble activities. As such, it stands to reason that this song could be about Thin Lizzy’s experiences out on the road.

There are various references to landmarks–many of which could have been inspired by their time touring the U.S. Friday night they’ll be dressed to kill / Down at Dino’s bar and grill / The drink will flow, and blood will spill / And if the boys wanna fight, you better let ’em, the lyrics read in the third verse. Many fans believe this lyric was inspired by a restaurant the band would frequent in Los Angeles.

That jukebox in the corner blasting out my favourite song

The nights are gettin’ warmer, it won’t be long

Won’t be long ’til summer comes

Now that the boys are here again

There is an alternative meaning. Some fans believe Lynott was writing about a gang in Manchester, England. Lynott spent time there growing up. According to his mother, he was fascinated by “the characters” from the gang that he would come in contact with.

“All of those people came in my bar and Philip liked them,” Lynott’s mother once said. “They were characters. He loved the nickname Jimmy The Weed. When [“The Boys Are Back in Town”] became a hit, he gave Jimmy his own gold album. And Jimmy came over for his funeral.”

Like the sentiment in the song, the gang seemed to be around for a good time and not necessarily anything nefarious.

“Years later we read that Jimmy was a member of the Quality Street Gang,” she continued. “If there ever was such a gang – and I did meet most of them that got named – they were lovely people. Gangsters today are going round shooting people. I never heard of those boys shooting anybody.”

Revisit this Thin Lizzy classic, below.

The boys are back in town

The boys are back in town

The boys are back in town

The boys are back in town

(Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)