Arriving just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London. The Sex Pistols invited them to open on the ill fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed up with Track Records. Their debut--and only--studio album, L.A.M.F., featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several members left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix filling in for Nolan. The result was the live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79, considered a punk classic.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs (and for a sold out show at The Lyceum in London, England in 1984) until the death of Thunders in 1991 of a supposed methadone overdose. The facts remain unclear: Johnny's passport and money were missing. The coroner's report said no alcohol was in his bloodstream, though many witnesses say Johnny was drinking the night before with people that he had just met. He was 38 years old. Jerry Nolan died of a stroke a few months later at age 40.
Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. Richard Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken word performances. Billy Rath's whereabouts are currently unknown, leading to various rumors such as that he died or became a priest. Walter Lure still performs about once a month with his band the Waldos, playing mostly Heartbreakers songs. The influence of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers is still noticeable today in many punk rock bands. Johnny Thunders solo work is mainly made up of live albums, although he recorded the critical success So Alone in 1978 and Que Sera Sera in 1985. He often worked with Patti Paladin of the band Snatch and they recorded an album of covers, Copycats in 1987.
London Boys
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
@mitchelvalentino1569
Lyrics from the much better live version, which are probably similar to the studio version:
You best believe I'm from New York City
You're telling me shut my mouth
If I wasn't kissing, you wouldn't be around
You talk about faggots, little mama's boy
You sit at home, you got a chaperone
You need an escort to take a piss
He holds your hand and he shakes your dick
You're so pretty, suburban kitty
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 ha ha ha ha
Little rich kid, what do you know?
You hide 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
Stealing souvenirs, vaseline pretty
You don't need no junk, just LSD
You won't get shot, 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 lot of ya
Too bad the 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 London boys
You poor little puppet
@badluckhoppy
It IS about the Pistols..... When the Pistols wrote, "New York" (listen to the lyrics), Thunders wrote this back at em claiming that there would be no Pistols without the Dolls, that they were little LSD kids too scared of the junk, they were Malcolm's little puppets, etc..... In my opinion, it was all a publicity stunt long before "gangsta rap" was doing this stuff... In fact, Steve Jones and a few other Pistols actuallly PLAYED on "London Boys"... Funny stuff.
@mj.l
LSD kids? you mean larger and amphetamine sulphate?
@_mainliner_5611
Shaun Hopkins yup Phil Lynott, Steve Marriott, Chrissie Hynde, Peter Perrett, Billy Rath, Walter Lure, Henri Paul Tortosa, Paul cook, Steve Jones and Patti Palladin
@JustinEdwords
They were into speed
@leahflower9924
Johnny rotten was the problem he is always the problem! Do you know Steve Jones and Paul cook loved thunders and glen Matlock played at the LAMF reunion? The song new York had a cool sound maybe that's why Steve agreed to it
@apolloniuslusitanius2408
You're right... Never thought about tht with the Heartbreakers, I ththink the Pistols were "allowed" to do what thry did in a way! The queen could had shut them up in a second, at least outside of UK, they wouldn't reach... They were Promoting each others... never have seen it this way: the instruments, the ideas... it's the passing of the Torch in a cynical way...
@andook
Little bit of a spat between the 2 Johnnies (Rotten & Thunders) here. lol Rotten blamed Thunders for the junk the Heartbreakers brought over with them. And of course Nancy Spungen... Which really fucked his best m8 Sid. McClaren managed the NY dolls before the 'Pistols, and Rotten was sick and tired of hearing about all that NY scene... Whist the rest of the band were totally in thrall of Thunders (check out Steve Jones aping Thunders every mannerism playing guitar). Amusing bit of punk history
@22lulublu
A small part of the whole bullshit gossip soap opera. Everyone had greed and a major flaw.
@rockinroy3019
RIP Waldo, Johnny and Jerry....
@blackserenade24
i like both bands, but this songs much MUCH better