 Catholic Boy (1980) [ larger cover art ] |
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Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and just died
G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
Two more friends that died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
Herbie pushed Tony from the Boys' Club roof
Tony thought that his rage was just some goof
But Herbie sure gave Tony some bitchen proof
"Hey," Herbie said, "Tony, can you fly?"
But Tony couldn't fly, Tony died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
Brian got busted on a narco rap
He beat the rap by rattin' on some bikers
He said, "Hey, I know it's dangerous, but it sure beats Riker's"
But the next day he got offed by the very same bikers
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
I miss 'em -- they died.
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, they just died
Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
This song is for you, my brother.
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
| bindi (North Carolina) | Posted: Aug 15, 2010 - 08:28 man, it was dangerous to know this guy! |
| k_trout (Dream State) | Posted: Aug 15, 2010 - 08:26 rp1125 wrote: let's get over the dead thing, bill., yeah, let's get real! |
| djblitz (Boston, MA) | Posted: Jul 14, 2010 - 10:53 Now a 10 because Jim is dead and the song is that much more important in the landscape of pop music and culture. :)) |
| sandpebble (near Paradise) | Posted: Jul 14, 2010 - 10:51 Crank it up! So nice when followed by Day and Night |
| Dave_Mack (Five bus, Jive bus!) | Posted: Jul 14, 2010 - 10:51 Now all we need is "88 Lines About 44 Women" by the Nails. |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: May 11, 2010 - 20:16 rp1125 wrote: apparently, here comes another one what's the alternative? |
| rp1125 | Posted: Mar 09, 2010 - 11:51 robco1 wrote: That's easier said than done, my friend.... apparently, here comes another one |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Mar 09, 2010 - 11:50 rp1125 wrote: let's get over the dead thing, bill., That's easier said than done, my friend.... |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Mar 09, 2010 - 11:49 Brings back memories, that's for sure. |
| rp1125 | Posted: Mar 09, 2010 - 11:47 let's get over the dead thing, bill., |
| steeler (Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 13:23 rednred wrote: I scrolled way down and was glad to finally see someone knew who Jim Carroll was beyond this song. His book "Basketball Diaries" was highly praised when it was first released and Leonardo DiCaprio did a great job playing him in the film. I saw The Jim Carroll Band perform live in San Francisco during the height of the punk movement when this album was first released and they put on a great show. Oh, I knew about it. I read it when it first came out, years ago. And I bought this album (yes, album) when it first came out. Knowing the history of Mr. Carroll provides quite a bit of legitimacy — and poignancy — to this particular song. |
| rednred | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:59 I scrolled way down and was glad to finally see someone knew who Jim Carroll was beyond this song. His book "Basketball Diaries" was highly praised when it was first released and Leonardo DiCaprio did a great job playing him in the film. I saw The Jim Carroll Band perform live in San Francisco during the height of the punk movement when this album was first released and they put on a great show. |
| bronorb (Wisconsin) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:59 Somehow I missed that Jim died. Very sorry to hear it. |
| chelseagirl (the moon) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:55 love. jim. carroll. |
| Eveland (Middle of the Pacific) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:55 Not one that I like at all  |
| michaelc (Walnut Creek, CA) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:55 So upbeat
but you can dance to it |
| coyote620 (Richmond, VA) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:54 This is just a flat out rock solid song. |
| thewiseking (New York, New York) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:54 still sounds good to me |
| steeler (Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:53 Yeah, it's rough and repetitive, but, somehow, this one epitomizes the undercurrents of rock. And urban life. Plus, I love the cover. |
| evansdad (CT) | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:52 Sorry — just sounds too depressing...  |
| firefly6 | Posted: Jan 05, 2010 - 12:51 NeilBlanchard wrote: Somehow, I guessed that this song would follow the Butthole Surfers "Pepper" — the latter's lyrics sound like they are lifted from this song... Neil agreed |
| JonnyNismo (San Francisco) | Posted: Dec 05, 2009 - 15:38 R.I.P. Jim |
| NeilBlanchard (Greater Boston area, Massachusetts) | Posted: Dec 05, 2009 - 04:14 Somehow, I guessed that this song would follow the Butthole Surfers "Pepper" — the latter's lyrics sound like they are lifted from this song... Neil |
| crockydile (I miss Excelsior!) | Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 12:39 Todd drove his bike into overpass. He didn't mean to do it, just goin' too fast. He was my friend, and he died. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet this is not my home) | Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 12:38 So done with this song....this song needs to die! |
| Hippostar (Portland, OR) | Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 12:38 Haven't we had enough of the "Two stupid lines about random people"-type songs? |
| Decoy (Milliway's, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe) | Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 12:38 macadavy wrote: "I talked to God earlier today, and "s/he" said "s/he" liked this song a lot. "His/Her" favorite sense of humor is irony, and situational comedy. "S/He" also said nothing beats a good fart joke." See the majestic platypus:  |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver BC, Bud) | Posted: Oct 03, 2009 - 10:50 Jared wrote: Throw his name on the list now. Yes; R.I.P. Jim. |
| Jared (South Central...MA) | Posted: Sep 14, 2009 - 21:44 Throw his name on the list now. |
| tovarisch (Calgary) | Posted: Sep 01, 2009 - 19:25 jmsmy wrote: Bill - Great follow up after the BHS- Pepper Absolutely in agreement, two of my old-time-guilty-pleasure songs. Thanks Bill. |
| jmsmy (Music Town, Klein, Texas) | Posted: Sep 01, 2009 - 17:28 Bill - Great follow up after the BHS- Pepper |
| cirruss (Curacao, Netherlands Antilles) | Posted: Sep 01, 2009 - 17:24 YEAH!!! ROCK ON!!!  |
| Misterfixit (Nashville) | Posted: Sep 01, 2009 - 17:23 Poor Tony ... |
| Jamunca (Asheville, NC) | Posted: Sep 01, 2009 - 17:22 "Die! Die! Die! ...I can't" |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jun 30, 2009 - 10:41 This song just gets more and more profound as the years go by... |
| casey1024 (Still Hanging On...) | Posted: Jun 30, 2009 - 10:41 Walt, Craig, Debbie, Terry, Phyllis, Claudia, Mari, Patty they were all my friends and they died. I miss them all. |
| macadavy (Cascadia's attic, eh?) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 17:29 manbirdexperiment wrote: Biliously vile green & yellow image removed for upchuck prevention purposes... "I talked to God earlier today, and "s/he" said "s/he" liked this song a lot. "His/Her" favorite sense of humor is irony, and situational comedy. "S/He" also said nothing beats a good fart joke." H/T to GChevy410 from the Emerald City. Bill, please see to it this failed experimental 'mbe' pterodactyl trolls no more.  |
| Aural_not_Oral (End of the Oregon Trail) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 15:53 This whole album / cd is good. Great guitar. The lyrics are a bit harsh but so is life at times. If you can't handle this song, you probably won't like It's Too Late off this same offering. It was also played on some offbeat ( dare I say eclectic?) radio stations at the time. The first line "It's too late, to fall in love with Sharon Tate" would probably have all the hate flowing right up front and you wouldn't even hear the really cool bass line. but then, the next line, "and it's too soon, to ask for the words someone carved on my tomb." brings it back and is a pretty cheery thought. Ya know ? Hey, I'm still alive. Cheers.  |
| startatZ (florida) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 15:46 arcas2000 wrote: Mindlessly repetitious and very dated. For a minute I thought I was hearing something from the Rocky Horror soundtrack. A solid 3. Older songs are always so dated.... as opposed to songs from the future. I heard the back-up band was the guys from Blue Oyster Cult. Wish someone would upload "It's too late" |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 15:33 anniebear wrote: I hate it because it has an ugly sound to it and the lyrics are just horrible. If that guy really had that many people die on him (especially at such young ages! 12 year old girl od'ing?) I doubt seriously he would make such a "pop" song about it. It just is extremely disrespectful and horrid. Besides, God does not like it either so there. Hmm, you need to get out more often. The song is an inside joke reference to his book, "The Basketball Diaries." From Wikipedia: "The Basketball Diaries is a 1978 memoir written by author and musician Jim Carroll. It is an edited collection of the diaries he kept between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Set in New York City, they detail his daily life, sexual experiences, high school basketball career, Cold War paranoia, the counter-culture movement, and, especially, his addiction to heroin, which began when he was 13." |
| GChevy410 (Seattle, WA) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 15:31 I talked to God earlier today, and "he" said "he" liked this song a lot. His favorite sense of humor is irony, and situational comedy. "He" also said nothing beats a good fart joke. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: May 29, 2009 - 15:31 catsoup wrote: I'd be more interested in listening to death metal if it was more like this. Most death metal guys didn't have a childhood like he did. |
| anniebear (chapel hill, nc) | Posted: Apr 14, 2009 - 09:07 FrankMc wrote: musically, philosophically, ethically? simply hating something seems a little vague. anniebear wrote: I really hate this song. I hate it because it has an ugly sound to it and the lyrics are just horrible. If that guy really had that many people die on him (especially at such young ages! 12 year old girl od'ing?) I doubt seriously he would make such a "pop" song about it. It just is extremely disrespectful and horrid. Besides, God does not like it either so there. |
| FrankMc | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 12:31 oh, if I'd realized God hated this song (for whatever reason) I would never have asked AnnieBear what her reasons were. Glad to get this straightened out. The Big Guy don't like it. manbirdexperiment wrote:  |
| DrCyKosis (~Galveston~) | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:36 anniebear wrote: I really hate this song. I really love this song. |
| Manbird (Santa Rosa, CA) | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:35 |
| FrankMc | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:34 musically, philosophically, ethically? simply hating something seems a little vague. anniebear wrote: I really hate this song. |
| RadioDoc (Chicagoland) | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:32 Mandible wrote: Is this the same guy who's the author Jim Carroll who wrote basketball diaries? Yup.edit: LOL...well I guess that answers that question...  |
| anniebear (chapel hill, nc) | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:31 I really hate this song. |
| FrankMc | Posted: Mar 27, 2009 - 10:30 Amazing. We were just talking about this song last weekend while out in howling gale in a sailboat race. The age range was from late 20s to perilously close to 60, and we were all doing a little "died, died" chant thing while hanging on for dear life. Great song in its own bizarre way. |