The The Mannish Boys is a loose coupling of great blues talent. The band c… Read Full Bio ↴The The Mannish Boys is a loose coupling of great blues talent. The band changes without losing the blues thread that brought them together. Their ability to integrate new and different talent makes the blues real each time. Finis Tasby, Johnny Dyer, David "Kid" Ramos, Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser, Leon Blue, Tom Leavey, and Richard Innes have all played, and played well, building on each other's strengths. Randy Chortkoff is the guy who sings, plays the harmonica, and leads the blues revue.

Good Times
The Mannish Boys Lyrics

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Don't look so sad
I know it's over
But life goes on
And this old world will keep on turning
Let's just be glad
We had some time to spend together
There's no need to watch the bridges
That were burning

Lay your head upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me
One more time
For the good times

I'll get along
You'll find another
And I'll be here
If you should find you ever need me
Don't say a word about tomorrow
Or forever
There'll be time enough for sadness
When you leave me

Lay your head upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Blowing soft against the window

And make believe you love me
One more time

Overall Meaning

The Mannish Boys’s “Good Times” is a classic melancholic farewell song that celebrates memory and hopes to inspire closure after a failed relationship. The first verse sets the tone by acknowledging that it’s the end of the road for the couple, yet there's no need to keep looking back or being glum. Life will go on and the world will keep spinning, hence it’s momentarily fruitful to appreciate the time spent together, rather than dwell on the bridges that have been burnt. The second verse reinstates the regrets implied by the couple’s final separation, but the singer is aware that he’ll have to get on with his life eventually, and hopes that someday they’ll be friends once again. The chorus reflects a moment of intimacy between the two, with the singer imagining that the act of holding her again may evoke the passion and love they once had. The raindrops and the wind outside, seemingly in harmony with the mood of the song, are somehow embraced by the singer, perhaps as a way to metaphorically underline the fact that there’s no use in trying to resist the inevitable end.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't look so sad
Don't be upset

I know it's over
I understand that our relationship has ended

But life goes on
But we must continue living

And this old world will keep on turning
The world will keep moving forward, as it always has

Let's just be glad
Let's focus on the positive memories we shared

We had some time to spend together
We had some memorable moments in our relationship

There's no need to watch the bridges
There's no need to dwell on the past

That were burning
Especially the parts of our relationship that are now broken

Lay your head upon my pillow
Rest your head on my pillow

Hold your warm and tender body
Hold your affectionate and soft body

Close to mine
Close to my own body