All the Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople Lyrics

Well, Billy rapped all night about his suicide
Billy spoke extensively about his suicidal intentions throughout the night

How he'd kick it in the head when he was twenty-five
He intended to commit suicide by fatally kicking himself in the head when he reached the age of twenty-five

Speed jive, don't want to stay alive
Billy didn't want to continue living and preferred to party hard, indulging in drugs and dance to amphetamines-fueled music

When you're twenty-five
This statement specifies that Billy's state of mind is typical of twenty-five years old

And Wendy's stealing clothes from Marks & Sparks
Wendy shoplifts garments from Marks and Spencer

And Freddy's got spots from ripping off the stars from his face
Freddy has pimples on his face because he removed the shiny stars he had affixed to his skin

Funky little boat race
An expression of admiration for Freddy's quirky and unique appearance

Television man is crazy saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
A TV presenter accuses them of being antisocial delinquents with ruined futures

Oh, man, I need TV when I've got T.Rex
The artist finds glam rock band T.Rex more appealing and energizing than television

Oh brother, you guessed
The artist agrees with the TV presenter's assessment of them

I'm a dude, dad
The singer confirms that he's one of the people the presenter refers to as a juvenile delinquent wreck, with a careless attitude and a devil-may-care approach to life

All the young dudes (hey dudes!)
A statement that unites and refers to all the artists of the song, predominantly male youths

Carry the news (where are you?)
The statement 'carry the news' is a plea for the young dudes to spread the message of belonging to the same tribe, as they look and behave similarly. The second part 'where are you' is a call to recognize and identify each other

Boogaloo dudes (stand up, come on)
The phrase 'boogaloo dudes' is again used to refer to the young dudes. The urge to 'stand up, come on' is an invitation to act, rebel, or dance to the music

Lucy looks sweet 'cause he dresses like a queen
Lucy( name given to a male) has an effeminate dressing sense but is capable of fighting ferociously, making him a formidable fighting partner

But he can kick like a mule, it's a real mean team
Lucy, despite his seemingly gentle demeanor, is dangerous in a fight. Together with the other young dudes, they form a formidable fighting group

But we can love
The statement indicates that despite their seemingly antisocial nature, the young dudes are indeed capable of expressing and receiving love

Oh yes, we can love
The same positive message of love reaffirmed, emphasizing its essential presence among the tribe of young dudes

And my brother's back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
The singer's brother is an old-fashioned rock'n'roll fan who prefers the classics by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

We never got it off on that revolution stuff
The young dudes don't relate to or want the same radical changes that the revolutionary bands of the sixties advocated

What a drag, too many snags
The artist dismisses the call for revolution as a waste of time, hampered by complications

Now I've drunk a lot of wine and I'm feeling fine
The artist declares that he's had much alcohol and is feeling good

Got to race some cat to bed
The singer intends to have sex with his partner, a fellow 'young dude' in the tribe

Oh, is that concrete all around
Unclear if the setting is urban and surrounded by concrete or if the artist is hallucinating because of the alcohol consumed

Or is it in my head?
The singer is questioning his perception of things, unsure if he's seeing reality or having a drunken illusion

Yeah
An affirmation expressing satisfaction with the situation, whatever it may be

Hey, you there
A call to action, addressing someone in the present

With the glasses
A characteristic that stands out about the person being addressed for identification

I want you
The artist wants to interact with the person mentioned, perhaps get to know them or ask for help.

I want you in the front
The singer requests the person he addressed to come forward, possibly for a better view or to get a closer look

Now
An immediate request, as in 'right now.'

Now, you're his friends
The artist appeals to the audience to recognize and be friends with the person he'd been addressing

Now you bring him down ('cause I want him)
The artist wants the person brought down to his level, probably to engage in conversation or other activities

Boogaloo dudes (I want him right here)
The call for the young dudes who are part of the tribe to come together in one place, in this case, where the man addressed is now present

Bring him
The request is repeated, emphasizing its urgency and importance

Here you go
The artist is happy that his wishes have been granted

I've wanted to do this for years
The singer confesses that he's been thinking about meeting or interacting with the person addressed for years

There you go!
The singer is pleased that his request has finally been granted, and he can interact with the person addressed

Boogaloo dudes
The phrase brings the song full circle, reaffirming the tribe's identity, the spirit of rebellion, and togetherness.

How'd it feel?
The artist is curious about the experience of the person addressed, either the meeting or some other activity that's taken place as a part of it.

Carry the news
A final request to the young dudes, telling them to carry on their identity as one tribe and relay the events of the evening to others.