Musically, the group were influenced by trip-hop, ambient music, and French electronic groups such as Air. However, the lyrics to these lush and romantic melodies are frequently bleak, ironic or sarcastic.
Soul Boy
Black Box Recorder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm taking my time
Because he's so young
Because he's so shy
Play Pool all night.
I'm Grooming a soul boy
I'm leading him on
Obsessing him
Undress him with my eyes.
Top pocket, I'll try a trick shot
Let me see, How good you are
Side pocket, move out the way
This is how it goes.
I'm grooming a soul boy
I'm teaching him things
Because he's so young
Because he's so old
I'm letting him win.
Top pocket, The facts of life
I'll teach you all, you need to know
Side pocket
This is how it goes.
Black Box Recorder's song "Soul Boy" is a haunting, eerie tale of a woman who is "grooming" a young man in the ways of soul music. The lyrics paint a picture of a predator, slowly leading the boy on and obsessing over him, undressing him with her eyes. The repeated lines "Because he's so young" and "Because he's so shy" suggest that the boy is vulnerable and impressionable. The use of the verb "grooming" is particularly chilling, as it is often associated with child abuse or exploitation.
The imagery of the pool game ties in with the predatory theme, as the woman is essentially playing a game with the boy's emotions. The trick shots and the teaching of the "facts of life" (presumably about love and sex) further reinforce the idea of the woman exerting control over the boy. The repetition of the phrase "This is how it goes" at the end of each verse feels like a kind of warning, as if the woman is telling the boy that she is in charge and he has no choice but to go along with her.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm grooming a soul boy
I'm manipulating a young and vulnerable boy for my own desires
I'm taking my time
I'm being patient and methodical, slowly gaining the boy's trust
Because he's so young
The boy's naivety and innocence make him an easy target for my grooming
Because he's so shy
The boy's shyness implies he might have low self-esteem or lack of confidence, making him an easier target for my manipulation
Play Pool all night.
Spending long hours together in leisure activities builds familiarity and intimacy between us.
I'm leading him on
I'm deliberately causing him to believe I'm romantically or sexually interested in him
Possessing him
I'm taking control of his thoughts and behaviors to mold him according to my desires
Obsessing him
I'm causing him to become fixated on me, to the point where he can't think of anything else
Undress him with my eyes.
I'm imagining and fantasizing about him sexually
Top pocket, I'll try a trick shot
I'm implying I have knowledge or skill the boy does not possess and I'll use it for my amusement
Let me see, How good you are
I'm testing the boy's abilities and limitations by putting him in a vulnerable position
Side pocket, move out the way
I'm using competitive games to assert my dominance and power over him
This is how it goes.
My rules and expectations will always hold power over him
I'm teaching him things
I'm imparting knowledge and values that serve my interests
Because he's so old
Despite his age, the boy might be inexperienced or vulnerable due to other aspects in his life
I'm letting him win.
I'm selectively giving the boy positive feedback and rewards to manipulate him further
Top pocket, The facts of life
I'm teaching the boy about sexuality or other taboo topics, which he might not know yet
I'll teach you all, you need to know
I'm positioning myself as the sole authority on the subject matter, withholding information and distorting the truth for my manipulation purposes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MOORE, LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind