Formed in 1985, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones started playing in Boston clubs in the mid-1980s. After a brief period of inactivity due to the schooling commitments of its members, they reformed and released their album Devil's Night Out on Taang! Records. The Bosstones toured relentlessly throughout the 1990s, playing hundreds of shows a year, releasing albums and spinning off the popular rock radio hit "Someday I Suppose". They were eventually signed to Mercury Records. The band appeared in the movie Clueless. In 1997, the success of their single "The Impression That I Get" and its follow up, "The Rascal King" earned them mainstream recognition. In 2000 they put out their critically acclaimed disk Pay Attention. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released their last album on Side One Dummy Records. They officially went on hiatus in 2003, citing too much time on the road and desire to branch out and do different things. In 2007, the Bosstones announced that they were reforming. They played their 10th Hometown Throwdown in Boston and released a new album, Medium Rare, which consists of rare B-sides, and 3 new songs, including the single, "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker".
The band announced their split in early 2022.
He's Back
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
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when he left, he showed up at my door, different than he was before
I was scared, and he was way off track I thought he wasn't coming back
he told me, people were out after him and talked of places that he'd never been,
on a mission, and sworn to secrecy, different than he used to be
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
when he was gone, he slept out on my couch in the daytime he was always out
he had to slay a dragon, kill a giant, fix a wagon wage a war, feed the world,
and stamp out sin, in the daytime he was never in
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
I'm a freight train baby don't give me no sidetrack, no!
I want your main line baby! climb aboard the Eden Express!
this train is coming through! this train is bound for glory!
this train, this, train is comig through! this train is bound for glory!
when he left, he showed up at my door, different than he was before
I was scared and he was way off track I thought he wasn't coming back
when he spoke it was tough to tell, he ever left or wasn't well
lost his balance tripped and fell he came back and we were glad as hell
when he came back, he showed up at my door, different than he was before
I was geared 'cause he was back on track it's good to have my old friend back
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones's song "He's Back" talks about the return of someone who had left and had gone through a transformation. When he first left, he showed up at the singer's door and acted differently than before. He was off-track, and the singer didn't think he would come back. However, when he returned, he was on a mission, different than who he used to be. He spoke of places he'd never been to, and he was sworn to secrecy.
The lyrics also mention his adventures, which he went on during the day while he stayed on the singer's couch. He claimed to have fought a dragon, a giant, fixed a wagon, fed the world, and stamped out sin. The song portrays the return of the transformed person, who is now back on track, and the singer is thrilled to have his old friend back.
The song suggests that people can change, even if they seem lost, and it is possible to come back from that. Additionally, it highlights the importance of friendship and how people's support can help transform someone's life.
Line by Line Meaning
when he left, he showed up at my door, different than he was before
He returned to my place, but he wasn't the same person as he was when he left
I was scared, and he was way off track I thought he wasn't coming back
I was frightened because he seemed lost and I didn't expect him to return
he told me, people were out after him and talked of places that he'd never been
He claimed that there were people pursuing him and visiting places he'd never seen before
on a mission, and sworn to secrecy, different than he used to be
He had a task to accomplish that he couldn't share with anyone and he had changed from the way he used to be
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
He returned to his normal self and we're elated that he's back to normal
when he was gone, he slept out on my couch in the daytime he was always out
When he was absent, he slept on my couch and spent most of his days away from home
I never knew where he went or how his afternoons were spent he said
I had no clue about his whereabouts during the afternoons, but he claimed that he was busy doing heroic deeds
in the daytime he was never in
During the day, he was always out of the house
I'm a freight train baby don't give me no sidetrack, no!
I'm unstoppable, please don't try to deter me
I want your main line baby! climb aboard the Eden Express!
I desire your undivided attention, come along with me on a journey to paradise
this train is coming through! this train is bound for glory!
I'm forging ahead and we're destined for greatness
when he spoke it was tough to tell, he ever left or wasn't well
It was difficult to tell if he had really departed or if he had been sick
lost his balance tripped and fell he came back and we were glad as hell
He stumbled but eventually returned and we were overjoyed to see him
when he came back, he showed up at my door, different than he was before
He returned to my place looking changed from the way he was before he left
I was geared 'cause he was back on track it's good to have my old friend back
I was excited to see him back on the right path and glad to have my old friend back
back, back, and we're glad he's back on track! It's good to have him back, he's back
He's back to his normal self and we're relieved and happy to have him back
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DICKY BARRETT, JOE GITTLEMAN, NATE ALBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind