Ya’ know, their turnin’ on
in the classroom
ain’t the point.
It’s when you’re missin’ out
teacher teach ya’ how to
roll a joint.
I’ve pulled the album out and I’ll type the liner notes on this song… Mighty Like A Rose:
“Remember Brown Eyed Girl? (It’s not here) Well it’s father, Mighty Like a Rose is one elegant slice of raunch and it’s here in spades. It’s a simmering summer song about a nympha and her sugar cubes. “
This song was not a B side… it was never released when the band was together. I first heard it when I bought an old import album called Them Featuring Van Morrison – Backtrackin’ that was released in 1974. I found it in a cutout bin in the mid 80s.
It has the sound of Brown Eyed Girl. Van Morrison has said that this was just a demo…not a finished song but it sounds really good. It does predate Brown Eyed Girl…after he left Them he recorded for Bert Burns and released Brown Eyed Girl.
Them was a very good sixties band. Some of their songs were Stones like…in many cases a little tougher and raunchier…and I mean that in a good way. Mighty Like A Rose is one of my favorite Them songs.
I doubt the song would have passed the censors back then…it probably would have been blacklisted immediately.
Mighty Like A Rose
You have drowned
a thousand sorrows
all in one,
and mixed with mugs, (?)
and millionaires
you have done.
Ya’ been and gone and done it
for a quid,
and just what you don’t know,
up there you got hid.
Lord, you’re only
fourteen summers
and God knows,
yeah, child,
you’re gettin’ mighty
like a rose.
You got pulled (?)
for tryin’ to straighten
up this town,
and looked bashful
bribin’ old, bent
Barrister Brown.
Ya’ know, their turnin’ on
in the classroom
ain’t the point.
It’s when you’re missin’ out
teacher teach ya’ how to
roll a joint.
Lord, hey,
while you’re down there
lookin’ up my nose,
yeah,
child you’re gettin’ mighty
like a rose.
Next time they try to fire me,
ya’ make the scene.
You’re gettin’ sugar cubes
for breakfast.
Ya’ know what I mean.
And the, the hazard old, (?)
the wind blows
through you’ ears.
Ya’ haven’t got enough
of those
what ya’
haven’t got for years.
Yeah, but never mind
steppin’ on my toes.
Yeah, child,
you’re gettin’ mighty
like a rose.
Yeah, hey, hey,
you’re mighty like a rose.
Uh-huh, aww, aww, aww, aww, aww, aww,
mmm-mm, mmm-mm, mmm-mm, mmm-mm…
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
I guess you feel like it would have been blacklisted because it seems like they are singing about a hooker, or is it that line about rolling a joint?
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No…the drug references in sugar cubes, the sex references and the infamous line…”14 Summers”….so she was 14.
Now he could have been 15 so that may not have made a difference.
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I never had any kids, but it is hard to try preventing them from having sex and as long as nobody gets pregnant or ends up with a STD, it is pretty much harmless, although I am not condoning it.
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Oh yea it is almost impossible. to stop.
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I’ve never heard this, but it’s very good.
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It’s like a warm up to Brown Eyed Girl. I couldn’t find much info on this song except Morrison wrote it. I think Backtrackin was the only album it appeared on until the new Them box set…it wasn’t on the popular 90s collection…everything but this. I think this was right before they broke up and he went to sign with Berns.
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I only know the two big songs, but this one was good.
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Didn’t know that tune – sounds cool. Them were really a great band. Some of their songs definitely are reminiscent of the Stones. I think their cover of Route 66 beats the Stones. I might listen to some Them tomorrow. For now, I guess I’m going to call it a night! 🙂
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They do have some good songs….Have a great night!
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Them really were a great band. While I’ve always dug “Gloria,” there’s much more to the picture than that great tune. Such as cool sound, almost like a blend of The Stones, The Animals and The Doors. And there’s Them’s version of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”, which has to be one of the greatest Dylan covers. Thanks again for reminding me of Them. It actually also triggered an idea for my next post, so stay tuned… 🙂
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Oh yea…that one is great.. their version of Baby Please Don’t Go is great also and Here Comes The Night…they were really good just not organized at all.
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I’ve never heard this song, but I like it. As for “Brown Eyed Girl”, I’m sick to death of it, and if I never had to ever hear it again, that would be a good thing.
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I didn’t hear Brown Eyed Girl until I turned 18 in 1985. How I avoided that song and heard about everything else is a mystery to me.
This one has that clean guitar and cool bass sound. Thanks for listening. This one is rare in their or any catalog.
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This is new.
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Fantastic choice Max. Love the stripped down sound of Them. The vocals are pretty good to.
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