The group's musical line-up incorporates such diverse instruments as mandolins, glockenspiels, accordion, military bass-drum, and the legendary Nickelodeon, an extraordinary instrument designed and built for the purpose of delivering Sailor's definitive sound.
Their first album, released in 1974, included the hit "Traffic Jam". The album achieved Gold status in Holland. But it was the second album "Trouble" that established Sailor throughout the world. "A Glass of Champagne" was a massive hit throughout the world in 1975, followed by "Girls Girls Girls" in 1976.
The original line-up changed regularly from the end of the 1970s. In 1980 Phil and Henry released a new album together with Gavin David and Virginia David. In 1989 a new album was released after a ten year silence, featuring two singles "The Secretary" and "La Cumbia", so after a long gap they went back on tour again. In 1995 Georg Kajanus departed the band to pursue a solo career, leading to the introduction of Peter Lincoln, a respected guitarist and singer. Original member Henry Marsh left the band in late 1999, to be replaced by Anthony England. He was replaced in turn by Rob Alderton in 2001.
In 2004 Sailor were voted the 45th most successful pop band of the last 40 years in Germany.
In July 2005 Rob Alderton departed, but a few weeks later, original member Henry Marsh returned to his place at the Nickelodeon. In 2006 Peter Lincoln decided to leave after ten years to join The Sweet. Afterwards, Henry's son Oliver Marsh joined the band as their new singer to continue the journey...
Let's Go to Town
Sailor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down to the red light quarter
That part of town
Where there is no such thing as law and order
That's where the girls are waiting for us, oh yeah
With all the boozin' and them dice to toss
Downtown, downtown
No more scrubbin' dirty decks, no more sanitary checks
Got my money, got my leave, got our naval sex appeal
Let's get down to girls!
Let's go to town
And take up that old routine
Let's go to town
To act out the sailor's dream
There's a city full of lonely dames
Waitin' for the boys
With empty glasses, making passes
Looking out for joys
And we don't want to spend the night aboard
With a deck of cards
Let's go to town, let's get the girls!
Let's get our fingers through those beautiful curls
Downtown, downtown
Let's go to town, yeah, let's go to town
Down to the red light quarter
That part of town (that part of town, that part of town)
Where there is no such thing as law and order!
That's where the girls are waiting for us
With all the boozin' and them dice to toss
Downtown, downtown!
The Sailor in the song "Let's go to town" is tired of his mundane life aboard a ship and wants to break free from it. He suggests going to the red light district of town where there is no law and order and everything is allowed. He urges his fellow sailors to join him in this escape from sanitization and monotony. The girls in this part of the town are waiting for them, and there is no dearth of liquor and games to play. They can leave the captain and his rules behind and embrace their world. The Sailor has money and leave, and he exudes confidence and eagerness to explore. He wants to fulfill the sailors' dream of being with women in town and not on the ship.
The song delves into the myth of the sailor's life and his romanticized image of adventure, freedom, and promiscuity. The song reveals how the sailor's routine of cleaning the deck and following rules can be monotonous, so they often turn to excess drinking, gambling, and women for escape. The sailor believes that he lives in a world that belongs to the sailors and the women, and they are going to enjoy it to the fullest away from rules and restriction.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go to town, oh yeah
Let's leave the ship and head to the city, excitedly
Down to the red light quarter
Specifically to the seedy part of town where prostitutes wait for customers
That part of town
Referring to the area previously mentioned, known for being wild and lawless
Where there is no such thing as law and order
A place lacking in policing and where anything goes
That's where the girls are waiting for us, oh yeah
Prostitution is common and women are waiting for male customers
With all the boozin' and them dice to toss
There are plenty of opportunities to drink and gamble
No more scrubbin' dirty decks, no more sanitary checks
No more tedious and unpleasant ship duties, we can enjoy ourselves
Never mind the captain, this is our world
We don't care about the authority figure of the ship, we're enjoying our freedom
Got my money, got my leave, got our naval sex appeal
We have money, time off from the ship and the confidence of being sailors
Let's get down to girls!
Let's go find prostitutes
Let's go to town and take up that old routine
Let's indulge in the traditional sailor activity of visiting prostitutes
To act out the sailor's dream
To fulfill the stereotype of sailors visiting prostitutes
There's a city full of lonely dames waitin' for the boys
Prostitutes are available and waiting for male customers
With empty glasses, making passes, looking out for joys
Prostitutes are actively seeking customers and hoping to make money
And we don't want to spend the night aboard with a deck of cards
We don't want to be stuck on the ship playing cards when there are prostitutes available
Let's go to town, let's get the girls!
Let's leave the ship and find prostitutes
Let's get our fingers through those beautiful curls
Let's touch the prostitutes' hair
Downtown, downtown
Once again, let's head to the seedy part of town
Let's go to town, yeah, let's go to town
Reiterating the desire to leave the ship and head to the city
Down to the red light quarter
Once again, specifically to the seedy part of town where prostitutes wait for customers
That part of town (that part of town, that part of town)
Repeating the reference to the wild, lawless area of town
Where there is no such thing as law and order!
Once again highlighting the lack of law enforcement in this area
That's where the girls are waiting for us
Once again emphasizing that prostitutes are waiting for male customers
With all the boozin' and them dice to toss
There are once again opportunities to drink and gamble while seeking prostitutes
Downtown, downtown!
Once again, emphasizing the desire to visit the seedy part of town
Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ruudvandinter578
Sailor one my favorite bands, was 8 years old when i am heard them for the first time, Great musicians i still love their music
@suitbertglocke5020
Ruud van Dinter ,me too !! I was 9 years old : ) I totally agree with you !!
@friarsgirl1
Is this a remake? It doesn't sound right somehow
@MS62
It´s the original one from the first Sailor LP
@chrisdegroot4003
@Michael McFly The best.