Delaware Tagget and the Outlaw Boys
The Hollies Lyrics


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Young girls and porches are filling out
Tempers and torches are burning
Brown is the colour of town
living in thunder

Hair on my top lip now I'm a man
I so often hear and feel it
Nice paying the price for being kept under

Mama says don't hang around that front gate too long
Boys like you who stay too late are surely gonna go so wrong
But Mama there's safety in numbers
It's the first time I've ever felt strong
Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys
Adding a laugh to the Broadway noise
Slipping your mind where your mind don't wanna go

Off-duty porters lay sleeping wives
On-duty daughters are finding
why just touching a boy gives a thrill like a shiver

Whispers and shadows are moving fast
No prizes given to people
last drowned in the past down on the river





chorus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Hollies's song Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys evoke imagery of small-town America in the 1950s or 60s. The opening lines paint a picture of a town filled with young energy, as young girls and boys gather on porches and tempers flare. The town is colored brown, perhaps implying a sense of stagnation or lack of progress. The singer mentions his top lip hair, implying that he is coming of age and asserting his masculinity. However, this newfound confidence comes with a price, as he is "kept under" and confined by societal expectations.


The chorus brings up Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys as a sort of escape or release from the monotony of small-town life. The singer feels a sense of rebelliousness and strength in their company, seeing safety in numbers. The Outlaw Boys offer a reprieve from the mundane and a chance to slip away from the constraints of society. The second verse delves deeper into the social dynamics of the town, with off-duty porters sleeping while their wives entertain on-duty daughters. The singer describes the thrill of physical touch, hinting at sexual tension and excitement. The whispers and shadows moving fast suggest that these interactions are secretive and perhaps frowned upon.


Interestingly, "Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys" is not based on any real-life people or events. It is purely a fictional creation of the songwriters. However, the character of Delaware Taggett has been used in other works, such as the 2015 novel "Paper Towns" by John Green.


Line by Line Meaning

Young girls and porches are filling out
The streets are crowded with girls, and everyone is outside on their porches.


Tempers and torches are burning
People are angry and carrying torches, ready for something to happen.


Brown is the colour of town
The town is dull and lifeless, with nothing of interest.


living in thunder
The town is always loud and boisterous.


Hair on my top lip now I'm a man
I have facial hair now, which signifies that I am growing up and becoming a man.


I so often hear and feel it
I am aware of my newfound masculinity.


Nice paying the price for being kept under
I am accepting the consequences of being controlled and held back in my youth.


Mama says don't hang around that front gate too long
My mother warns me not to spend too much time near the entrance.


Boys like you who stay too late are surely gonna go so wrong
She believes that boys who linger too long are bound to get into trouble.


But Mama there's safety in numbers
I argue that there is strength in numbers and that I am safer around others.


It's the first time I've ever felt strong
Being part of a group makes me feel confident and powerful like never before.


Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys
The group of boys I am hanging out with are known as Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys.


Adding a laugh to the Broadway noise
Together, we are causing a commotion and creating noise in the streets.


Slipping your mind where your mind don't wanna go
We are doing things and going places that we know we probably shouldn't be.


Off-duty porters lay sleeping wives
The husbands of women who work as porters are at home, sleeping.


On-duty daughters are finding
Their daughters, who are working, are discovering something new.


why just touching a boy gives a thrill like a shiver
They are experiencing new feelings and sensations when interacting with boys.


Whispers and shadows are moving fast
There is an air of secrecy and urgency among people.


No prizes given to people
There is no reward or recognition for those who are involved in this secretive activity.


last drowned in the past down on the river
Some people have suffered consequences in the past for their actions, even leading to death.


Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys
The chorus repeats the name of the group, emphasizing their presence and impact on the town.




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