Dirty Water Lyrics by the Standells

Released in November 1965

I'm gonna tell you a story

I wanna tell you about my town

I'm gonna tell you a big fat story, baby

Ah, it's all about my town

Yeah, down by the river

Down by the banks of the river Charles

Ah, that's what's happenin', baby

That's where you'll find me

Along with lovers, muggers, and thieves

Ah, but they're cool people

Well, I love that dirty water

Oh Boston, you're my home

Ah, you're the number one place

Frustrated women, I mean they're frustrated

Have to be in by twelve o'clock

Ah, that's a shame

But I'm a-wishin' and a-hopin', oh

That just once those doors weren't locked

I like to save time for my babe to walk around

Well, I love that dirty water

Oh Boston, you're my home, oh yeah

'Cause I love that dirty water

Oh Boston, you're my home, oh yeah

Dirty Water by the Standells is played at Fenway Park after each Red Sox victory, and at TD Garden after each Bruins win. Everyone knows the tune and some even know the lyrics. It is among the many idiosyncrasies that flavor the Boston area.

In a previous Weblog, some of the unique vocabulary of the region was highlighted, but some important words or expressions were left out, and, of course, pointed out to me.

So here to make up for my previous lack of thoroughness, is more insight into the language spoken by the descendants of the Pilgrims, Puritans and Wampanoags.

Note: 50+ years of efforts have cleaned up the river, but I still wouldn't swim in it.

Ajida: In the old North End and East Boston Italian-American neighborhoods, agida referred to heartburn or being mentally irritated. From the Italian word agitare which means to churn or agitate.

Bagged: This means 'caught' as in the Statie bagged that 'jerk who cut me off' or 'I'm glad that chowderhead who passed me going 100 miles per hour was bagged.' This can also apply to yourself, as in: "I was bagged coming home late.'

Barrel: Many people know this as a trash bin or trash can, but here it is universally referred to as a Trash Barrel. Anything smaller than a dumpster, is a trash barrel.

Booken It: When you leave in a hurry, you are booken it. When you run away you are booken it. When you are speeding on the Southeast Expressway (a rare occurrence) you are booken it. You can also book it, as well.

Dungarees: I never called them jeans, never mind blue jeans. They were, and quite frankly, still are dungarees. Sometimes there was a dungaree patch on the knee or knees to add an extra year to their life. Of course, this was before ripped jeans became the fashion.

Down Cellar: Sometimes referred to as down the cellar, and a cellar is a basement, but it is really a cellar. Particularly if it is dark and dingy, and small children are afraid to go down cellar alone.

Ice Box: Yes, it is true, people still call a refrigerator an ice box. Fewer and fewer, but everyone raised in New England knew what it was as soon as they read it. You know, there is ice in most of them, right?

Hahbah: A place with multiple islands and lots of water and sailboats. Some call it Boston Harbor, but the hahbah is more common.

No Suh: This has multiple meanings. It could me 'no f'in way' or 'not true' or even 'you are lying you son of a b*tch.' Flexible words.

Padhdee Platta: This is a large dish with assorted cold cuts or appetizers that make you wish you brought a large plastic bag to bag some of the items to bring home.

Pahlah: It was always a pahlah growing up, a living room was just not fancy enough. When I was very young, we had a child/pet gate at the entrance to our pahlah and could only go in there with permission. I think for a time we also had plastic fitted covers on the couches and chairs to prevent damage to the furnichah by kids.

Scorchah: This is a really, really hot summer day. "A real scorchah." I believe that technically the temperature and humidity combined must exceed 170 to qualify. (90 degrees and 80% humidity, for example.)

Space-saver: In congested parts of the area, after a winter storm, whoever shoveled the parking space on the street has irreversible rights to park there (until the next load of snow comes along or all the snow melts). Any large household object, like a barrel or a lawn chair, or of course, an old vacuum cleaner, can be used to preserve rights.

In Town: You never say 'I'm heading into Boston' you say 'I'm going in town.' Even though Boston is a city, you never say, 'I'm going into the city, unless you are a transplant from say, Wisconsin, and haven't learned the rules.

Whiffle: Growing up, most kids got a whiffle at the barbershop in the summer. Some call it a buzz cut, some call it a really short haircut. But whatever it was, was done without scissors. Just the clipper zooming back and forth over your head.

Wrecker:

This is commonly known as a tow truck, and while that phrase is used locally, it is more commonly known as a wrecker, because that's what it hauls off.

Yah, No: This is a complicated two word phrase. the 'yah' part means, 'I heard what you said and I'm being respectful by acknowledging your remarks and your right to say them.' The 'No' part means, 'you are very wrong' or 'no way that's happening' or any other total rejection of what you said.

Yabut: In my family, when asked a question about a minor wrongdoing or violation or poor grade or anything else where your behavior was less than perfect, you always started the sentence with Ya, but.. and then proceeded to qualify your answer.

• "Did you track mud into the kitchen?" Response: Ya, but there was no place to wipe my shoes.
• "Did you leave the milk out to spoil?" Response: Ya, but I thought Brian was going to use it.
• "Did you leave the back door open?" Response: Ya, but, I thought I closed it, maybe it needs to be fixed.

It was used so often, that my mother used to say: "Yabut doesn't live here anymore."

Click the Photo to go to Instagram to hear the song.