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.
Seven Thirty Seven / Shoe Glue
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the bridge, that dirty water
College campus, mighty minds and a reactor right behind
Passed the candy factory, Salvation Army
Fire station through the square
I hate that place up the stairs
Next the doors, they never work I never let that bother me
I hope there's something there for me
An old man reads the paper loudly everyday now for a year
Stamp machines and wanted posters here again, again I'm here
Now it's 737 almost everyday!
737 well I want you to say!
737 and everyday!
737 almost everyday!
Nice to know that someone hears us
It's good to know somebody's there
Taking the time to say hello
Taking the time to show you care
Write again and thanks again from the bottom of my heart
See you soon and till then 737 is a real big part
I've been down the last time, stretchin the finish line
Shoe glue what can I do?
A man's not well dressed if his shoes are a mess
Rock and Roll I've got a hole right in my sole
Let's rock! It's fucking my walk and soaking my sock
Who knew? It's not stopping my step or stepping my stop
We've got it up and we won't let it drop
Beer here, don't wanna see clear
I see no point in wrecking the joint
We're here to quench our thirst a bit
But we won't get the worst of it
Turn it up more than a notch
Like a punch to the face or a kick to the crotch
All night never ender benefiting from a bender
I f nothing's worrying you, that's the key
Cause nothing's worrying me
And nothing's worrying me.
The lyrics of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones's song Seven Thirty Seven / Shoe Glue describe a specific place in Boston, Massachusetts. The song mentions several landmarks in the city, such as the dirty water of the Charles River, a college campus with a nuclear reactor, a candy factory, and a fire station. The singer mentions the frustration of climbing stairs to a place he hates, but also describes a sense of community in the form of an old man who reads the newspaper aloud every day.
The song's title, "737," refers to a local bus route in Boston, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's 73 bus, which runs from Harvard Square to Waverley, Massachusetts, stopping at several locations mentioned in the song. The chorus encourages listeners to say the number of the bus, suggesting a sense of pride in knowing the local landmarks and transportation.
"Shoe glue" refers to an adhesive used to keep shoes together, and the song describes the singer's struggles to keep his own shoes from falling apart, using the phrase "stretching the finish line" to describe his attempt to keep them wearable. The singer also mentions the desire to drink beer and have a good time, emphasizing the importance of enjoying life and not worrying about the future. Overall, the song celebrates the particularities of a specific place and the small joys of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Down the street, around the corner
Starting from a specific location, moving into a general direction.
Over the bridge, that dirty water
Getting across a polluted water body.
College campus, mighty minds and a reactor right behind
Describing a college campus with intelligent students and a nuclear reactor facility.
Passed the candy factory, Salvation Army
Walking past a candy factory and a charitable organization.
Fire station through the square
A fire station situated in a public square.
I hate that place up the stairs
Disliking a specific place that is reached through stairs.
Next the doors, they never work I never let that bother me
The entrance doors that never function properly, but it doesn't concern the person.
And I hope some worker's not disgruntled
Wishing that no employee is unhappy or dissatisfied with their work.
I hope there's something there for me
Desiring to find something meaningful or valuable in that place.
An old man reads the paper loudly everyday now for a year
An elderly person reading the newspaper out loud every day for a year in that place.
Stamp machines and wanted posters here again, again I'm here
Stamp vending machines and posters seeking information about missing people or criminals. The person has visited this place multiple times.
Now it's 737 almost everyday!
Referring to a specific model of Boeing airplane, indicating that it's present almost every day in their life.
737 well I want you to say!
Expressing the desire to hear someone say '737' frequently.
737 and everyday!
Repeating the identification of the model of airplane mentioned previously.
737 almost everyday!
Stating that the presence of the airplane is nearly constant in their life.
Nice to know that someone hears us
Feeling pleased to have someone listen to their thoughts or expressions.
It's good to know somebody's there
Appreciating the presence of someone in their life.
Taking the time to say hello
Acknowledging the importance of taking time to greet others.
Taking the time to show you care
Demonstrating love and affection towards someone by taking out the time for them.
Write again and thanks again from the bottom of my heart
Expressing gratitude and requesting the other person to communicate more.
See you soon and till then 737 is a real big part
Indicating that the airplane model is an important part of their life until the next meeting.
I've been down the last time, stretchin the finish line
Going through a difficult time, and trying to get through the final hurdle.
Shoe glue what can I do?
Wondering about the solution for repairing damaged shoes using glue.
A man's not well dressed if his shoes are a mess
Stating that a man's overall appearance cannot be good if his shoes are dirty.
Rock and Roll I've got a hole right in my sole
Playing on the common pronunciation of 'sole' (soul), indicating that there is a hole in their musical soul.
Let's rock! It's fucking my walk and soaking my sock
Intensifying their desire to play rock music as the hole in their shoes is ruining their gait and making their socks wet.
Who knew? It's not stopping my step or stepping my stop
Surprised that despite the hole in their shoe, they are still able to move around normally.
We've got it up and we won't let it drop
Feeling confident in their ability to perform well and not wanting to lose that state.
Beer here, don't wanna see clear
Preferring to remain under the influence of beer and not wanting to be sober.
I see no point in wrecking the joint
Not wanting to spoil the fun or environment by engaging in destructive activities.
We're here to quench our thirst a bit
Being present to satiate their thirst for alcoholic drinks.
But we won't get the worst of it
Ensuring that they will not suffer from the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol.
Turn it up more than a notch
Asking to increase the volume on the artist more than just a little bit.
Like a punch to the face or a kick to the crotch
Comparing the effect of the high volume music to the physical impact of getting punched in the face or kicked in the groin.
All night never ender benefiting from a bender
Enjoying a long party with alcoholic drinks without any thought of when it will end.
If nothing's worrying you, that's the key
Not feeling troubled about anything is the solution to a happy life.
Cause nothing's worrying me
Feeling relaxed and carefree about their life situations.
And nothing's worrying me.
Reiterating the lack of stress or anxiety in their life.
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.