Lynott was born in Hallam Hospital (now Sandwell General Hospital) in West Bromwich (then in Staffordshire), England, the son of a Guyanese father, Cecil Parris, and a White Irish Catholic mother, Philomena (aka Phyllis) Lynott, whose surname he took. His father left his mother just three weeks after he was born and returned to his native Brazil. He was brought up in Moss Side , Manchester before moving to Crumlin, Dublin, whilst he was still quite young, to live with his grandmother, Sarah. His parents reportedly kept in touch for a number of years after his birth, but Lynott did not meet his father until the late 1970s.
Music Career
In the mid-1960s, Lynott began singing in his first band, the Black Eagles. It was around this time that he befriended Brian Downey. He formed Thin Lizzy around 1969 in Dublin after a short stint in Brush Shiels' Skid Row with Gary Moore. Lynott was the main songwriter for Thin Lizzy, as well as the lead singer and bassist. Lynott was half black, and was inspired by Jimi Hendrix as an example of how a black man could be successful fronting a hard rock band. Their first top ten hit was in 1973 with the traditional Irish song "Whiskey In The Jar".
In 1978, he was featured in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, singing and speaking the role of The Parson. In 1979, under the name of "The Greedies", he recorded a Christmas single, "A Merry Jingle", featuring other members of Thin Lizzy as well as Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols.
Though Thin Lizzy were still enjoying considerable success, in 1980 Phil Lynott launched a solo career with the album Solo in Soho, which was a Top 30 UK album and yielded two hit singles that year, "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" and "King's Call". The latter was a tribute to Elvis Presley, and featured Mark Knopfler on guitar. His second solo venture, The Phil Lynott Album was a chart flop, despite the presence of the single "Old Town". The song "Yellow Pearl" (1982), was a Top 20 hit and became the theme tune to Top Of The Pops.
Also in 1980 he married Caroline Crowther, with whom he already had a child, Sarah. She later gave birth to their second daughter, Cathleen. Caroline is the daughter of British comedian Leslie Crowther.
In 1983 Thin Lizzy disbanded, and later that year Lynott recorded a rock'n'roll medley single, "We Are The Boys (Who Make All The Noise)" with Roy Wood, Chas Hodges and John Coghlan, and collaborated with former bandmate blues,/ rock guitarist Gary Moore on "Out in the Fields" (a No. 5 UK hit in 1985, his highest-charting single ever) and "Parisienne Walkways" (a UK no. 8 hit). His last single, "Nineteen", released a few weeks before his death, was produced by Paul Hardcastle. It bore no relation to the producer's chart-topping single some months earlier.
Lynott's last years were dogged by drug and alcohol dependency, and the night of December 25, 1985, he was rushed to hospital. He died of heart failure and pneumonia on January 4, 1986 at the age of 36.
A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street, off Grafton Street, Dublin in 2005. The ceremony was attended by former band members Gary Moore, Brian Robertson, Brian Downey and Scott Gorham, and by Lynott's mother. The attending Thin Lizzy members paid tribute with a live performance. His grave in St. Fintan's cemetery in Sutton is regularly visited by family, friends and fans.
In November 2005, American actor Gary Dourdan revealed in a radio interview that he has carried out preliminary work with a view to playing Phil Lynott in a film biography.
In 2006 Lynott's mother allowed Micky Waters, bass guitarist of The Answer to be the first to play her son's bass since his death. The bass was also used in the band's music video for the single Keep Belevin'
The Man
Phil Lynott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That this was no ordinary man
And do we all agree
That we should use any means nessesary
Like standing in the line
Like pulling at the same time
(Can we)
(can we save it)
Do you think all is lost
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
The man's a fool
The man's a crazy, mixed up fool
The man's a fool
The man is crazy, mixed up
Now do we dare go on
Know'in that we've done something wrong
Do we dare turn back
Knowing what will happen
We could soon be strong
We could live as one
(Can we)
Do you think there's hope for us
(Can we save it)
Do you think we can still trust
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
The man's a fool
The man's a crazy, mixed up fool
The man's a fool
The man is crazy, mixed up
I say it with reluctance
(Can we)
I say it with repentance
(Can we say it)
I say it so opus
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
The man's a fool
The man's a crazy, mixed up fool
The man's a fool
The man is crazy, mixed up
Would we get a chance
Or is it hopeless
Revenge and reluctunce
Please reveal my sentence
Can we save the world in time
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
(Can we save it)
Is all lost
Is there such a hollocast
(Can we save it)
Can we save the world in time
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
(Can we save it)
The man's a fool
(Can we)
Can we save the world in time
The lyrics of Phil Lynott's song The Man's A Fool speak to the desperate need of humanity to come together and use any means necessary to save the world from destruction. In the first verse, Lynott asks for recognition that the man they speak of is no ordinary man, implying that he might be someone worth listening to. He then asks if they can stand in line and pull together to save the world, questioning whether there is hope for humanity or if all is lost.
In the second verse, Lynott asks if they dare to move forward despite the wrongs they have done, pointing out that they could live as one if they come together. He expresses reluctance and repentance but at the same time asks if there's still hope for the world to be saved. The chorus reiterates that the man is a fool, a crazy mixed-up one at that, but also begs the question of whether they can save the world in time. The bridge suggests revenge and reluctance and asks for a revelation of the sentence for failing to save the world.
Overall, the lyrics of The Man's A Fool speak to a sense of urgency and desperation in the face of looming disaster. Lynott paints a picture of a world on the brink of destruction, where the actions of ordinary people might be the only hope for salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Now do you understand
Do you realize the importance of this person?
That this was no ordinary man
He was someone extraordinary.
And do we all agree
Can we come to a mutual understanding?
That we should use any means necessary
We should utilize any method required.
Like standing in the line
Working together to achieve a common goal.
Like pulling at the same time
Working in tandem towards the same objective.
(Can we)
Is it possible?
Do you think there's hope for us
Do you believe we can overcome this situation?
(Can we save it)
Can we prevent disaster?
Do you think all is lost
Do you believe it's too late?
Can we save the world in time
Is it possible to prevent catastrophic events before it's too late?
The man's a fool
This person is foolish and misguided.
The man's a crazy, mixed-up fool
This person is erratic or unpredictable in their behavior.
Now do we dare go on
Are we brave enough to persist?
Know'in that we've done something wrong
Acknowledging our past mistakes.
Do we dare turn back
Should we consider reversing course?
Knowing what will happen
Being aware of the consequences.
We could soon be strong
We may be able to resolve the issue.
We could live as one
We have the potential to coexist harmoniously.
Do you think we can still trust
Do you believe we have faith in each other?
I say it with reluctance
I express this with hesitation.
(Can we say it)
Can we admit to this?
I say it so opus
I state this with grandeur.
Would we get a chance
Is it probable that we'll have an opportunity?
Or is it hopeless
Is it a lost cause?
Revenge and reluctance
Feelings of anger and hesitation.
Please reveal my sentence
Requesting the consequences of actions taken.
Is all lost
Is everything hopeless?
Is there such a holocaust
Is it possible for a catastrophic event to occur?
The man is crazy, mixed-up
This person is irrational or confused.
Can we save the world in time
Can we prevent catastrophic events from occurring before it's too late?
(Can we save it)
Is it possible to prevent disaster?
(Can we)
Is it likely?
Can we save the world in time
Is it possible to prevent catastrophic events from occurring before it's too late?
(Can we save it)
Is it possible to avoid disaster?
The man's a fool
This person is foolish and misguided.
Can we save the world in time
Is it possible to prevent catastrophic events from occurring before it's too late?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHILIP PARRIS LYNOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RichieRich-71
Mind blown.....
@Eigene_Theorien
Was Philip Parris Lynott The fool?
@anton2417
@@Eigene_Theorien No, he was the renegade
@TheGreatAlan75
@@anton2417 good answer!! 👌
@whoreshoe
He was the hero and the madman.
@ranabirgahir462
Another level
@patrickkellyguitar8300
I wish I could tell him how much of an impact his music has had on my life. RIP, Phil.
@reubster529
Same 😢
@brianmodum5312
Listening to Phil and Thin Lizzy on this 2020 Saint Patrick's Day!
@TheGreatAlan75
Phil Lynott is magic to me. His music makes me feel so fucking great. It takes me to another place 🙂