Men
Townes Van Zandt/Guy Clark Lyrics
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Is the size of their feet and the price of their toys
Always horsin' around makin' too much noise
Ain't it funny how men will be boys
Kickin' tires round the pick-up truck
Drinkin' beer and just cuttin' up
Smokin' and jokin' out behind the shed
[Chorus: x2]
Sneakin' out of the house tryin' to have a little fun
Lookin' for somthin' that he ain't done
Look what the cat dragged in at the break of dawn
He ain't passed out he's campin' on the lawn
You can spend a lifetime growin' up
You can spend a lifetime in a rut
When it comes a time you got to make a choice
Most men would just as soon be boys
[Chorus]
The song "Men" by Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark is a humorous take on the immaturity of men. The lyrics describe how there's not much difference between men and boys, except the size of their feet and the price of their toys. Men are always horsing around, making too much noise and acting like boys. The song paints a picture of men being unable to resist their childish impulses, even as they grow older.
The first verse of the song talks about men kicking tires around the pick-up truck, drinking beer and smoking, and joking around behind the shed. They're always cussing a blue streak until the girls turn red. The chorus talks about how men sneak out of the house to have a little fun, looking for something that they haven't done yet. The second verse talks about how some men spend their entire lives growing up, while others remain stuck in a rut. But when it comes down to it, most men would just as soon be boys.
The song's catchy tune and playful lyrics have made it a favorite among country music fans. Despite its humorous take on men's immaturity, it also captures a certain truth about human nature. We all have a bit of the boy or girl within us, and we all long for the carefree days of childhood.
Line by Line Meaning
The only difference between men and boys
The distinction between men and boys is limited to the size of their feet and the expense of their possessions.
Is the size of their feet and the price of their toys
Only the dimensions of feet and cost of acquisitions in the possession of men differ from those of boys.
Always horsin' around makin' too much noise
Men are always enjoying themselves by being rowdy and creating noise.
Ain't it funny how men will be boys
It's amusing to observe that men tend to have similar characteristics as boys.
Kickin' tires round the pick-up truck
Engaging in idle talk and purposeless activities around the truck.
Drinkin' beer and just cuttin' up
Drinking alcoholic beverages and acting frivolously.
Smokin' and jokin' out behind the shed
Smoking cigarettes and telling jokes while hidden behind the shed.
Cussin' a blue streak till the girls turn red
Swearing profusely until the females nearby become embarrassed.
[Chorus: x2]
Repeating the following verse twice.
Sneakin' out of the house tryin' to have a little fun
Leaving the house surreptitiously in the pursuit of entertainment.
Lookin' for somthin' that he ain't done
Searching for something new and untouched.
Look what the cat dragged in at the break of dawn
Observed at the dawn of the day, the person who was brought back home in this condition.
He ain't passed out he's campin' on the lawn
He is not unconscious, he is merely camping on the grass.
You can spend a lifetime growin' up
It is possible to invest one's entire existence maturing and developing.
You can spend a lifetime in a rut
It is also possible to persist for a lifetime in an unchanging, unproductive pattern.
When it comes a time you got to make a choice
At a particular moment, you have to select your path in life.
Most men would just as soon be boys
Most men desire to revert to their youthful character and mannerisms.
[Chorus]
Repeating the previously stated verse.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GUY CLARK, VERLON THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Pietrs
At 61 you don't count on discovering anything new anymore. This was a pleasant surprise. It's early Christmas morning and I'm laying on the couch with my two little dogs. It's five below and the space heater is whining to keep down the chill. The kids are all grown and gone. And I just finished listening to these cowboys sing about horses and food and love and life for the very first time. Sort of renewed my faith in Santa Clause. Thanks, Guy and Townes for the present. I'm feeling good again. Merry Christmas!
marc rudick
Michael, it all happened to me at 71.I missed these guys due to my love for Dylan and the Beatles.I LOVE these guys-- all or them. My motto for 7 months{ seems like 7 years and/or 7 days} is" To Live is To Fly ". Townes,Guy, and Steve will be important to me forever..Tnx, SW
Rick Hewitt
i was lucky enough to be introduced to guy when old no 1 was released... saw him a couple of times solo in the late 70s and early 80s.. somehow i managed to miss hearing tvz until long after he died... once that happened , i couldn't get enough... that onslaught of buying tvz also led me to get caught back up with guy and i got 4 or 5 of his latest releases... one thing i know....one can never get enough of the mastery of the written word provided by the genius of these two men
Melissa
Im here a year later, same reaction ❤ thinking about getting a dog and naming them Codeine
We Are Miles From Nowhere
I had the amazing good fortune to meet and hang with both of these amazing men back in 89. Townes had just come out of rehab. They were playing together in coffee shops and the like from LA to SF. I didn't know who either one of them were at first. My brother opened for them on this three week jaunt. I took care of the sound. Wow, just wow. Guy was super tall. I had a digital audio tape recorder on loan from SONY and had those recordings for years. Townes was pretty fried then and again when I met up with him later in NYC. The depth that both of these humans had to reach to write their prose is fucking scary at times but appreciated just the same. They changed my life profoundly. Peace!
Steve Boyd
Their music doesn't make me sad. It makes me feel deeply.
Simple and profound
Mister Sunshine
Town Van Zandt was a truly lovely charismatic gentle soul, far too gentle for this world of ours, let’s pray for him and always remember this gentle soul, whose soul shun with humility. A true song writer and artists. Thank you so very much for sharing your audio.
bobby stalter
Two of the Greatest songwriters and
performers of American music 🎵
Ghost of Ben Gant
Very cool to come across this performance. I saw Townes & Guy on this same tour at Fitzgerald's in Houston. A very young Robert Earl Keen, Jr. opened for both of them. To be honest, I was there to see Robert Earl and these two were just a bonus. And a great bonus it was. Here's a few off-the-wall memories. 1) Guy kept asking the sound man to crank up his vocal mike. "Take it all the way to feedback then back it off just a touch". Likely the hottest microphone ever. 2) Townes told a hilarious joke. I can't remember the set up. Just the punchline. "Uncle Ben's perverted rice." 3) Guy told the grapefruit tree story in his Houston show as well.
Jackson Drew
Townes seemed so happy playing with Clark. As much as I enjoy his deep dark lyrics it’s so nice to hear him enjoy himself.