Ted Nugent, then 17, formed the band when he moved to Chicago in the 60's. … Read Full Bio ↴Ted Nugent, then 17, formed the band when he moved to Chicago in the 60's. Nugent had heard of a Detroit Rolling Stones cover band called Amboy Dukes that had just broken up, and took the name for his new band. The Detroit Amboy Dukes had actually themselves stolen the name from a Brooklyn street gang of the same name (see Louis Buchalter). A book called The Amboy Dukes about gang lifestyle was also made. In interviews Ted Nugent said he has been given the book on many occasions but still hasn't gotten around to reading it.[1]
The Amboy Dukes released a number of albums with Mainstream Records. Having run their course with Mainstream Records, they signed with Polydor Records around 1970. At this time Amboy Dukes song titles would display such period flavor as "Why Is a Carrot More Orange Than an Orange" and "The Inexhaustible Quest for the Cosmic Cabbage"; the latter number was a multi-part epic that incorporated both Béla Bartók and The Beach Boys.
The band quickly grew tired of Polydor Records and signed with Frank Zappa's DisCreet (Warner Brothers) label. They released two more albums and then broke up.
While the other Amboy Dukes receded into obscurity, Nugent, as the "Motor City Madman", became a very successful and quite visible solo musician, hunter, and political controversialist.
The disparity in career outcomes has led to differing recollections among the former Dukes about what happened during the band's lifetime. Nugent claims to have been the leader of the band, and at times the "babysitter" for the rest of the band, and that when he took a few months off the band fell apart. And despite the apparent drug references of many of their songs, Nugent fervently denies significant drug use.
The other members of the band, such as Steve Farmer, viewed the band differently. They say guitarist Farmer and singer Drake were the main songwriters and the de facto leaders of the Amboy Dukes; Nugent was not the "leadman". In an interview , Farmer deprecated Nugent's creative role in the Amboy Dukes, and mentioned some rather embarrassing personal details about Nugent. From Farmer's point of view, Nugent was the one who needed babysitting - he was a spoiled brat and none too intelligent. Farmer did emphasize that Nugent was the only member not involved in drug activity and promiscuous sex with groupies, so on that matter everyone is in agreement.

Young Love
The Amboy Dukes Lyrics

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My baby gave your love
And she came from up above
To my name

Oh, what a shame
For all our (?)

My baby told me all the things

That brought happiness to me
Now I know and now I see what she meant
That night that we spent together

Taught me a lot
Now I know
There's more reasons still
That I see

She just doesn't realize
How much she means to me
Soon the truth she will find
She'll get it from my mind

It happens more to me
Than two fools of yesterday
Our youth are so much ahead
They die before, before they're dead

The first thought moves too soon
Then it dies
The next one's better informed
But it's killed by all your lies

That's how the young attract young love
They put themselves above

Young love

Overall Meaning

in the song refers to a passionate and naive love that two young individuals experience. The first stanza mentions that the singer's baby came from up above to his name, implying that he sees his lover as a blessing from the heavens. However, he notes what a shame it is that their love cannot seem to endure. The second stanza mentions that through their time together, his baby taught him a lot, showing him what real happiness could be. He realizes that there are more reasons to appreciate her, but she does not seem to realize her worth to him. He plans on revealing the depths of his feelings to her soon, hoping that she will understand the truth from his mind.

The third stanza contrasts the singer's love with that of two fools from yesterday. The young are often so full of passion and energy that it seems they die before they're dead. The final lines of the song mention how the young attract young love by putting themselves above the rest. The young are often quick to move on from one thought or relationship to another, informing themselves of the next best option but often falling victim to lies.

Overall, "Young Love" is a song about the beauty and tragedy of passionate and naive love. The singer recognizes the depth of his feelings for his lover but fears that she cannot see her own worth to him. He observes the youth's tendency to die before they're dead from too much passion, and notes how easily they fall for lies.

Line by Line Meaning

My baby gave your love
My significant other devoted their love to me

And she came from up above
She seems like a Godsend

To my name
She's devoted to me

Oh, what a shame
It's unfortunate

For all our (?)
It's a pity that things didn't work out

My baby told me all the things
My loved one shared with me all the things

That brought happiness to me
What made me happy

Now I know and now I see what she meant
I understand what she meant

That night that we spent together
The night we spent together

Taught me a lot
I learned a lot from it

Now I know
I understand now