When I Was A Burner Boy

by Al Hovden

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about

I recently came across this poster for a gig that my band The Burner Boys did at the Pender Auditorium sometime in 1970-71. It was a benefit for the Women's Liberation Front. They put a lot of benefits on in those days and we were frequently called upon to play. That is until we were attacked onstage by that very group one night. I guess they were sober enough to finally catch wind of our lyrics. But that's another story.

I just finished recording and mixing the theme song for our up and coming movie The Burner Boys and thought the poster represented the spirit of the band and those times well. I always thought that if the Monkees could have a theme song why not The Burner Boys?

lyrics

When I was a Burner Boy
When I was a Burner Boy

Hey hey we're the Burner Boys
And we’ve got some songs to play
You say we’re just making noise
But we’ve got something to say
We made it across the nation
On one occasion at least
We played the Be-In and made the news
One night on CBC TV

When I was a Burner Boy

Our van says we're shot from guns
And we've run from one or two
And our job keeps us unemployed
Bringing out the boy in you
A fight each night when we grew our hair
Now we’re up there in lights
On the marquee of the Big O
Nine to two on Friday nights

When I was a Burner Boy
When I was a Burner Boy

And when I’m old
And all the songs we played grow cold
I’ll be glad I was a Burner Boy
I’ll always be a Burner Boy

We’ll guarantee to offend you
But in the end you will be
A fan of the the Burner Boys
Drop on by the “O” and see

When I was a Burner Boy
When I was a Burner Boy

credits

released November 6, 2023
Vocals, guitars: Al Hovden
Drums/Bass: David "Dibs" Shackney - EngineRoom Audio, New York
Mix: Ben Kaplan - Fader Mountain Sound, Vancouver (formerly Little Mountain Sound)

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about

Al Hovden Vancouver, British Columbia

Written songs for Bruce Fairburn – producer of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Yes and more; songs published by Bruce Allen (manager of Bryan Adams, Michael Buble and Diana Krall) and produced material for many other Canadian artists and publishers. Also wrote songs for two albums by Terry Jacks (famous for the #1 international hit Season’s In The Sun). This year placed a song in a US TV show TBA. ... more

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