Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_(band)
Studio albums
Nazareth (1971)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973)
Loud 'n' Proud (1973)
Rampant (1974)
Hair of the Dog (1975)
Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll (1976)
Play 'n' the Game (1976)
Expect No Mercy (1977)
No Mean City (1979)
Malice in Wonderland (1980)
The Fool Circle (1981)
2XS (1982)
Sound Elixir (1983)
The Catch (1984)
Cinema (1986)
Snakes 'n' Ladders (1989)
No Jive (1991)
Move Me (1994)
Boogaloo (1998)
The Newz (2008)
Big Dogz (2011)
Rock 'n' Roll Telephone (2014)
Tattooed on My Brain (2018)
Surviving the Law (2022)
Talkin' To One Of The Boys
Nazareth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look at my score, experience none
Tossed a coin when I was seventeen
I got the ice, you got the cream
All that you see is stranger than fiction
All that you do defies all description
And you worry about your lack of existence
Talkin' to one of the boys
Talkin' to one of the boys
Makin' a lot of noise
Talkin' to one of the boys
Talkin' to one of the boys
Makin' a lot of noise
Talkin' to one of the boys
One of the boys told me what was,
Going on last night
One of the boys said if I tried it,
Everythin' would be alright.
Talked to doctor scromaxy, mail order messiah
His black book is gospel, his scripture unclean
With mass consultation, a blind congregation
His chapter, his verse, and his profit obscene
Correspondence, the back of a sin rag
If this is deliverance, life is a drag
Searchin' salvation, your sight lines get hazy
You got it right,go crazy.
Talkin' to one of the boys
Talkin' to one of the boys
Makin' a lot of noise
Talkin' to one of the boys
Talkin' to one of the boys
Makin' a lot of noise
Talkin' to one of the boys
One of the boys told me what was,
Going on last night
One of the boys said if I tried it,
Everythin' would be alright.
Or maybe you'll go crazy.
The song "Talkin' to One of the Boys" by Nazareth explores the theme of isolation and disconnection in modern society. The first stanza of the song sets the tone of the lyrics, with the singer feeling disconnected from those around him despite the ease with which others seem to form connections. He reflects on his lack of experience and lays bare his apprehension at his inability to connect.
As the song progresses, the singer takes a jab at religious leaders and the blind followers that they attract. He describes the mail-order messiah, Doctor Scromaxy, and mocks the congregation who blindly follow him, despite his obscene profits and unclean scripture.
The repetitive chorus, "Talkin' to one of the boys, makin' a lot of noise" reflects the singer's desperation for connection and his eventual descent into madness. The song ends on a cautionary note, warning listeners that they too might go crazy if they continue to search for meaning in meaningless things.
Overall, "Talkin' to One of the Boys" is a poignant commentary on the modern world and the quest for connection and meaning in a world that often feels isolated and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone says connection is easy
People often say it's easy to connect with others
I look at my score, experience none
I have no real experience with making connections
Tossed a coin when I was seventeen
When I was younger, I made a pivotal decision randomly
I got the ice, you got the cream
I made a choice, and now I have the negative consequences while you have the positive outcomes
All that you see is stranger than fiction
What we see in real life is weirder than what we could imagine in a made-up story
All that you do defies all description
Your actions are impossible to explain in words
And you worry about your lack of existence
You're concerned about not making enough of an impact or difference in the world
Then by all means go crazy
If you want to go crazy, go for it
Talkin' to one of the boys
Having a conversation with one of my guy friends
Makin' a lot of noise
Being loud and energetic during the conversation
One of the boys told me what was,/Going on last night
My friend filled me in on what happened the previous night
One of the boys said if I tried it,/Everythin' would be alright
My friend assured me that everything would be okay if I gave something a try
Talked to doctor scromaxy, mail order messiah
I consulted with someone claiming to be a leader but who I know is a fraud
His black book is gospel, his scripture unclean
He claims his teachings are truthful, but they are morally corrupt
With mass consultation, a blind congregation
He has convinced many people to follow him without really understanding what they're getting into
His chapter, his verse, and his profit obscene
He uses his religious teachings to make a profit, which is wrong
Correspondence, the back of a sin rag
His letters are written on the back of a magazine that promotes sinful behavior
If this is deliverance, life is a drag
If this is how we're supposed to be saved, life must be pretty boring and uneventful
Searchin' salvation, your sight lines get hazy
Looking for salvation can be confusing and unclear
You got it right, go crazy
If you've found the answer, go ahead and act however you want
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: AGNEW, CLEMINSON, MCCAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dylan Maher
on Black Betty
What year did Nazareth record Black Betty ?