Show Me
Dexys Midnight Runners; Kevin Rowland Lyrics
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the ones that spelled trouble and stole all their toys,
young boys with contempt and schemes in their eyes,
strong, rich in spirit with milk stains on their ties.
A little while later the first ones to smoke,
oh, I just stood there in awe laughing loud at their jokes.
Tinny transistors (Honk Kong made) and this weeks "Parade"
Ah, if they'd accept me I'd have given anything.
tall talk of girls and all that kind of thing.
Ah, they just had something precious you know what I mean,
such wisdom and style like I'd never seen.
They helped me get older,
pulled me through each bad phase,
show me them now those boys from "those days".
Show me them now
let me look and see how they've grown up now.
The lyrics of Kevin Rowland's song "Show Me" tells a story of reminiscence of a bygone era where the singer recalls the wild little boys who were troublemakers that stole their toys. These young boys were fearless, brimming with schemes and contempt, yet they were strong, resilient, and rich in spirit like no one else. They had milk stains on their ties, indicating they were still in their school uniforms. As a teenager, the singer witnessed how these little troublemakers were the first to smoke, and he stood there in awe, laughing out loud at their jokes. He longed to be their friend and be part of their group.
The song's chorus line "Show me them now, let me look and see how they've grown up now" portrays how the singer wants to see how these wild little boys have turned out as they grow older. He is curious to know if they have lost their spirit or have they held on to their wisdom, style, and sense of humor, which he had never seen before in anyone else. The singer acknowledges that these boys from "those days" helped him to get older and pulled him through each bad phase in his life. Hence, he longs to see them again and reminisce about the precious memories they shared.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me them now those wild little boys,
Reveal to me those mischievous and daring young boys
the ones that spelled trouble and stole all their toys,
Those boys who caused mischief and took other children's belongings
young boys with contempt and schemes in their eyes,
Adolescent boys with an expression of scorn and cunning in their gazes
strong, rich in spirit with milk stains on their ties.
Resilient and lively, but still childish enough to leave milk stains on their formal wear
A little while later the first ones to smoke,
After a short amount of time, they were the first to try smoking cigarettes
oh, I just stood there in awe laughing loud at their jokes.
I was amazed by their humorous tales and laughed uncontrollably
Tinny transistors (Honk Kong made) and this weeks "Parade"
Small radios with poor sound quality, likely made in Hong Kong, and this week's issue of a popular magazine
Ah, if they'd accept me I'd have given anything.
I would have sacrificed anything to be accepted by them
Stolen watches and big studded rings,
Watches and rings that they have taken without permission and adorned with large gemstones
tall talk of girls and all that kind of thing.
Boastful conversations about romantic pursuits and related topics
Ah, they just had something precious you know what I mean,
They had a valuable quality that is hard to define, but I know what it is
such wisdom and style like I'd never seen.
A level of knowledge and flair beyond what I had witnessed before
They helped me get older,
Their influence helped me mature
pulled me through each bad phase,
They helped me overcome difficult challenges
show me them now those boys from "those days".
Reveal to me those boys from our shared past
Show me them now
Allow me to see them again
let me look and see how they've grown up now.
Permit me to observe how they have matured since our youth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VELMA ALLEN, JOHN BARRY DEAN, JOHN HENRY JR. GLOVER, CHARLES HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind