Skammentary: A Jackknife to a Swan (2002) was The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' first album of the third millennium & their last before the band went on hiatus from 2003-2007. That was a very anxious time for ska: a bunch of third-wave bands had abandoned their sound after the "ska bubble" burst (the highpoint being the Summer of Ska, 1997) & many others had broken up or otherwise quit making music. The glimmer of hope was that The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were always clear that they were on hiatus, that unlike now the band had not broken up.
I will not pretend to understand all of the Boston references in "The Old School Off the Bright," but I like it anyway.
"Bring in the skins with the pins and the patches on their flights,
The rovers with the clovers who've spent far too many nights
Out with us till closing time, we hope we're not imposing on you,
Get the crew together—it's the old school off the Bright!
"Flush the boys out of Dot, we're gonna need them there,
And tell the trouble-makers that hang out in Harvard Square,
We need every able asshole, every asshole you can spare,
We're going off the Bright—invite them to this fine affair!
"Tell the Irish in Southie and the South End Puerto Ricans,
The North End Italians and the wind bags up on Beacon Hill,
There will be no tomorrow, it's going down tonight,
So get the crew together—it's the old school off the Bright!
"We want the punks, the drunks, the layabouts, the steady working Joes,
The white collars, the rednecks, and our blueblooded bros.,
The jocks, the preps, the stoners, the homeless, and homeowners,
Every loser, boozer, drug abuser, sharpie, and Two-Toner.
We'll take the Jills and bring on the Jacks
From Forrest Hills all the way to Father Mac's,
The rude girls and the rudies, don't fail, it's your duty, 'cause
Tonight will be the night!
So get the crew together—It's the old school off the Bright!
It's the old school off the Bright!
It's the old school off the Bright!
"Get the crew together—it's the old school off the Bright!"
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