The Tossers are a seven-piece Celtic Punk band from Chicago. They formed in… Read Full Bio ↴The Tossers are a seven-piece Celtic Punk band from Chicago. They formed in the early '90s (following in the wake of the Pogues) and have toured with Lost City Angels, Murphy's Law, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Dropkick Murphys, Lagwagon, and the Siderunners. Their most recent release, Agony (Victory Records) came out in March 2007. Lead singer/songwriter Tony Duggins also released a solo cd of acoustic numbers in early 2006.

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.

Get Back
The Tossers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

One bright mornin' I walked down the glen
and down the mountain side
Not bound to work in the clay no more,
to go where the day may bide
And down the boreen a cold wind rose, a ghost upon the breeze
To moan and kick up old angers and torments upon me

Get back you specters, back you shades that haunt me in my dreams

For I am bound to see a brand new lover

And off they ran as small birds sang at me within the trees
Under the sun and how I enjoyed my own continuity

It was luck and privilege that brought me here, and strength
That makes me stay and the song upon the breeze tells how kindness reciprocates

Overall Meaning

The Tossers's song Get Back is a reflective piece that describes a morning walk down the glen, where the singer is not obliged to work in the clay, but free to go wherever the day leads him. However, a cold wind blows down the boreen, and it brings with it old angers and torments, manifesting as specters that haunt him in his dreams. He implores them to leave him alone, as he is determined to embrace a new lover and move on with his life.

As he continues his walk, he is serenaded by small birds singing in the trees, and he revels in the beauty of the world around him. He feels lucky and privileged to be in the position he finds himself, and he draws strength from his situation. The song on the breeze tells him that kindness reciprocates, and this reinforces his resolve to leave behind the specters that have been troubling him.

Line by Line Meaning

One bright mornin' I walked down the glen
I took a walk on a beautiful morning through the glen

and down the mountain side
and walked down the side of the mountain

Not bound to work in the clay no more,
I'm no longer tied to working in the dirt

to go where the day may bide
free to go wherever the day takes me

And down the boreen a cold wind rose, a ghost upon the breeze
As I walked down the path, a cold wind picked up that felt like a ghostly presence

To moan and kick up old angers and torments upon me
bringing up past pains and hurts

Get back you specters, back you shades that haunt me in my dreams
I won't let my past haunt me anymore

For I am bound to see a brand new lover
I'm destined to find new love

And off they ran as small birds sang at me within the trees
The ghosts disappeared as birds sang among the trees

Under the sun and how I enjoyed my own continuity
I relished in the experience of feeling free under the sun

It was luck and privilege that brought me here, and strength
I'm grateful for the opportunities and the strength I've gained

That makes me stay and the song upon the breeze tells how kindness reciprocates
I choose to stay and the gentle breeze reminds me that kindness is returned in kind

Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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