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.
I Wrote It
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A crest sewn on the chest read "Old Gold Rugby Football Club"
Worn at one time by a man, that at one time went to Yale
Then he worked a while on Wall Street, until the market collapsed
I was in a barroom that was somewhere on the southern shore of Boston
The tender of the bar poured me a whiskey on the house
I had a love for whiskey, I chased it with a beer
[Chorus:]
I wrote it in a notebook that somebody let me borrow
"Don't use all the paper please and if you could bring it back to me tomorrow"
It was a fair request and I was grateful for the loan
I had to jot a thought down I came up with on my own
I wrote it in October and I mention that because
Out of all the months there are I've always liked that one the best
I don't know why I bring this up but there are times I wonder what
Ever happened to that man I wonder after the collapse
[Chorus]
I wrote, I wrote it for you
I wrote, I wrote it for you
I wrote, I wrote it for you
I wrote, I wrote it for you
I wrote it in an hour so, so really not much longer
I put the pencil in the shot glass and I buttoned up my blazer
I stepped out of the bar in to the cold October sun
I must return the notebook it's not important what I wrote
"I Wrote It" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones is a nostalgia-heavy song that has a clear sense of time and place. The song is about the writing of a song, but also about the feeling of being in a certain location, reflecting on the past, and feeling a sense of connection to the things around you. The song begins with the singer discussing how he began writing the song, using a golf pencil he pulled out of his blazer at a bar on the southern shore of Boston. He describes the bar in detail, including the crest of the Old Gold Rugby Football Club that was sewn on his blazer. He then mentions a man who had worn a similar blazer, who had gone to Yale and worked on Wall Street before the market collapsed.
The singer then describes how he wrote the song in a borrowed notebook, in October, which he mentions is his favorite month. He wonders about the man who once wore the blazer and what happened to him after the market crash, but in the end, he decides that what really mattered was the act of writing the song itself. The chorus repeats "I wrote it for you" over and over again, with a feeling of earnestness and sincerity that reflects the song's overall mood. The final verse describes how quickly the song was written, how the singer put his pencil back in the shot glass and buttoned up his blazer before heading out into the cold October sun.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote it with a golf pencil I pulled out of my blazer
I used a makeshift writing utensil to jot down my thoughts.
A crest sewn on the chest read "Old Gold Rugby Football Club"
My blazer had a sports team emblem on it.
Worn at one time by a man, that at one time went to Yale
This blazer belonged to a former Yale student at one point.
Then he worked a while on Wall Street, until the market collapsed
After Yale, he was employed on Wall Street and lost his job when the market crashed.
I was in a barroom that was somewhere on the southern shore of Boston
I was in a tavern located on the outskirts of Boston.
The tender of the bar poured me a whiskey on the house
The bartender gave me a free drink.
I had a love for whiskey, I chased it with a beer
I enjoyed whiskey more than any other beverage and I had it with a beer chaser.
I have a love for Boston and I loved writing it there
I loved Boston and found inspiration for my writing there.
I wrote it in a notebook that somebody let me borrow
I used someone else's notebook to write my thoughts.
"Don't use all the paper please and if you could bring it back to me tomorrow"
The notebook owner requested that I limit my writing and return it the following day.
It was a fair request and I was grateful for the loan
I thought the request was reasonable and was thankful for the opportunity to borrow the notebook.
I had to jot a thought down I came up with on my own
I had an idea I didn't want to forget, so I quickly wrote it down in the notebook.
I wrote it in October and I mention that because
I wrote my thoughts down in October, and I felt it was worth noting.
Out of all the months there are I've always liked that one the best
Personally, October was my favorite month of the year.
I don't know why I bring this up but there are times I wonder what
I can't explain why, but sometimes I think about what happened to that former Yale student.
Ever happened to that man I wonder after the collapse
I'm curious what became of him after he lost his job during the market crash.
I wrote, I wrote it for you
This piece of writing was meant for someone special.
I wrote it in an hour so, so really not much longer
I wrote the piece quickly, in around an hour or so.
I put the pencil in the shot glass and I buttoned up my blazer
After I finished writing, I neatly put away the pencil and closed my blazer.
I stepped out of the bar in to the cold October sun
I left the tavern and stepped out into the crisp fall weather.
I must return the notebook it's not important what I wrote
I recognized the importance of returning the borrowed notebook and didn't think my writing was significant enough to keep it.
I wrote, I wrote it for you
Once again, I emphasize that this writing was created with this special someone in mind.
I wrote, I wrote it for you
In case it wasn't already clear, this piece of writing was written specifically for you.
I wrote, I wrote it for you
One more time, I want you to know that this writing was meant for you and you alone.
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
notyoursavior78
Great song! I am seeing them tonight, I hope they play some stuff from this album!
kingleper
The Bosstones never disappoint. One of the greatest bands EVER! This song gives me that special feeling inside that only the Bosstones can do to a person. Here’s hoping for another album from them. I can’t get enough. Cheers!
n a t x u r a l
9 years ago😂
John Phelps
well said
John Phelps
well said
Jairo A.H.
One of the best lyrics I have ever had the pleasure to come across
mattaki
it's my personal taste, but this is my favorite album from them. just straightforward and rockin'. great!
rurl1315
don’t use all the paper please.
One of my favorite lines. Of all time.
HK
I LOVE THIS SONG! I love Boston! I love the Mighty Mighty Bosstones!
TheCharleyman87
Their best album I'd say