Born in Detroit in 1942, Sixto Diaz Rodriguez came from a working-class background and dropped out of high school at the age of 16. Dividing his time between hanging around the university campus and playing assorted unconventional clubs and bars, he was introduced to Impact's Harry Balk, which led to the recording of his first single, "I'll Slip Away," in 1967. When Balk took off for a career as a creative director at , session players and ardent Rodriguez supporters and Mike Theodore put him under the direction of Clarence Avant. About to set up his label, the latter was genuinely impressed with the artist's take on Detroit street life and supplied Theo-Coff Productions with sufficient means to cut an album's worth of material. Naturally, Theodore and took up keyboard and guitar duties, in addition to employing second-wave for a rhythm section. Recording Rodriguez separately, they matched his voice and acoustic guitar afterwards to a sonic palette of various orchestrations and psychedelic effects. Being 's first release, the resulting Cold Fact was a stone-cold folk-rock classic with an otherworldly feel to it.
Though industry-wise it was met with positive reviews, commercially the album gathered only dust. Theories as to why it didn't catch on in the climate of socially conscientious albums like Cloud Nine and What's Going On range from either not being played by underground radio and thus not meeting its intended public, or insufficient marketing by , with whom had a promotion and distribution deal. Though subsequently concentrating on , Avant offered Rodriguez the chance to record a follow-up in London with Steve Rowland (renowned for Family Dog's "Sympathy"). When 1971's Coming from Reality met a similar fate as its predecessor, the artist left the music business to enroll at university when he wasn't working construction to support his family and wasn't heard from again until 1979, when, much to his surprise,
he was requested to do some small theater shows Down Under, coinciding with the chart success of Australian re-releases of his albums. Fast forward to 1998, when Rodriguez was even more amazed to find vast amounts of mainstream acceptance. Apparently, some South African fans had invested quite a bit of effort in tracking down their long-lost hero. Their excitement at finding him alive and well convinced Rodriguez to play arena-sized venues.
At last, in the 21st century, his genius was acknowledged across America and mainland Europe, his popularity re-sparked by hip-hop-loving-crate diggers like , whose mix compilation Come Get It, I Got It used Cold Fact's opening shot "Sugar Man" for its own eclectic musical journey. In 2008, Cold Fact became more easily available through a lovingly annotated re-release, followed in 2009 by Coming from Reality. To celebrate his umpteenth rediscovery, Rodriguez embarked upon a world tour, meeting old fans and a whole new generation of admirers. This renaissance was spurred by the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man and its compilation soundtrack. The success of the film earned Rodriguez a significant audience in the United States, and he began touring in North America, playing the songs he recorded in the '70s for a new and enthusiastic audience. Despite having a fan base in the United States, Rodriguez continued to live a quiet life in Detroit. He passed away on August 8, 2023, at the age of 81. ~ Quint Kik, Rovi
Street Boy
Rodríguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
You go home but you can't stay
Because something's always pulling you away
Your fast hellos and quick goodbyes
You're just a street boy
With the streetlights in your eyes
You better get yourself together
Look for something better
Street boy
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Street boy
Your sister says that every week
You just come home to eat and go to sleep
And you make plans you never keep
Because your mind is always in the streets
You better get yourself together
Look for something better
Street boy
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Street boy
There's one last word then I'll conclude
Before you pick up and put on your attitude
Bet you'll never find or ever meet
Any street boy who's ever beat the streets
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Sweet boy
The song "Street Boy" by the American singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez is a powerful and heartfelt plea to a young man who seems to be lost in the dangers and allure of the streets. The "Street boy" in the song has been out too long and seems unable or unwilling to go home. The lyrics reflect the singer's concern for the boy's future, warning him against the "dead-end life" he seems to be planning. The street lights in the boy's eyes are a metaphor for the seductive power of the street life and the singer urges the boy to find love and understanding instead of loneliness and danger.
The song's message is a universal one that speaks to the struggles of young people everywhere who are confronted with the temptation to follow a path that leads to destruction. The lyrics are simple yet powerful and are conveyed with a haunting melody that lingers in the mind long after the song has ended. The repetition of the phrase "Street boy" throughout the song adds to its hypnotic quality and highlights the urgency of the singer's message.
Overall, "Street Boy" is a timeless classic that speaks to the power of music to communicate important messages and inspire hope in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Street boy
Addressing the titular character of the song, who is a young man living on the streets
You've been out too long
Implying that the street boy has been living on the streets for too long and needs to find a permanent residence
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Questioning the street boy's decision to not seek a safer, more stable environment
Street boy
Repeating the address to directly speak to the street boy once again
You're gonna end up alone
Suggesting that the street boy's current lifestyle may result in him being isolated and without support in the future
You need some love and understanding
Asserting that the street boy requires emotional support and compassion
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Rejecting the idea that the street boy's current actions will lead to a successful life or future
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
You go home but you can't stay
Acknowledging that the street boy may attempt to return home but is unable to remain there
Because something's always pulling you away
Implying that the street boy has an innate desire to return to the streets despite the safety risks
Your fast hellos and quick goodbyes
Describing the street boy's behavior around other people as brief and fleeting
You're just a street boy
Emphasizing that the street boy's identity is defined by his lifestyle
With the streetlights in your eyes
Metaphorically describing the street boy's constant exposure to the brightness of streetlights
You better get yourself together
Urging the street boy to become more organized and deliberate with his actions
Look for something better
Encouraging the street boy to search for a safer or more fulfilling lifestyle
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
You've been out too long
Repeating the previous assertion that the street boy has been on the streets for too long
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Asking the same question from earlier - why has the street boy not sought a safer environment?
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
You're gonna end up alone
Repeating the earlier assertion that the street boy's current lifestyle may lead to isolation in the future
You need some love and understanding
Repeating the earlier assertion that the street boy requires emotional support and compassion
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Repeating the earlier rejection of the idea that the street boy's current actions will lead to a successful life or future
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
Your sister says that every week
Indicating that the street boy's sister regularly expresses concern for his well-being
You just come home to eat and go to sleep
Describing the street boy's return home as purely functional, rather than out of a desire for familial support
And you make plans you never keep
Implying that the street boy struggles to follow through on his own goals or desires
Because your mind is always in the streets
Explaining that the street boy's constant preoccupation with the lifestyle he leads is a significant hindrance
You better get yourself together
Repeating the earlier imperative that the street boy needs to become more organized and deliberate
Look for something better
Repeating the earlier encouragement to seek out a safer or more fulfilling lifestyle.
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
You've been out too long
Repeating the earlier assertion that the street boy has been on the streets for too long
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Repeating the same question from earlier
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
You're gonna end up alone
Repeating the earlier assertion that the street boy's current lifestyle may lead to isolation in the future
You need some love and understanding
Repeating the earlier assertion that the street boy requires emotional support and compassion
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Repeating the earlier rejection of the idea that the street boy's current actions will lead to a successful life or future
Street boy
Addressing the titular character once again
There's one last word then I'll conclude
Setting up the final message of the song
Before you pick up and put on your attitude
Highlighting the street boy's defensive or hostile behavior toward advice or criticism
Bet you'll never find or ever meet
Challenging the street boy's belief that he can become successful while living on the streets
Any street boy who's ever beat the streets
Asserting that the odds of a street boy being able to overcome the dangers of the streets and become successful are extremely low
Street boy
Addressing the titular character one final time
Street boy
Repeating the address one final time
Street boy
Repeating the address one final time
Street boy
Repeating the address one final time
Street boy
Repeating the address one final time
Street boy
Repeating the address one final time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIXTO DIAZ RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@threeonine3510
Street boy
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Street boy
You go home but you can't stay
Because something's always pulling you away
Your fast hellos and quick goodbyes
You're just a street boy
With the streetlights in your eyes
You better get yourself together
Look for something better
Street boy
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Street boy
Your sister says that every week
You just come home to eat and go to sleep
And you make plans you never keep
Because your mind is always in the streets
You better get yourself together
Look for something better
Street boy
You've been out too long
Street boy
Ain't you got enough sense to go home
Street boy
You're gonna end up alone
You need some love and understanding
Not that dead-end life you're planning
Street boy
There's one last word then I'll conclude
Before you pick up and put on your attitude
Bet you'll never find or ever meet
Any street boy who's ever beat the streets
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Street boy
Sweet boy
@jamesbyersmusic
Rest In Peace Sixto Rodriguez, thank you for your beautiful songs and wonderful vocals!!
@kimjuanalehmann2365
whaaaaat he died???? 😢
@lfrsnc1117
@@kimjuanalehmann2365recently, 8th august i think
@findgold1111
RIP Mr. Musician. It was an honor to see your concert on September 30, 2018 in Bratislava, Slovakia ❤
@archaicscrew
Such a great song! Love how he ended the song saying “sweet boy” after street boy. Like you are important, you are loved. Such a great soul! RIP Mr. Rodriguez
@zenobiapalmyra5670
Goodnight dear Sixto, thank you for your genius music, beautiful poetic voice and gorgeous soul. May you rest in peace and your memory be eternal. Australia 🇦🇺 💔💔💔
@sps9491
The Sugar Man will never be forgotten ❤
@rokka222
He may be gone from this earth, but clearly this man will never die. I will never forget the way his music made me feel. Thank you, Sixto.
@nossil
My mates and I had his albums/cassettes. Rodriguez accompanied me on many surf trips in Australia in the late 70s! Rodriguez, thanks mate!!
@giuseppeherge5743
I'm lucky
Me, a 20 year old Brazilian boy, who had never heard of Sixto Rodirguez (It seems that here in Brazil he is not well known)
I discovered him a few years ago thanks to YouTube's recommendation, and I immediately became a fan of this guy! He's a real poet! And me, a lucky guy to hear his songs... Hugs from Brazil