Top singles from the past
17 April 2026
Heavy Irish rock heroes THIN LIZZY released their best selling and most
famous single THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN (more than 590 million
streams on Spotify) today 50 years ago, on 17 April 1976
There are many unconfirmed theories regarding the inspiration behind the lyrics.
One of them is that it is about a group of Manchester criminals collectively known
as the Quality Street Gang.
It featured on Jailbreak, their 6th LP.
It peaked at #2 in Irland, #8 in the UK and #12 in the US.
“Guess who just got back today?
Them wild-eyed boys that’d been away
Haven’t changed, had much to say
But man, I still think them cats are crazy
They were askin’ if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were livin’ downtown
Drivin’ all the old men crazy
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”
