In December 2007, David Byrne announced on the BBC Radio music show, The Weekender, that he was working Brian Eno on a brand new album of "proper songs", describing it as a "completely different thing" from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, which was mostly experimental. Eno had invited Byrne to finish some songs that he had written but that did not have lyrics, some of which were eight years old. The resulting album, Everything That Happens will Happen Today, was self-released on August 18, 2008 through the official album's website. No record label was involved, and it available for stream or download at EverythingThatHappens.com.
Poor Boy
Brian Eno & David Byrne Lyrics
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Friends face the future, they're wearing summer clothes
Great cosmic forces, like falling dominoes
I love talking funny, it's the only song I know
Sweet smart and sexy, the day my life began
Burnt out and damaged, I dragged my body home
This slice is runny, it's dripping down my clothes
Flies stick to honey, it's the only game they know
Poor Boy, I walk into the river in my hat and shoes
Poor Boy, I'm sitting at the table with a knife and spoon
Life fast die happy, don't let your panties show
They trust market forces, it's the only song they know
So come and rock my soul, where sin and sorry lie
White horses carry me, unto the other side
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where my thoughts are cold
Poor boy, I'm waiting for the harvest of the seeds I sow
A flower in the night, with thoughts of days gone by
I've got to ring that bell, and I'll be satisfied
Poor boy, I'm wearing silver slippers and a long white gown
Poor boy, I picture in my mind the day the walls come down
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where I'm never free
Poor boy, I'm writing down the names of all the things I see
The song "Poor Boy" by Brian Eno & David Byrne is a poetic commentary on life and societal structures. The song opens with the image of a truck parked outside a grocery store, and the lyrics immediately transition to a commentary on the changing seasons and the way people dress. The line "Great cosmic forces, like falling dominoes" suggests that the world is vast and complex, and that no one can fully understand it. The line "I love talking funny, it's the only song I know" suggests that the singer feels like an outsider or a misfit, and that humor is one way of coping with that feeling.
The tone of the song becomes more melancholic in the following lines. The singer describes himself as "burnt out and damaged," and the imagery of a runny slice of food dripping down his clothes is suggestive of decay and loss. The line "Flies stick to honey, it's the only game they know" suggests that people are attracted to superficial things, and that they often overlook deeper truths. The chorus repeats the phrase "Poor Boy" as a kind of mantra, suggesting that the singer feels trapped by his circumstances.
The song continues to explore themes of death, rebirth, and the search for meaning. In the bridge section, the singer sings "So come and rock my soul, where sin and sorry lie / White horses carry me, unto the other side," suggesting that he is looking for some kind of transcendence or enlightenment. The final verse returns to the imagery of a flower in the night, and the sense of longing for something more. The final lines - "Poor boy, I'm writing down the names of all the things I see" - suggest that the singer is searching for meaning in the world, and that he is determined to find it through observation and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
A truck parked this morning, outside the grocery store
I noticed a truck that was parked outside of the grocery store earlier this morning.
Friends face the future, they're wearing summer clothes
My friends are looking forward to the future and are dressed appropriately for summer weather.
Great cosmic forces, like falling dominoes
There are powerful universal forces at work that can cause a chain reaction, like falling dominoes.
I love talking funny, it's the only song I know
I enjoy speaking in a humorous and lighthearted way, it's the only way I know how to express myself.
Sweet smart and sexy, the day my life began
On the day my life began, I felt confident, intelligent, and attractive.
Burnt out and damaged, I dragged my body home
After feeling exhausted and emotionally drained, I made my way home.
This slice is runny, it's dripping down my clothes
This piece of food is undercooked and is dripping onto my clothing.
Flies stick to honey, it's the only game they know
Flies are naturally attracted to sweet things like honey, it's just their instinct.
Poor boy, I walk into the river in my hat and shoes
I am feeling so low and helpless that I just want to walk into the river in my clothes and drown.
Poor boy, I'm sitting at the table with a knife and spoon
I am feeling so desperate that I am sitting at the table with a knife and spoon, unsure of what I will do next.
Life fast die happy, don't let your panties show
Live life quickly and enjoy every moment, but maintain an air of dignity and modesty.
They trust market forces, it's the only song they know
Some people place their trust in the economy and the marketplace, as it is the only way they know to achieve success.
So come and rock my soul, where sin and sorry lie
Please come and console me and provide me with comfort, in a place where there is pain and regret.
White horses carry me, unto the other side
In death, I hope to be carried by white horses onto the other side, which represents the afterlife.
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where my thoughts are cold
I am living in a place where my ideas and feelings are not valued or understood.
Poor boy, I'm waiting for the harvest of the seeds I sow
I am patiently waiting for the positive outcomes of the work and effort I have put in.
A flower in the night, with thoughts of days gone by
I am like a flower blooming in the dark, nostalgic for the past.
I've got to ring that bell, and I'll be satisfied
If I can just achieve this one thing, I will finally feel content and happy.
Poor boy, I'm wearing silver slippers and a long white gown
In my mind, I am wearing special clothes that represent my dream of feeling treasured and appreciated.
Poor boy, I picture in my mind the day the walls come down
I imagine a future day when the obstacles and barriers that have been holding me back are gone, and I am free to move forward.
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where I'm never free
I am living in a place where freedom is limited, and I am not truly free to be myself.
Poor boy, I'm writing down the names of all the things I see
I am actively observing and noting all the things around me, in an attempt to make sense of my experiences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind