Poor Boy
David Byrne & Brian Eno 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" is a surrealistic stream of consciousness that speaks to the complexity and fleetingness of life. The first verse paints a picture of mundane happenings like a truck parked outside a grocery store and friends wearing summer clothes juxtaposed with the grandiose idea of "great cosmic forces" that dictate the universe's fate. The lyrics speak to the human desire to try and make sense of the world around us, even if it means talking funny just to build some semblance of understanding.
The second verse delves into the duality of life itself. The singer describes a life full of promise and hope, but also acknowledges that sometimes things don't go as planned, and you can end up in a place where you feel burnt out and damaged. The imagery of a slice dripping down someone's clothes and flies sticking to honey connotes the fleetingness of life and the inevitability of decay and death.
The chorus shifts to the idea of the "poor boy," someone who is struggling in life and waiting for a harvest of the seeds they sow. The lyrics suggest that life is never easy and it's not always clear what the right path is. The singer is searching for meaning and hoping to find satisfaction by ringing the bell, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for achieving a sense of enlightenment or reaching one's full potential.
Overall, "Poor Boy" is a meditation on the twists and turns of life, and the human desire to try and find meaning in the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
A truck parked this morning, outside the grocery store
A truck parked outside a grocery store this morning.
Friends face the future, they're wearing summer clothes
My friends are ready for the future, dressed in summer clothes.
Great cosmic forces, like falling dominoes
Cosmic forces are interconnected, like falling dominoes.
I love talking funny, it's the only song I know
I'm fond of non-serious talk, it's the only melody that I can sing.
Sweet smart and sexy, the day my life began
The beginning of my life was characterized by charisma, intelligence and beauty.
Burnt out and damaged, I dragged my body home
I returned home, exhausted and completely worn out.
This slice is runny, it's dripping down my clothes
The slice of food is drippy and causing my clothes to get messy.
Flies stick to honey, it's the only game they know
Flies are attracted to the sweet things, that's their only game.
Poor Boy, I walk into the river in my hat and shoes
I venture into the river, clothed in a hat and shoes, despite being a poor boy.
Poor Boy, I'm sitting at the table with a knife and spoon
I'm dining with humble utensils, a knife and spoon, as a poor boy.
Life fast die happy, don't let your panties show
Live life to the fullest without any regrets, but don't expose your vulnerabilities.
They trust market forces, it's the only song they know
They believe in market forces, which seem to be the only thing they know well.
So come and rock my soul, where sin and sorry lie
My soul requires emotional upliftment, amidst regretful actions.
White horses carry me, unto the other side
White horses will transport me to the other side, the destination of my journey.
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where my thoughts are cold
I exist in a country where my thoughts are not valued.
Poor boy, I'm waiting for the harvest of the seeds I sow
I'm anxiously waiting for the results of my efforts.
A flower in the night, with thoughts of days gone by
In the night, I'm a reflective flower, thoughts of the past linger.
I've got to ring that bell, and I'll be satisfied
I need to achieve that goal, in order to be content.
Poor boy, I'm wearing silver slippers and a long white gown
As a poor boy, I'm adorned with silver slippers and a long white gown.
Poor boy, I picture in my mind the day the walls come down
I imagine the day when my circumstances will change, removing barriers to my progress.
Poor boy, I'm living in a country where I'm never free
I'm residing in a place where my freedom is continually constrained.
Poor boy, I'm writing down the names of all the things I see
I'm taking stock of every little detail that comes into my field of vision, as a poor boy.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind