The band recognizes Perry Hardy as their full-time bassist and Chris White as full-time guitarist, even though they do not play on the albums (with the exception of Hardy on two albums). The band currently uses a lineup of four musicians for concerts, with a second guitar player, but still usually records as only a two-piece (with Carl Fritscher playing all bass and guitar parts, as well as vocals with Phil Rigaud on drums).
The band's name comes from an ancient order of Christian militants called the Knights Templar. Their focus on Middle Ages history is largely informed by Carl Fritscher (singer/guitarist) and Phil Rigaud's (drummer) studies and interests. A Templars album cover was displayed in a History Channel documentary about the Knights Templar. The narrator states that the legacy of the medieval organization has influenced varied aspects of modern society, including as film, literature and "hardcore punk music."
New York
The Templars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down to Bleeker Bob 's, where the gang all meets
Passed the trendy shops on Broadway
We make our to the Bowery
Hang out in front of C.B. 's and drink a few beers
And hassle those who 've got the nerve to stare
A few bottles thrown and everybody knows
That we 've gotta go before the pigs all show
This is New York City, where the kids rule the streets
New York City 's where we wanna be
We always find a show where we can cause trouble
With trendy college kids and Neanderthal bouncers
On the city streets, that 's where we get our kicks
Even when it comes down to bottles and bricks
Waiting for the weekend all week long
Waiting for your worries and stress to be gone
There 's always someone out to ruin your fun
Like the boys in blue and the hoods with guns
CHORUS
When they know we 're coming the shows are over-priced
The beers they serve are piss cup size
Record stores in the Village are just the same
They won 't carry our music unless it 's priced insane
In a city so big, in a city so diverse
Everybody here wants a big fat purse
We 'll still have fun, we 'll still have our beer
As you come and go, we 'll still be here
CHORUS
The Templars's song New York is a powerful and evocative tribute to the rebellious, free-spirited youth of New York City. The song paints a vivid picture of the urban landscape, highlighting the diverse sights and sounds of the city with a particular focus on the vibrant youth culture that thrives there. The first verse takes us on a journey through Washington Square, past the drug dealers and counterculture figures that populate the area, and down to Bleeker Bob's - a legendary record store and youth hangout - where the gang all meets. As the song progresses, we are taken from trendy shops on Broadway to the Bowery, where the group hangs out in front of C.B.'s and drinks beer while hassling those who stare. When the police arrive, they know they've got to move on quickly, before getting caught up in anything more serious.
The chorus of the song is a defiant statement of youth power, claiming that "this is New York City, where the kids rule the streets" and that they always find a show where they can cause trouble with trendy college kids and Neanderthal bouncers. The second verse continues in this vein, discussing the joys of getting kicks on the city streets and waiting for the weekend to blow off steam. Despite the challenges posed by authority figures and record stores that won't carry their music, the group remains determined to have fun and enjoy their freedom, no matter what.
Overall, New York is a powerful evocation of the chaotic energy and rebellious spirit of youth culture in one of the world's most vibrant and dynamic cities. It celebrates the freedom and excitement of being young and alive in a place where anything is possible, even as it acknowledges the struggles and obstacles that youth face in a complex and challenging world.
Line by Line Meaning
Through Washington Square, past the pushers and freaks
We navigate through Washington Square, encountering drug dealers and unusual people along the way.
Down to Bleeker Bob's, where the gang all meets
We head over to Bleeker Bob's, where our crew gathers.
Passed the trendy shops on Broadway
We walk by the fashionable stores on Broadway.
We make our to the Bowery
We arrive at the Bowery.
Hang out in front of C.B.'s and drink a few beers
We spend time in front of C.B.'s while drinking beer.
And hassle those who've got the nerve to stare
We bother anyone who looks at us for too long.
A few bottles thrown and everybody knows
After throwing a couple of bottles, everyone is aware of our presence.
That we've gotta go before the pigs all show
We need to leave before the police arrive.
This is New York City, where the kids rule the streets
New York is a city where young people dominate the urban landscape.
New York City's where we wanna be
We want to be in NYC and enjoy ourselves.
We always find a show where we can cause trouble
We look for concerts where we can disrupt things.
With trendy college kids and Neanderthal bouncers
The events we attend are attended by sophisticated university students and intimidating security personnel.
On the city streets, that's where we get our kicks
The city is where we have fun and find excitement.
Even when it comes down to bottles and bricks
Even when we have to resort to using bottles and bricks.
Waiting for the weekend all week long
We anticipate the weekend all week.
Waiting for your worries and stress to be gone
We look forward to forgetting about our problems and stress during the weekend.
There's always someone out to ruin your fun
There's always someone who wants to spoil our fun.
Like the boys in blue and the hoods with guns
The police and gangsters are the culprits who disrupt our enjoyment.
When they know we're coming the shows are over-priced
When the promoters know about us, they raise the ticket prices.
The beers they serve are piss cup size
The servings of beer they offer are tiny.
Record stores in the Village are just the same
The record stores in Greenwich Village are no different.
They won't carry our music unless it's priced insane
The stores won't sell our music unless we set absurd prices.
In a city so big, in a city so diverse
New York is an enormous and varied city.
Everybody here wants a big fat purse
Everyone in NYC is obsessed with money.
We'll still have fun, we'll still have our beer
Nevertheless, we will continue to have a great time and drink beer.
As you come and go, we'll still be here
Even as people come and go, we will continue to be present in the city.
Contributed by Colton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.