Lonely Boy Blues
Musikjury Titel Nr. 5 Lyrics


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Blue Boy, he's a travel agent
Ain't nothing illegal about his work
Police detective, he's getting impatient
Says "I'm going to bust that irresponsible jerk"
'Cause he picked him up in the park the other day
Took him downtown and all he would say was

Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone

One day the Blue Boy might punch a one-way ticket
So the detective pays a visit to the crime lab
The scientist says, "This is powerful stuff, you may not lick it
That Blue Boy's running up one hell of a tab"
And Blue Boy he's getting farther out of sight
You know where I saw him? (where?)
Lost is space last night, singing

Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone

And all the squares, they don't understand
But Blue Boy knows he holds the world in the palm of his hand

Blue Boy thinks that he's a masterpiece for all
In a museum, that's where he belongs
Police detective says "He's more like a gopher ball
I mean he's going, going, gone!"
And the kids they watch the Blue Boy on TV
And they suspect that he's not real and say
"That's the way I want to be," singing

Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone
Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Look at that train




Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Oh, its gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Musikjury Titel Nr. 5's song Lonely Boy Blues are about a man named Blue Boy. He works as a travel agent and it’s not an illegal job. However, a police detective is getting impatient with Blue Boy because he picked him up in the park the other day and took him downtown but he wasn’t telling him anything. Blue Boy just keeps looking at the train and saying "Look at that train" repeatedly. The police detective believes that Blue Boy is an irresponsible jerk and thinks of busting him. Blue Boy might soon punch a one-way ticket and leave. The detective consults a scientist to analyze what Blue Boy was exposed to—it's potent stuff, and he's running up one hell of a tab. Blue Boy is getting farther out of sight and was last seen lost in space last night.


The lyrics suggest that Blue Boy thinks he is a masterpiece and belongs in a museum. However, the police detective thinks otherwise and considers him like a gopher ball going, going, gone. The kids watch Blue Boy on TV and want to be like him. They suspect he is not genuine, but they want to be like him anyway. The main theme of the song is about the struggles of an outsider, misunderstood by society. Blue Boy's obsession with trains represents escapism, a way to disconnect from reality, and cope with the hardships of life. Additionally, the song reflects the generation gap and the conflict between the values of the older and younger generations.


Line by Line Meaning

Blue Boy, he's a travel agent
Blue Boy is a drug dealer


Ain't nothing illegal about his work
He thinks his work is legal


Police detective, he's getting impatient
Police detective is frustrated with Blue Boy's escape


Says "I'm going to bust that irresponsible jerk"
The detective is determined to arrest Blue Boy


'Cause he picked him up in the park the other day
Blue Boy was arrested for drug dealing


Took him downtown and all he would say was
Blue Boy refused to say anything to the detective


Look at that train, look at that train, look at that train
Blue Boy is distracting himself from the situation


Oh, its gone
Blue Boy is trying to escape reality


One day the Blue Boy might punch a one-way ticket
Blue Boy might die from drug abuse


So the detective pays a visit to the crime lab
The detective is trying to find evidence against Blue Boy


The scientist says, "This is powerful stuff, you may not lick it
The drugs Blue Boy is selling are dangerous


That Blue Boy's running up one hell of a tab"
Blue Boy is using and selling a lot of drugs


And Blue Boy he's getting farther out of sight
Blue Boy is becoming more elusive


You know where I saw him? (where?) Lost is space last night, singing
Blue Boy is high and isolated


And all the squares, they don't understand
People who don't do drugs can't relate to Blue Boy


But Blue Boy knows he holds the world in the palm of his hand
Blue Boy thinks he is in control of his life, but he's not


Blue Boy thinks that he's a masterpiece for all
Blue Boy believes he's special


In a museum, that's where he belongs
Blue Boy thinks of himself as art


Police detective says "He's more like a gopher ball
The detective thinks Blue Boy is a failure and a fraud


And the kids they watch the Blue Boy on TV
Children admire Blue Boy


And they suspect that he's not real and say
Kids know Blue Boy is fake


"That's the way I want to be," singing
Kids think drug use is cool, but it's not




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Vincent

Duke, an underappreciated genius.Thousands of us have seen him hundreds of times. Thank you Duke.

larry covarry

Hearing this much blues out of three Giants has made my arthritis flair up in my fingers !?!! What !!!! Blues on baby 💙 !!!!

T

J Geils can play some blues now….👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

MaineBluesman

I saw Duke, Gerry, and Jay play all this great jazz stuff at a dingey little hole in the wall in Waltham, MA, almost 20 years ago. Three guitar greats with big blonde archtop guitars in a dark, smoke-filled venue was one of the coolest, most memorable guitar nights of my life. Unlike Duke and Gerry, who are naturally jazzy, Jay, being a rock&roll guy, has to work at it, and the effort that he puts into it makes it so wonderfully entertaining and enjoyable. Thanks for posting.

pizzatherapy

How sweet! Wonderful music Duke! I've seen Duke a number of times with Roomful (The Knick), as a solo act,(The Brown Derby in montpelier, Vermnot) in Las Vegas with B.B. King and The Neville Brothers, and even as a member for a short time with the Fabulous Thunderbirds (in Honolulu)...He is in a class by himself...And he makes Westerly (R.I.)  folks so proud! Thanks Duke!

garth irving

Most enjoyable musical performance..Blue Suits playing Blues.."Wow" it is "Cool" in every sense of the word..

Monk Amani

J. Geils, gonna be remembered.
May peace prevail

marcia cordeiro

It's Amazing...Loved!!!!

Jerome Engelberts

Jay Geils sounds like he borrowed Duke's guitar and the action's a bit too high for him. Duke -as usual- is clean, polished and poised. Maybe he'll go into History as Blind Lemon Pledge, after all :-)

Harlon Rivers

Pay no attention if you don't love the blues ...
Duke Robillard (Fabulous Thunderbirds w / Kim Wilson) Jay Geils Band & Gerry Beaudoin Trio..*revisited full circle*..(the blur of video goes away so you can see the base walkin' and hear three of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen
and listen to the last lyrics...

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