The Meaning Behind The Song: “Timothy” by The Buoys
The Buoys, a rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, had their biggest hit in 1971 with the song “Timothy.” The song, written by Rupert Holmes and released as a single from their second album, featured dark, ominous lyrics that left listeners puzzled and disturbed. Decades later, the true meaning of the song was revealed and it became a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and desperation.
The Lyrics
At first listen, the lyrics to “Timothy” are confusing and uneasy. The opening lines, “Trapped in a mine that had caved in / And everyone knows the only ones left / Were Joe and me and Timothy,” set the scene of a horrific accident where three men are trapped underground. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that there is something more sinister going on.
The chorus, “Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go? / Timothy, Timothy, God why don’t I know,” suggests that Timothy has disappeared, leading to speculation that he was eaten by the other two men. The final verse, “I swear we were leaving / In just a minute more, out of the door / Then Timothy, God, why did you go?” confirms this macabre interpretation.
The Meaning
As it turns out, the true story behind “Timothy” is even more disturbing. In an interview with NPR, Holmes revealed that the song was inspired by the famous 1949 Donner Party tragedy, where a group of pioneers traveling to California became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a harsh winter. The survivors resorted to cannibalism in order to stay alive.
Holmes, who was a history major in college, had read about the Donner Party in a book and was struck by the desperation and brutal nature of the story. He wrote “Timothy” as a loosely-based fictionalized account of the tragedy, but made the decision to keep the cannibalism implied rather than explicit.
The Impact
Despite the controversial subject matter, “Timothy” became a hit, reaching #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Buoys performed the song on various TV programs, including “American Bandstand,” and it became a staple on classic rock radio.
Over the years, the true meaning of the song was largely forgotten, and it became a footnote in rock history. However, in 2000, the song was featured in an episode of the cartoon “South Park,” where the character Cartman performs a parody of the song with lyrics about eating a boy named Kenny. This brought renewed attention to the original song and prompted Holmes to reveal the true story behind it.
Today, “Timothy” is seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and desperation. The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including The Killers, who included it as a B-side to their hit single “Somebody Told Me.”
The Legacy
“Timothy” may have been a one-hit wonder for The Buoys, but the song has had a lasting impact on popular culture. Its dark, creepy lyrics have inspired countless discussions and interpretations, and its connection to the Donner Party tragedy has made it a historical artifact of sorts.
For Holmes, “Timothy” is his most famous song, but he is grateful for all of the success it brought him. In an interview with The New York Times, he said, “I’m happy to have had a hit with a song that was so unusual and that still gets played today. People still talk about it and ask me about it. It’s a good feeling to have been part of something that has lasted.”
In conclusion, the true meaning behind “Timothy” may be disturbing, but it is also a testament to the power of storytelling. The song’s legacy is a reminder that even the most unlikely of hits can have a lasting impact on popular culture.
