The band was formed in 1962 by lead singer/organist Larry Tamblyn and guitarist Tony Valentino. The Standells' first hit single was Dirty Water, which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966.
Other hits included Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Why Pick On Me, Riot On Sunset Strip (about the 1966 riots resulting from police attacks on hippies), and Try It.
Singer/drummer Dick Dodd, founding drummer of The Bel Airs, who joined the group in 1964 and sang the lead on "Dirty Water", was a former Mouseketeer, and singer/keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, who sang the lead on many of the other Standells songs, is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, star of Joan of Arcadia. Dodd replaced original drummer Gary Leeds, who went on to fame as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. In 1967 John Fleckenstein (formerly of the group Love), joined the Standells. The group appeared in several low budget films of the 1960s, including "Get Yourself a College Girl" and cult classic "Riot on Sunset Strip", in which they performed the movie's title song. Lowell George, who would go on to play with Little Feat, briefly played guitar in the Standells prior to their breakup in 1969.
The Standells also made an appearance on the 1964-1966 television sitcom The Munsters in the episode "Far Out Munster". The band was an integral part of the show, and performed the songs "Come On and Ringo" and The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Furthermore, the group appeared on the television 1964-1965 sitcom The Bing Crosby Show, in the episode "Bugged by the Love Bugs", portraying the fictional rock group of the same name. They performed the songs "Someday You'll Cry" and "Come Here".
Despite the lyrics of "Dirty Water", which states, "Boston, you're my home." The Standells are not from Massachusetts. However, in 2007 the Massachusetts General Court officially decreed "Dirty Water" to be the "Official Victory Song of the Boston Red Sox" . Since 2004, the Standells have attended most every World Series at Fenway Park, including the final winning game in 2013. "Dirty Water" was written by their producer Ed Cobb. It is played after every home victory by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
Dodd and Valentino left the Standells in 2009. Dick Dodd passed away in 2013.
The Standells still are actively performing today, and have been receiving 'rave reviews' from music critics. They recently headlined in 2013 at the Adams Ave. St. Fair, San Diego, CA, and the Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans, Lousiana. Original Members Larry Tamblyn and John Fleck are still in the group, along with co-lead singer Mark Adrian and drummer Greg Burnham. The group has recently released a new album Bump on GRA Records. They been booked on an extensive East Coast tour from April - May, 2014. Learn more about the Standells by visiting http://www.standells-official.com and http://www.facebook.com/Standells
Why Pick on Me
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out to get this heart of mine.
Candy kisses don't mean a thing,
If only lies those kisses bring.
Platinum hair, black at the roots,
Short, short skirts and dirty boots.
Having an act is surely a try (?)
[Chorus]
Why pick on me?
Why pick on me?
Do you get your kicks when you see men cry?
Why pick on me?
Why pick on me?
Is this the way I'll have to get your heart?
If you choose to play the field,
Then you choose to know how it feels.
When somebody messes you up,
When he thinks that you've had enough.
[Chorus]
Long hair up against my skin,
But never once have you given in.
To any one of my wants or needs,
No matter how my poor heart bleeds.
[Chorus]
The lyrics to "Why Pick on Me" by The Standells speak about a man who feels like he is being mistreated by a woman he likes. He describes her as having "puzzled lips dipped in wine," which could suggest that she is unclear in her feelings towards him. He also notes that he believes she is intentionally "out to get this heart of mine" and that her "candy kisses" are meaningless because they are filled with lies.
The man also observes that the woman he likes has "platinum hair, black at the roots, short, short skirts, and dirty boots." This description paints her as someone who might be promiscuous or difficult to pin down, reinforcing the idea that she is not interested in him. He suggests that she puts on a persona of being heartless, just to make him suffer, which only drives him away.
The chorus of the song asks, "Why pick on me?" The man questions why the woman is going out of her way to hurt him and wonders if she gets pleasure from seeing him cry. He also wonders if he will ever be able to win her over or if he will always have to endure her cruelty. In the end, he suggests that the only solution might be to step back from the relationship altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
Puzzled (?) lips dipped (?) in wine,
Confused lips stained with wine,
Out to get this heart of mine.
Trying to win over my heart.
Candy kisses don't mean a thing,
Sweet kisses are meaningless,
If only lies those kisses bring.
If there are only lies behind those kisses.
Platinum hair, black at the roots,
Blonde hair with visible dark roots,
Short, short skirts and dirty boots.
Wearing short skirts and messy boots.
Having an act is surely a try (?),
Putting on an act is an attempt,
To try to make my poor heart cry.
To try to make me emotionally hurt.
[Chorus]
Repeating chorus.
Why pick on me?
Why are you targeting me?
Why pick on me?
Why are you picking on me?
Do you get your kicks when you see men cry?
Are you enjoying it when you make me cry?
Why pick on me?
Why are you targeting me?
Why pick on me?
Why are you picking on me?
Is this the way I'll have to get your heart?
Is this what I have to go through to win your heart?
If you choose to play the field,
If you choose to date around,
Then you choose to know how it feels.
Then you are choosing to experience heartbreak.
When somebody messes you up,
When someone hurts you,
When he thinks that you've had enough.
When he thinks you can no longer take it.
[Chorus]
Repeating chorus.
Long hair up against my skin,
Long hair touching my skin,
But never once have you given in.
But you have never given me what I want.
To any one of my wants or needs,
To any of my desires or necessities.
No matter how my poor heart bleeds.
Despite how much emotional pain I go through.
[Chorus]
Repeating chorus.
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Harry Mccabe
One of my favorite cuts by the standells !!
biff van arsdale
If I was on Neptune for 30 yrs., this would be one of my top 10 discs Id bring with me!
Mick Biggins
I understand completely.
Melon Sherbert
Why Neptune and why thirty years? Just curious lol
baby tobi
one of those bands that you dont remember till you here it again
shelley Ganz
THEIR BEST!!! WOW!!! ULTRA KOOL!!!
ModBopBeat
A true Garage Rock great. CLASSIC song. š¶š¶š¶
Harry Mccabe
Love this tune don't have it on disc wish i did !
DOUGLAS WAGGONER
My last memory of listening to this is a jukebox on the peer at Cubic Point in the P.I. Now, that might not be accurate, but thatās what Iām remembering now. Itās kind of hot there. I remember my short sleeved whites being damp wet with sweat there.
Brent Barker
When I met Dick(& The Original "Dirty Water")Standells in Vegas @ The Cannery Hotel & Casino (before Dick's untimely passing) I told them this was My favorite Standells track(Next to "Barracuda-which was done @ the same session @ Richie Podolor's American Recording Studio on Ventura Blvd) From one "Paisan" to another: Grazie for posting(& I understand Your error in the opening line!)