the boys are back in town

Thin Lizzy · 1976

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    Verse 1
Guess who just got back today
Them (1)-eyed boys that had been away
Haven't changed, had much to say
But man, I still think them cats are (2)
They were askin' if you were (3)
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were livin' (4)
Drivin' all the old men crazy

Chorus
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
I said, the boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town

Verse 2
You know that chick that used to (5) a lot
Every night, she'd be on the floor, shakin' what she'd got
Man, when I tell you she was cool, she was red (6)
I mean, she was steamin'
And that time over at Johnny's place
Well, this chick got up and she (7) Johnny's face
Man, we just fell about the (8)
If that chick don't want to know, forget her

[Chorus]

Bridge
Spread the word around
Guess who's back in town?
You spread the word around

Verse 3
Friday night, they'll be (9) to kill
Down at Dino's Bar 'n' Grill
The drink will (10) and blood will (11)
And if the boys want to fight, you better let 'em
That jukebox in the (12) blastin' out my favorite song
The nights are getting (13), it won't be long
Won't be long 'til the summer comes
Now that the boys are here again

[Chorus]

Outro
(The boys are back, the boys are back)
The boys are back in town again
Been (14) down at Dino's
The boys are back in town again
  

The Boys Are Back in Town

Thin Lizzy · 1976

ClassPlan.ai

Song Worksheets

Definition Match

Match each word (1-6) to its correct definition (A-F). Write the letter on the line.

1. wild

2. slapped

3. steamin

4. blastin

5. spill

6. hangin

A. extremely attractive and exciting

B. hit someone with the palm of your hand

C. spending time relaxing in a place

D. playing music very loudly

E. uncontrolled and crazy in behavior

F. flow out of a container, often violently

Song Diary Entry

Imagine you are the singer of this song. Write a diary entry (50-80 words) about the night the boys returned to town. Include your feelings and what happened.

Think about: How did you feel when you first saw them? What was the atmosphere like? What specific memories came back?

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵This song was written about Phil Lynott's friends from Manchester who would visit Dublin and cause chaos in the local bars.
⭐The song reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
🎸Dino's Bar and Grill was a real place that Phil Lynott frequented, though it was actually called the Clifton Grill in Dublin.
📀The guitar solo was played by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson using Gibson Les Paul guitars through Marshall amplifiers.
🎤The song has been covered by numerous artists and remains one of the most recognizable rock anthems about friendship and nostalgia.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1What makes a group of friends special enough to 'bring back' energy to a place?
2How does the song portray small-town life and the impact of certain personalities?

3Do you have friends whose return would create excitement in your community?
4Is nostalgia for 'the good old days' always positive, or can it prevent growth?

🎨 Play It! — Draw It!

Student comes to the board and draws — no letters, words, or numbers. They must draw the song title or artist name. Class guesses. Set a 60-second timer for each turn.