Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
Poor Boy Hero
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rockin' to the poor boy he'll be my king
Really got to shiver when he sings
He is the image of my fantasising
Now we got the whole world listening
He will be the biggest thing in history
Cause he's doing the same thing
Got to hear the poor boy hero sing
Now we got a genius the people cried
When he move a finger we sighed
And then we squeezed him till he broke inside
When he went to Vegas the music died
He is still the biggest thing in history
Now he's doing the same thing so indifferently
Got to hear the poor boy hero sing
Living in a fantasy
Love that poor boy tenderly
Now he's gone so tragically
Give that poor boy back to me
Hero of the century
Love that poor boy tenderly
Now we take it easy on the soul
If it isn't magic it leaves me cold
It's only magic if it's fresh and bold
It's nothing if it's easy on the soul
You can be the biggest thing in history
If you're going to do it, do it differently
You could be a poor boy hero too
The song "Poor Boy Hero" by Ian Gillan is a commentary on the music industry and its tendency to put musicians on a pedestal, only to tear them down when they fail to meet expectations. Gillan sings about a "poor boy" who becomes a hero in the eyes of the public because of his unique voice and style. However, Gillan also acknowledges the danger of fame and the pressure it puts on artists. He sings about the "genius" who was pushed too far and ultimately broke under the weight of fame.
Gillan also touches on the idea of authenticity in music. He sings that a musician can only be considered "magic" if their music is fresh and bold, not if it's easy to listen to. The song is a call to aspiring musicians to be true to themselves and to not let the pressure of fame consume them.
Overall, "Poor Boy Hero" is a reflective look at the ups and downs of the music industry, and the toll it can take on even the biggest names.
Line by Line Meaning
Rockin' to the poor boy he'll be my king
I am impressed by this poor boy's talent and I will support him as if he were royalty.
Really got to shiver when he sings
His singing sends chills down my spine, it's so powerful and moving.
He is the image of my fantasising
He represents a fantasy I've had about someone with his talent and charisma.
Now we got the whole world listening
His talent has gained international attention and admiration from many people.
He will be the biggest thing in history
He has the potential to become the most famous and successful person in history due to his exceptional talent.
Cause he's doing the same thing
But so differently
He's doing something that's been done before, but his unique approach sets him apart from others and makes him stand out.
Got to hear the poor boy hero sing
I highly recommend hearing this talented poor boy sing.
Now we got a genius the people cried
People recognized him as a musical genius and were highly emotional about it.
When he move a finger we sighed
Even small movements or gestures from him were highly appreciated and admired by his fans.
And then we squeezed him till he broke inside
We put too much pressure on him and it took a toll on him emotionally and mentally.
When he went to Vegas the music died
When he changed his style or went to perform in Vegas, his fans were disappointed and felt like his music had lost its magic.
He is still the biggest thing in history
Now he's doing the same thing so indifferently
Despite his past successes, he's lost the passion and enthusiasm for his music and has been uninterested in putting on high-energy performances.
Living in a fantasy
Love that poor boy tenderly
Now he's gone so tragically
Give that poor boy back to me
I am living in a fantasy world where this talented poor boy is still alive and I dearly miss him.
Hero of the century
Love that poor boy tenderly
He was a hero in the music industry and I hold a lot of affection for him.
Now we take it easy on the soul
If it isn't magic it leaves me cold
It's only magic if it's fresh and bold
It's nothing if it's easy on the soul
We want something that will move and inspire us deeply, and if it's not fresh and new it won't be meaningful to us.
You can be the biggest thing in history
If you're going to do it, do it differently
You could be a poor boy hero too
If you want to succeed in music, you need to bring something new and unique to the table, and anyone has the potential to become a talented and successful musician.
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.