The Barbarians formed in 1964 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While their debut single, "Hey Little Bird" (on Joy Records) bombed, two of their next three singles (on Laurie) charted on Billboard, (with "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?" peaking at #55) and also made the Cash Box charts.
They received their biggest break when featured on The T.A.M.I. Show (performing "Hey Little Bird") alongside other artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Lesley Gore, Chuck Berry, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye.
As their name implies, their image relied heavily on looking barbaric. They wore leather sandals and grew their hair longer than most of their contemporaries. One-armed drummer Victor "Moulty" Moulton had a prosthetic claw on his left arm. He had lost part of his left arm in an explosion at the age of 14. Moulty was able to play drums using the prosthesis to hold a drum stick. Their minor hit "Moulty" was a humorous and melodramatic autobiographical song chronicling the drummer's life and the loss of his hand. The Barbarians disbanded in 1966.
The Ramones' song Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? includes Moulty in its list of rock 'n' roll figures and institutions.
2) Streetpunk band from Barberà del Vallés, Catalonia
Moulty
The Barbarians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember the days when
Things were real bad for me
It was right after my accident
When I lost my hand
With nobody to help me
You know, I almost gave up
All my hopes and dreams
But then, then, then something
Inside me kept telling me
Way down inside of me
Over and over again
To keep going on, yeah, on
Moulty
Don't turn away
(You're gonna make it, baby)
Don't turn away
(Ah, try to make it, baby)
Don't turn away
Things are better for me now
Cause I found that I love music
So I learned to play the drums
And got myself a band and now
We're starting to make it
And if you can make it
At something you love
Wow, you got it all
So I'm saying this to all of you
All of you who think you'll never make it
All of you guys and girls
Thank you for using Top40db.com.
Cause you think you're so bad off
Or maybe you think you're
A little different or strange
So listen to me now
Cause I've lived through it all
Moulty
Don't turn away
(You gotta keep on trying)
Don't turn away
(Well, don't you give up, baby)
Don't turn away
Now there's just one thing that I need
Not sympathy and I don't want no pity
But a girl, a real girl
One that really loves me
And then I'll be the complete man
So I'm gonna tell you right now, listen
Don't turn away (you gotta, baby)
Don't turn away (you gotta keep on trying)
Don't turn away, don't turn away
The Barbarians' song "Moulty" is a motivational anthem telling the story of Moulty, the drummer of the band who lost his hand and gained hope and perseverance to succeed despite the setback. The lyrics describe the early days when things were real bad for Moulty after his accident when he lost his hand, and he was all alone with nobody to help him. It seemed like he almost gave up all his hopes and dreams, but then something inside him kept telling him to keep going on. The song takes a positive turn when Moulty finds that he loves music and learns to play the drums. He gets himself a band and starts making it. The song encourages listeners, who think they will never make it, who are bad off, different, or strange, to keep trying and not turn away.
The lyrics of "Moulty" highlight the importance of hope, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The song is an inspiring message to anyone who has faced adversity and is struggling to overcome it. It is a bold assertion of the power of music to lift the human spirit and transform lives. The Barbarians' "Moulty" is a tribute to the human spirit and, by extension, to the power of determination and courage.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the days when
The Barbarians lead singer remembers a time when things were not going well for him.
Things were real bad for me
The singer felt like things were really bad for him.
It was right after my accident
The hardships the singer was going through occurred after he had an accident.
When I lost my hand
The singer lost his hand in the accident.
It seemed like I was all alone
The singer felt like he was alone and had no one to turn to for help.
With nobody to help me
The singer had no one to help him.
You know, I almost gave up
The singer became so desperate that he almost gave up on his hopes and dreams.
All my hopes and dreams
The singer's hope and dreams drive him to overcome his difficulties.
But then, then, then something
Something inside the singer helped him keep on going.
Inside me kept telling me
The voice inside the singer helped him keep on going.
Way down inside of me
The voice was deep inside the singer's soul.
Over and over again
The voice continued to motivate the singer repeatedly.
To keep going on, yeah, on
The voice encouraged the singer to persevere through his hardships and never lose hope.
Moulty
Moulty is presumably the name of the singer's lost hand, recalling the trigger for his struggles.
Don't turn away
The singer is imploring his listeners not to give up on their dreams and passions.
(You're gonna make it, baby)
The singer is reassuring his listeners that they can achieve success.
(Ah, try to make it, baby)
The singer is urging his listeners to strive for success no matter what.
Things are better for me now
The singer's life has improved and he is in a better place now.
Cause I found that I love music
The singer discovered a love for music that helped him overcome his difficulties.
So I learned to play the drums
The singer learned a new skill - playing the drums - that helped him build his confidence and start anew.
And got myself a band and now
The singer assembled a band and is on the path to success.
We're starting to make it
The band is making progress in their quest for success.
And if you can make it
The singer is pointing out the power of determination and hard work in achieving success.
At something you love
One can achieve success by doing something they genuinely love and enjoy.
Wow, you got it all
The singer believes that one who has found success in doing something they love has achieved true happiness.
So I'm saying this to all of you
The singer is addressing his listeners directly with words of encouragement and advice.
All of you who think you'll never make it
The singer is speaking to those who doubt their ability to succeed in life.
All of you guys and girls
The singer is speaking to everyone, regardless of gender.
Cause you think you're so bad off
Those who are feeling down on themselves are being addressed here.
Or maybe you think you're
The singer is acknowledging the possibility that someone might not know what's causing their current situation of sadness or despair.
A little different or strange
The singer is referencing outsiders or those who are perceived as outsiders due to being unique or different.
So listen to me now
The singer is asking his listeners to pay attention to his message and advice.
Cause I've lived through it all
The singer has personal experience with going through hard times and came out it on the other side.
Now there's just one thing that I need
The singer is expressing that he has one desire that is not fulfilled yet.
Not sympathy and I don't want no pity
The singer doesn't want pity or sympathy for his past hardships.
But a girl, a real girl
The singer desires the companionship of a woman he truly loves.
One that really loves me
The singer is looking for a girl that loves him for who he is, without pitying him for his past.
And then I'll be the complete man
The singer feels that finding the right woman who loves him for who he is will make his life complete.
So I'm gonna tell you right now, listen
The singer is making a declaration and wants his listeners to pay attention.
Don't turn away (you gotta, baby)
The singer is repeating his plea for his listeners not to give up on their dreams.
Don't turn away (you gotta keep on trying)
The singer is urging his listeners to keep trying no matter how difficult it seems.
Don't turn away, don't turn away
The singer repeats a final time to entreat his listeners to never give up, but to continue pursuing their dreams with persistence and determination.
Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@strickly60s45
The Barbarians With "Moulty" As Their Drummer And Leader...I Did Not Know Until About 5 Years Ago. I Truly Dig "Are You A Boy Or A Girl" And "Hey Little Bird". Great Tunes. I Believe That "Moulty" Is Retired And Living In Cape Code...He'd Be Around 78 Years Old. Thank You.
@user-fl4px8ik1k
I was a waiter at the Mill Hill Club on Rte 28 outside of Hyannis during the summer of 1966. The Barbarians played at the Mill Hill Club several times that summer.
@flowingbrooke1
My brother and I were just reminiscing about dancing at the Surf ballroom, Nantasket, MA with the Barbarians....great memories!!
@markustunes
I just heard this song for the first time since 1966. I saw the Barbarians play that year at the Surf Club, Nantasket Beach!
@G8GT364CI
I used to play Uncle Sam's during the early 80's, was formerly The Surf Club, Nantasket Beach, Hull Ma.
@johns6362
Truly a classic with a little blue eyed soul
@zebipbamboom7767
So damn good. The choru.s just kills and I love Moulty's badass Boston accent. I hope he got that girl!
@mikeb3826
I had these guys on stage at one of my Saturday night dances at the old Roseland Ballroom in Taunton, MA back in 1966. They were quite a hit!
These Roseland dances had really big crowds every week for both local and well recognized acts all throughout the mid-sixties.
Using the "wall-to-wall music" concept, each dance had a featured "name" band on the main stage, a lesser known band on the smaller stage and a local startup group on a platform. No breaks in the music!
3 different bands each week.
It was fun to watch the startup groups grow into solid musicians.
@brentjosephjohnson1702
Damn, Mike B, sounds like a blast.
@lindacarrigan5896
So you knew the Colberts ?