London Boys
Johnny Thunders Lyrics
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You're telling me 'shut your mouth'
If I wasn't kissing, you wouldn't be around
You talk about faggots, little moma's boy
You sit at home, you got a chaperon
You need an escort to take a piss
He holds your hand and he shakes your dick
You think you're gonna change, rearrange your city?
Little London boys
You're little London boys
You're little London boys
You think you're gonna fool me?
Ha ha ha ha
Little rich kid, what do you know?
You had everything, don't you think it don't show?
I've been a climbing, just a face to the wall
Too much too soon, do you recall?
Have a holiday in the city,
Feelings in the air, Vaseline pretty
You don't need no drunk, just LSD
You're all big shots. Shot by me!
You're little London boys
You're little London boys
You're little London boys
And I'm talking about the whole audience.
Too bad you boys don't know
And the girls they don't go
Everybody just shows
You're little,
Little London boys
You're little London Boys
You're little London Boys
You're little London Boys
You're little London Boys
You're little London Boys
You're little,
You're little,
Little London boys
You're little London Boys
You poor little puppet
The song "London Boys" by Johnny Thunders is a criticism of the privileged boys from London who come to the city and act like they own it. The singer is from New York City and is telling the London boys that they're not fooling anyone with their airs of superiority. The first verse talks about how the London boys are uncomfortable with kissing because they're not used to it. They also talk about "faggots" and "momma's boys" but are themselves overly reliant on a chaperone who holds their hand and helps them with basic bodily functions. The singer refers to them as "pretty suburban kitties" who believe they can "rearrange the city."
The second verse is directed towards one particular little rich kid who the singer claims had everything handed to him. He climbed up the ladder of success quickly but ended up hitting the wall. The lyrics suggest that the little rich kid went from riches to rags due to his own sense of entitlement. The chorus repeats the phrase "little London boys" and suggests that they're too ignorant to know better. The song ends with the singer calling the London boys puppets and pointing out that nobody is fooled by their pompous behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
You best believe I'm from New York City.
I hail from the gritty city of New York, and I'm not afraid to let you know it.
You're telling me 'shut your mouth'
You're trying to silence me, but I won't be quiet.
If I wasn't kissing, you wouldn't be around
You only stick around because you know I'll kiss your ass and boost your ego.
You talk about faggots, little moma's boy
You use homophobic slurs while acting like a mama's boy.
You sit at home, you got a chaperon
You're so sheltered and inexperienced that you need someone to watch over you at all times.
You need an escort to take a piss
You're so helpless that you require assistance to use the bathroom.
He holds your hand and he shakes your dick
Your escort is so involved in your life that he even assists with your basic bodily functions.
You're so pretty, suburban kitty
You're a privileged kid who's never known true hardship or struggle.
You think you're gonna change, rearrange your city?
You believe that your upper-class upbringing has prepared you to reshape the city to your liking.
Little rich kid, what do you know?
You're a wealthy youngster who hasn't actually experienced the world.
You had everything, don't you think it don't show?
Your upbringing has given you every material good, and it's evident to everyone around you.
I've been a climbing, just a face to the wall
I've been fighting and clawing for every success, always up against a wall with nothing handed to me.
Too much too soon, do you recall?
You've been given too much too quickly and don't understand the true value of things.
Have a holiday in the city, feelings in the air, Vaseline pretty
Come to the city for a good time, where anything can happen and you'll feel beautiful.
You don't need no drunk, just LSD
Forget about alcohol, let's trip on LSD instead.
You're all big shots. Shot by me!
You may think you're hot stuff, but I'm the one doing the shooting here, figuratively speaking.
Too bad you boys don't know
It's a shame that you guys are so out of touch with reality.
And the girls they don't go
Even the girls aren't interested in your pathetic antics.
Everybody just shows
Everyone's just putting on a front, pretending to be something they're not.
You're little London boys
You're all just naive kids from London, clueless about the world outside your bubble.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JOHANSEN, Billy Rath, JOHNNY THUNDERS, Walter Lure
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chesterette
It's really fun to listen to this next to the Sex Pistols' "New York," whick this seems to be reacting to/against, a classic "answer song."
L. Salisbury
@Kristi Simonon Also, listen to "city of the dead" by the Clash (77)...
Kristi Simonon
Yes, Johnny wrote this in response to the Pistols' track. The Pistols song was less about the Dolls, and more about McLaren babbling about them.
Martin Weinstein
early punk version of the "dis track"
TREmBLInG
I did that just now
MC5 FAN
Fabulous!
j
“Oh little rich kid, what do you know?” could be a reference to Glen Matlock’s post-Pistols band, which was called The Rich Kids
M H
The song was a response to Johnny Rotten and The Sex Pistols. If i remember correctly, Rotten made a comment about the New York Dolls being "faggots".
Coxsone
He definitely wasn't referring to the Pistols financial status as they were a real working class band that had to start at the bottom. The Jam and the Small Faces were the same.
jonnybrowne
Chesterette the irony of your comment is that Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols plays guitar on both songs...