Jack Flash sat on a candlestick

Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry

The quartet practiced in the park

And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck

A massive clunk in the middle of a fabulous song. I shudder every time I hear it

James Dean

Vincent Van Gogh

Chevrolet

Helter Skelter, by the Beatles

"Who wrote the Book of Love?" Originally by the Monotones, covered by several other bands

First of all, "Them" is a pronoun, not a demonstrative adjective. So "Those" (which can be an adjective as well as a pronoun) should be used here instead of "Them". Also. "whiskey and rye" could be a grammatically faultless (if unlikely) reference if "rye" referred to the unprocessed grain rye or to rye meal. But when "rye" refers to a drink (as the context clearly indicates here), that drink is a type of whiskey. So when referring to drinks, "whiskey and rye" is like saying "colors and red". A more correct reference would be "whiskey including rye". But of course that would be hard-put to fit the song's meter, and arguably lyrically awkward even if it did fit metrically.

The song is about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper and the reaction to their passing. Here, he knows it's not the right time for a date.

The tune to this song are generally upbeat, and these two lines in particular are melodically rousing. Even the song title has possibly romantic imagery. But the song's overall message is entirely downbeat, and these two lines in particular are a desperate-sounding plea to be spared some unbearable situation.

"Lost In Space" TV show