It's from their album El Camino.
The Lonely Boy Songfacts explains that the music video features one Derrick T. Tuggle dancing to the song in the lobby of a motel. Tuggle was originally cast as an extra, but when the director saw him dancing, he asked him to perform.
Lonely Boy
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's plain to see
But I came to love you anyway
So you pulled my heart out
And I don't mind bleedin'
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
Waitin', waitin'
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Well, your mama kept you
But your daddy left you
And I should've done you just the same
But I came to love you
Am I born to bleed?
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
Waitin', waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Hey
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
The lyrics to The Black Keys's song "Lonely Boy" tell the story of a man who is above the person he loves but still chooses to love them regardless of their flaws. The repetition of the line "any old time, you keep me waitin'" emphasizes the frustration and disappointment the singer feels in his relationship. He acknowledges his loneliness and the pain of waiting, but he still clings to the hope that his love for this person will be worth it in the end.
The line "your mama kept you but your daddy left you" is a reference to the idea of abandonment issues and feeling like you've been left behind. The singer questions whether he was born to bleed, implying that perhaps it's just his nature to go through pain and heartbreak in love. The chorus "I'm a lonely boy" shows that despite the love he has, he still feels a sense of isolation and sadness.
Overall, "Lonely Boy" is a reflection on the complexities and emotions of love, and how it can bring both joy and pain. The repetitive nature of the lyrics emphasizes the monotony of waiting for love and highlights the frustration and longing that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm so above you
I feel superior to you
And it's plain to see
It's evident
But I came to love you anyway
Despite that, I came to love you
So you pulled my heart out
You broke my heart
And I don't mind bleedin'
I don't mind the pain
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
No matter when, you make me wait
Oh, whoa, oh
vocalization
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
My love for you makes me wait
I'm a lonely boy
I'm alone
Well, your mama kept you
Your mother raised you
But your daddy left you
Your father abandoned you
And I should've done you just the same
I should have left you too
But I came to love you
But I ended up falling in love with you
Am I born to bleed?
Is it my destiny to always be hurt?
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
No matter when, you make me wait
Hey
Expression to get attention
Oh, whoa, oh
vocalization
I'm a lonely boy
I'm alone
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
My love for you makes me wait
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joseluiscendales3338
Well, I'm so above you
And it's plain to see
But I came to love you anyway
So you pulled my heart out
And I don't mind bleedin'
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
Waitin', waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Well, your mama kept you
But your daddy left you
And I should've done you just the same
But I came to love you
Am I born to bleed?
Any old time, you keep me waitin'
Waitin', waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Hey
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, whoa, oh
I got a love that keeps me waitin'
@TCFreeK
0:39
Well, I'm so above you
And it's plain to see
But I came to love you anyway
So you tore my heart out
And I don't mind bleeding
Any old time to keep me waiting
Waiting, waiting
1:03
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
1:35
Well, your mama kept you but your daddy left you
And I should've done you just the same
But I came to love you
And I want to flee
Any old time you keep me waiting
Waiting, waiting
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
I'm a lonely boy
I'm a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
@firangio
Well I’m so above you
And it’s plain to see
But I came to love you anyway
So you pulled my heart out
And I don’t mind bleeding
Any old time you keep me waiting
Waiting, waiting
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
I’m a lonely boy
I’m a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
Well your mama kept you but your daddy left you
And I should’ve done you just the same
But I came to love you
Am I born to bleed?
Any old time you keep me waiting
Waiting, waiting
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
I’m a lonely boy
I’m a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
Hey!
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
I’m a lonely boy
I’m a lonely boy
Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting
@aatishshinde3195
He's a 48 year old, actor, musician and a part-time security guard. He was casted as an extra for the music video but the director saw him grooving and asked him to perform and this was the only take they shot.
@LiamDoyle
Aatish Shinde just learned this from an Alan Cross podcast. More people need to know the origins of this video.
@kwkylewilliams462
What a legend
@m1z3re
I knew this shit was gonna go,hard when I saw this mans sleeves were rolled up.
@notydino
Thanks, you answered my question before i had the chance to ask it.
@afroloco1553
I think he also performs in one of the hours from Pharrel Williams Happy, at a gas station.
@misophobia
I hope this man is doing well, because he’s a legend even a decade later.
@foxbosmit521
i was just thinking the same thing i hope they paid/pay him his fair share of royalties because its him that made me love this track
@camiloaaron3993
He promoted the new edition for the 10 years of the album
@kelniai2770
He's doing ok, watch "The Black Keys - El Camino (10th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) Derrick T. Tuggle Unboxing" :)