Mary Lou Lord first gained notice playing acoustic guitar and singing in and around Boston subway stations (particularly on the Red Line, as noted by the name she chose for her music and lyric publishing company, On the Red Line Music.)
She has claimed that she had a romantic relationship with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain before the group's rise to mainstream fame. This claim was disputed by some, including Cobain himself, though it has been suggested that Cobain's wife Courtney Love made him publicly lie about his past relationships to prove his devotion to her. In 1994, Lord showed up uninvited at a party for Courtney Love's band Hole, which ended with Love chasing Lord down Sunset Strip.
Lord toured three separate times with Elliott Smith during the 1990s. He also wrote and helped Lord record a song called, "I Figured You Out", in 1997. Smith would later say that, "I gave that song away 'cause I thought it sounded like The Eagles and that it sucked."
Her recordings have been a mixture of covers (including songs by Elliott Smith and Richard Thompson) and original material, with a number of songs written by, or in collaboration with, Nick Saloman of the British band The Bevis Frond.
Her recording of Daniel Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle" (which was originally featured on her self-titled 8-song Kill Rock Stars release) was featured in commercials for Target stores, after which her label reissued the song as the lead-off track of a CD single which also included two demo recordings from the sessions for Got No Shadow.
In 2001, Lord released Live City Sounds. This was a self-released disc of Mary Lou playing live in the Boston subway. The disc was later re-released after Mary Lou signed to Rubric Records.
She announced in 2005 that she suffered from a rare vocal chord affliction known as spasmodic dysphonia. She thereafter became more involved in A&R work and started Jittery Jack Management with her husband, Kevin Patey.
Throng Of Blowtown
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight we'll dance and swing
I'll sing you softly my dear take my hand
And we'll toast to proposals and flings
Bring out the jester and shoot out the lights
Rattle your diamonds and pearls
There's swill for the swine and pills for the mind
More rhythm and booze for the girls
And those were the days when it all made sense
An awesome and glorious hoedown
54 studio discotheques
To welcome in the throng of Blowtown
Welcome to the throng of Blowtown
When Sonny gets dumped he'll see red for awhile
He's not the kind to get yellow
Tonight tonight the Billys will fight
Over copyright laws but stay mellow
And a typical day you can hear someone say
We need the groove to improve
So go find Carol Kaye
But she can't be found she's gone underground
In a carpal tunnel freezeout she's retirement bound
And those were the days when it all made sense
An awesome and glorious hoedown
54 studio discotheques to welcome the throng of Blowtown
Welcome in the throng of Blowtown
Ain't nothing like Motown
The throng of Blowtown
In Mary Lou Lord's song "Throng of Blowtown," the lyrics suggest a scene of wild partying and excess. The singer calls for Bushmills, a type of Irish whiskey, and requests the band begin playing. The lyrics mention song and dance, with the singer suggesting they'll toast to proposals and flings. The overall mood of the party is captured in a line about "swill for the swine and pills for the mind." The "Throng of Blowtown" itself is described as a discotheque, a place where people go to dance, and the lyrics mention the need for the "groove" and the search for Carol Kaye, a prominent bass guitarist who played on many Motown hits.
The lyrics reference several other characters, including Sonny, who is described as getting "dumped" and becoming angry, and the Billys, who are fighting over copyright issues. The mood of the party and references to specific people and events might suggest that the song is autobiographical or based on real experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring out the Bushmills and bring on the band
Let's open up the whiskey and start the party with some good music
Tonight we'll dance and swing
We will have fun dancing to the rhythm of the music
I'll sing you softly my dear take my hand
I will serenade you with a sweet song, my darling, come closer to me
And we'll toast to proposals and flings
Let's celebrate love and romance, and all the good times we had
Bring out the jester and shoot out the lights
Let's bring in the entertainment and turn off the lights
Rattle your diamonds and pearls
Let's show off our fancy jewelry
There's swill for the swine and pills for the mind
There are cheap drinks and drugs for those who want them
More rhythm and booze for the girls
Let's keep the music and drinking going for the ladies
And those were the days when it all made sense
Those were the days when everything seemed clear and simple
An awesome and glorious hoedown
It was a fantastic and memorable party
54 studio discotheques
There were many places to go out and have fun dancing
To welcome in the throng of Blowtown
To celebrate the arrival of the big party crowd
Welcome to the throng of Blowtown
Welcome to the big party
When Sonny gets dumped he'll see red for awhile
When Sonny gets rejected, he will be angry and upset for some time
He's not the kind to get yellow
He is not the type to run away in fear
Tonight tonight the Billys will fight
Some people named Billy will argue over copyright laws
Over copyright laws but stay mellow
They will argue but try to remain calm
And a typical day you can hear someone say
On a regular day, someone might say
We need the groove to improve
We need good music to have a good time
So go find Carol Kaye
We need to find the musician Carol Kaye
But she can't be found she's gone underground
Unfortunately, she cannot be located as she has gone into hiding
In a carpal tunnel freezeout she's retirement bound
She is retiring from music due to a medical condition called carpal tunnel syndrome
Ain't nothing like Motown
There is nothing quite like the music from Motown
The throng of Blowtown
The big party crowd of Blowtown
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARY LOU LORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind