They released their new CD/DVD 'Gloatin' and Snowboatin' on March 4. It was recorded live at their St. Patrick's Day show in 2006.
Emerald City
The Tossers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a bitter land of frost and snow
But's where my eyes did first behold
you in the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
hand to me my glass and spoon
my only delight is in being with you
well with pikes we dug out the Erie Canal
with the Chinamen we layed the railroad as well
on our west ward way to dwell
In the Emerald City
To southside stockyards southside steel
A city built on Irish will
who all came here with dreams to fill
in the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
hand to me my glass and spoon
my only delight is in being with you
again in the Emerald City
now everyone was wearing Green
down Western Avenue we were seen
and my friends they fill my memories
all along the way
well I kissed my girl and fell in love
in the front room of Christina's pub
and in my mind I walk her home
now and forever more
then you were born, born here to me
and you mean everything to me
and no matter what I'll always be
with you in the Emerald City
Chicago can be very cold
It's a bitter land of frost and snow
But's where my eyes did first behold
you in the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
hand to me my glass and spoon
my only delight is in being with you
again in the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
hand to me my glass and spoon
my only delight is in being with you
again in the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
hand to me my glass and spoon
my only delight is in being with you
again in the Emerald City
The Tossers' song Emerald City paints a picture of Chicago as a bitter, cold and frosty place. However, it's also the place where the singer fell in love and started a family. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about the time he first laid eyes on his love interest in the Emerald City. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia as the singer pleads with his lover to stay with him this afternoon, and they reminisce about the beauty and enchantment of the city that brought them together.
The song also touches on the history of Chicago, the city that's built on Irish will. It references how pikes were used to dig out the Erie Canal and how the Irish helped lay the railroad. The song gives a sense of pride as it celebrates the determination of the Irish immigrants to follow their dreams and build a new life in America.
Overall, The Tossers' Emerald City celebrates love, family, and the never-die spirit of immigrants and their children to leave their mark on their new home. The song serves as a fitting tribute to Chicago, a city that has a rich history and has been shaped by the hands of countless immigrants over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Chicago can be very cold
Chicago is known for its harsh weather conditions
It's a bitter land of frost and snow
The winters in Chicago can be extremely cold and unpleasant to deal with
But's where my eyes did first behold
The location where the singer first saw something/someone special to them was in Chicago
you in the Emerald City
Referring to the place where the artist met their loved one, which they call the Emerald City
Stay with me this afternoon
Asking the loved one to spend time with them
hand to me my glass and spoon
Asking the loved one to pass them a drink and utensil
my only delight is in being with you
The singer's greatest source of happiness comes from being with their loved one
again in the Emerald City
Repeating the desire to be with their loved one in the special place they met
well with pikes we dug out the Erie Canal
The hard work and determination of the people to build new transportation routes is being mentioned
with the Chinamen we layed the railroad as well
Acknowledging the contribution of Chinese immigrants in building the railroad system
on our west ward way to dwell
Moving westward towards new opportunities
In the Emerald City
Referencing the special place where the artist met their loved one
To southside stockyards southside steel
Chicago is a city that is built on its industries such as meatpacking and steel manufacturing
A city built on Irish will
Referring to the vast number of Irish immigrants who came to Chicago to build a better life for themselves
who all came here with dreams to fill
The immigrants came to Chicago with aspirations of achieving success and fulfilling their dreams
now everyone was wearing Green
A reference to St. Patrick's Day, where people wear green attire to celebrate Irish culture
down Western Avenue we were seen
People were gathered and visible on Western Avenue during the holiday festivities
and my friends they fill my memories
The singer's memory of their friends is something they cherish
all along the way
Throughout the course of their life experiences
well I kissed my girl and fell in love
The moment the artist realized they were in love with their partner
in the front room of Christina's pub
The specific location where the artist realized their love for their partner
and in my mind I walk her home
The artist reflects on their pleasant thoughts of being with their loved one
now and forever more
The singer wants to be with their loved one for eternity
then you were born, born here to me
The artist is talking to their child, who was born in Chicago
and you mean everything to me
The child is the most important thing in the singer's life
and no matter what I'll always be
The singer will always be there for their child
with you in the Emerald City
The special place where the singer met their partner and where their child was born
Stay with me this afternoon
Asking their loved one to continue to spend time with them
hand to me my glass and spoon
Asking their loved one to pass them a drink and utensil
my only delight is in being with you
The singer's greatest source of happiness comes from being with their loved one
again in the Emerald City
Repeating the desire to be with their loved one in the special place they met
Stay with me this afternoon
Asking their loved one to continue to spend time with them
hand to me my glass and spoon
Asking their loved one to pass them a drink and utensil
my only delight is in being with you
The artist's greatest source of happiness comes from being with their loved one
again in the Emerald City
Repeating the desire to be with their loved one in the special place they met
Stay with me this afternoon
Asking their loved one to continue to spend time with them
hand to me my glass and spoon
Asking their loved one to pass them a drink and utensil
my only delight is in being with you
The singer's greatest source of happiness comes from being with their loved one
again in the Emerald City
Repeating the desire to be with their loved one in the special place they met
Contributed by Hudson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mitchell Wilson
By far the most consistent band in the folk/punk genre.
Back Roads Paranormal Research
Flogging molly is pretty consistent
theCOOP
Eyerish .B
consistently crap. Only ever listened to a few songs by them years ago. Tossers are second only to The Pogues within the genre, as far as I'm concerned. I like DKM, but they don't really come close.
Back Roads Paranormal Research
Flogging molly is awesome.
Robert Bryant Lock
Floggin' Who.....? XDD
Comparing Flogging Molly to Tossers is like comparing U2 to Horslips
yazz444
Agree. The Tossers have a similar sound and style as the Pogues. DKM have a harder, closer to true punk, style. I haven't listened to Flogging Molly.
James Mck
The Tossers did for me, what the Pogues did for others in the eighties. I appreciate it.
Soupcat
Well said, I feel like the Tosser's are carrying on the Pogues spirit with their music. Shane and Tony can write the hell out of some songs.
Dhuncan90
Hi
John L
Yes sir. T isnt as drunk as Shane though. I think booze made the legend.