‘Xemx’, one of Malta’s most iconic songs by Gozitan band The Tramps, is actually about heroin, a surviving member of the band has confirmed.
The timeless ballad, released in 1975 and since covered by countless wholesome Maltese bands, contains lyrics such as ‘Lilek inħobbok, bil-wisq mhux ftit’ and ‘Fin-niket u fl-hena niftakar fik, għax inti tfarraġni. Nistabar bik’. Over the years, many have wondered whether the song has a double meaning.
“A lot of people think the lyrics of ‘Xemx’ refer to a love interest. Other people think we’re stupid and that the song is literally about the sun. But it’s actually neither of those – the song is about heroin,” band member Joe Cassar told Bis-Serjetà.
“And just to avoid any further confusion, not heroin as in ‘a female hero’, but the class A drug – smack, junk, brown sugar, black tar, Mexican mud. The stuff that fucks you up.”
When asked if the band ever shot up themselves, Cassar was evasive.
“Listen, you know how we’re all desperate for the tunnel because there’s bugger-all to do in Gozo? Well, imagine what it was like in the 70s. No internet, no TV, nothing.
“So you could either spend your day chasing chickens, or you could make life a bit more interesting and chase the magic dragon instead. Incidentally, chickens are genuinely terrifying when you’re on drugs. They’re basically dinosaurs.”
Cassar also confirmed that The Tramps’ other well-known song, ‘Inti Djamant’, is about crack cocaine.
“I mean, ‘Għawdex int biss toffrili s-serħan’. You know, Gozo – a rock. As in rock candy, as in crack. We thought it was obvious, to be honest.”
