The Barbarians formed in 1964 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While their debut single, "Hey Little Bird" (on Joy Records) bombed, two of their next three singles (on Laurie) charted on Billboard, (with "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?" peaking at #55) and also made the Cash Box charts.
They received their biggest break when featured on The T.A.M.I. Show (performing "Hey Little Bird") alongside other artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Lesley Gore, Chuck Berry, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye.
As their name implies, their image relied heavily on looking barbaric. They wore leather sandals and grew their hair longer than most of their contemporaries. One-armed drummer Victor "Moulty" Moulton had a prosthetic claw on his left arm. He had lost part of his left arm in an explosion at the age of 14. Moulty was able to play drums using the prosthesis to hold a drum stick. Their minor hit "Moulty" was a humorous and melodramatic autobiographical song chronicling the drummer's life and the loss of his hand. The Barbarians disbanded in 1966.
The Ramones' song Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? includes Moulty in its list of rock 'n' roll figures and institutions.
2) Streetpunk band from Barberà del Vallés, Catalonia
Hey Little Bird
The Barbarians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put her in a cage and disconnect the phone.
If you give me a look, I'm gonna get the book.
I'm gonna preach the word,
I wanna preach to birds as I walk the floor.
Yeah, this I know.
I got nothing to lose, I'll never let you go.
The lyrics of The Barbarians' song "Hey Little Bird" suggest the singer's intention to capture a bird and keep it in captivity. In the first two lines, the singer announces that he has caught a bird and intends to bring it to his house. The following line, "Put her in a cage and disconnect the phone," indicates that the singer will isolate the bird and ensure that it cannot escape. The singer's possessive behavior is further emphasized in the next lines - "If you give me a look, I'm gonna get the book" - suggesting that the singer's infatuation with the bird might turn into an obsession.
The lines "I'm gonna preach the word, I wanna preach to birds as I walk the floor" indicate that the singer intends to deliver a message to the bird while it is captive. The eagerness to "preach" signifies the message's importance, and the singer's willingness to share it with the bird implies that he trusts the captive bird. The final lines of the song, "When I get you home, this is how it goes. I got nothing to lose, I'll never let you go," indicate that the singer has found something valuable in the captured bird and is unwilling to let it go.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a little bird, I'm gonna take her home.
I have found someone vulnerable and innocent that I plan on possessing.
Put her in a cage and disconnect the phone.
I will isolate and trap this person so that they cannot escape or seek help.
If you give me a look, I'm gonna get the book.
If you challenge me, I will retaliate by using any source of power or authority I can find against you.
I'm gonna preach the word, I wanna preach to birds as I walk the floor.
I will incessantly impose my beliefs and opinions onto others, regardless of their interest or consent.
Yeah, this I know.
I am aware of my intentions and am unapologetic about them.
When I get you home, this is how it goes.
Once I have control over you, I will dictate how our relationship will operate.
I got nothing to lose, I'll never let you go.
I have no regard for your wellbeing or autonomy, and will do whatever it takes to maintain my grasp on you.
Contributed by Brody O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kim Clark
One of the most exciting moments in 1960s rock n roll. Moulty at 1:30 is the very definition of being fully alive.
Tom Reid
Great description, Kim! As I watched it just now, before I read you comment, I was just remembering when I was a teenager and first saw this film. It took the excitement I'd felt at seeing the Beatles and kicked it up a notch (as did my first viewing of the Who) - something about there being a way to be fully alive, as you say, that I knew I hadn't reached yet but really wanted to!
Lawrence Feldman
Understood! Sailing on into the mystic!
PunchandJudyDuo
1964? These guys were ahead of their time! Garage-Punk! They rock so hard that compared to all of the other acts of the time (Billy Kramer, Pacemakers- even The Beatles and Stones) these guys might as well be Black Sabbath or The Sex Pistols! Very influential- just saw this last night and this is the newest cover song for our band!
Lazlo Kovacs
The Barbarians is really special and I'm glad the cameras focused on Moulty. Very long hair for 1964 and ahead of its time. Garage, punk, power-pop, EVERYTHING is there. The Ramones immortalized the band. All that was left was to see the band in action.
george kelakos
Moulty played an important role in my life. I studied Uechi Ryu karate from him (he was an amazing karateka and teacher) and we played music together. I last saw him many years ago at a concert featuring the reconstituted Barbarians (one son on bass and the other on drums) and he was full of life.
Paweł Mulak
So Keith Moon from The Who wasn't first who made show like this. First was Moulty
m
@Paweł Mulak very different drumming styles, but both great - and contemporaneous.
Paweł Mulak
@m I meant the show (while playing), not the drumming style. Both great
terrypussypower
What a brilliant clip, pure garage rock brilliance! You can tell it's human beings who are playing and singing!