Poor Boy
Cliff Richard & The Shadows Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It won't work poor boy, don't you try again.
Fate took over your love and you can't win.
You can sing the blues all to yourself.
But while your singing, she's with someone else, poor boy.

Love is strange but poor boy it has to be.
In more than a hundred ways your just like me.
You and I can try to face the fault.
But we both know, they won't be back no more, a'poor boy.

Poor boy, I'm sorry, you're so blue.
But don't forget, there's more than one of you.
Poor boy, I'm sorry you're so sad.
But time will heal, the pain won't be so bad, poor boy.
Time will heal, the pain won't be so bad.

Let's forget poor boy, let's dry our eyes.
Bad luck can be good luck, in disguise.




Some day, your love will come to call.
Poor boy, we'll be rich men after all, a'poor boy.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Poor Boy" by Cliff Richard & The Shadows expresses resignation and empathy towards a man who has lost his love. The chorus urges the poor boy to give up trying to win back his love because fate has already decided against him. The verses acknowledge the universality of heartbreak, as the singer tells the poor boy that they are alike in their shared experiences of love gone wrong. However, the song ends on a hopeful note, as the singer encourages the poor boy to move on and trust that good luck may come from his heartache.


The lyrics of "Poor Boy" demonstrate a compassionate understanding of the pain of lost love. The repetition of "poor boy" evokes a sense of pity, as if the singer sees the man's heartbreak as an unfortunate circumstance he has no control over. The acknowledgement that love is strange and that there are a hundred ways to lose it reflects the complexity of human relationships. The final lines, with the hope that the poor boy's love will return, suggest that love is not finite and that happiness can be found again.


Line by Line Meaning

It won't work poor boy, don't you try again.
Your attempts to win back your lost love will be futile.


Fate took over your love and you can't win.
Destiny has intervened and you cannot succeed in your quest for love.


You can sing the blues all to yourself.
You can wallow in your sadness and misery alone.


But while your singing, she's with someone else, poor boy.
While you are lamenting, your ex-love is with someone new.


Love is strange but poor boy it has to be.
Love can be unpredictable and difficult, but it is a necessary part of life.


In more than a hundred ways your just like me.
We are similar in so many ways and share similar struggles.


You and I can try to face the fault.
Together, we can try to overcome our love problems.


But we both know, they won't be back no more, a'poor boy.
Deep down, we both know that our lost loves will never return.


Poor boy, I'm sorry, you're so blue.
I sympathize with your sorrow and sadness.


But don't forget, there's more than one of you.
Remember that others share your pain and can offer support.


Poor boy, I'm sorry you're so sad.
I feel sorry for your emotional distress.


But time will heal, the pain won't be so bad, poor boy.
With time, your pain will diminish and become more manageable.


Let's forget poor boy, let's dry our eyes.
Let's move past our heartbreak and stop crying.


Bad luck can be good luck, in disguise.
Our current misfortunes may lead to unforeseen positive outcomes.


Some day, your love will come to call.
One day, your lost love may attempt to reconnect.


Poor boy, we'll be rich men after all, a'poor boy.
Despite our current struggles, we will eventually find happiness and live fulfilling lives.




Writer(s): Vernon Mcentire

Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions