Vincent Gallo (born Buffalo, New York 11 April 1961) is an Italian American… Read Full Bio ↴Vincent Gallo (born Buffalo, New York 11 April 1961) is an Italian American movie actor and director starring in a number of independent movies, notably Buffalo '66 and The Brown Bunny. Musically, his work can be devoid of grandeur and often absent are "pop" aesthetics of strict meter, tempo, or modern recording techniques. Gallo instead focuses on mood, gesture and adds elements of early 20th century style.

From soft mellotron melodies to meandering guitar lines, his music either guides the listener through frameworks of simple motives, rhythms and sounds; or he presents almost archetypical song structures. Lyrics like, Laura, Laura, come back are repeated, establishing a mood and confessional qualities. His weary, effeminate voice can be guileless - a contrast to his usual character in the media.

His darker qualities can still be heard in songs like Ass Fucker (Reprise) and in the awkward harmonies of A Picture of Her. However they still sit next to the hazy tones accompanying the words, Goodnight baby/sleep tight/you and me.

Lonely Boy
Vincent Gallo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Saw a face
From my childhood days
A smiling girl...not a friend...
Milky red funny face...smiling smiles
Mother...and son...
Stood by a dad
Daddy
You sure eat a lot of snacks

Now & then...I start to cry
Not the tears
But when I was...or when I was
Like a colored sky...coloring
Wish the sun...would stand still
All forgotten...yesterdays
School days remind me of
When I was a boy

All my life I've been this lonely boy
Doo doo

Overall Meaning

Vincent Gallo's "Lonely Boy" is an incredibly nostalgic song that takes the listener back to a time of innocence and childhood. The opening line "Saw a face from my childhood days" immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. Through Gallo's lyrical imagery, he describes a smiling girl who was not a friend but was somehow still memorable. The line "Milky red funny face...smiling smiles" gives off the impression of a child's face covered in freckles and a wide grin. He then describes a mother and son standing with their father, who eats a lot of snacks. These observations from the perspective of a child give the listener a sense of what it feels like to long for familiarity and to remember small, insignificant details that made a big impact.

The chorus "All my life I've been this lonely boy" is the song's central theme, showcasing the emotions of a person who has always felt lonely and out of place. The music's slow and languid pace matches the melancholy feel of the lyrics. Gallo sings about how he cries triggered by the memories of his past days. He longs for times when life was simpler and more carefree, wishing he could have kept it all from slipping away. Gallo wishes for time to stand still, wishing to hold onto and savor moments in life as long as possible.

Line by Line Meaning

Saw a face
I saw a distinct face that caught my attention.

From my childhood days
This face reminded me of someone I knew from my childhood.

A smiling girl...not a friend...
It was a girl with a smiling face, but she wasn't my friend.

Milky red funny face...smiling smiles
Her face had a combination of milky and red colors, and she smiled a lot.

Mother...and son...
In the picture, there was a mother and her son standing together.

Stood by a dad
The family also had a father who was present in the picture.

Daddy
I referred to the father in the picture as 'Daddy.'

You sure eat a lot of snacks
I noticed the father ate a lot of snacks in the picture.

Now & then...I start to cry
Sometimes, I feel emotional and start to cry.

Not the tears
However, the tears are not the main cause of my sorrow.

But when I was...or when I was
That is because I was reminded of moments from my past.

Like a colored sky...coloring
Memories from the past are like a beautiful, colorful sky, but instead of painting the sky, they paint my emotions.

Wish the sun...would stand still
Sometimes I wish I could stop time so I could go back and relive those moments.

All forgotten...yesterdays
But many of those yesterdays have been forgotten over time.

School days remind me of
The picture made me think of my school days.

When I was a boy
And how I felt when I was just a boy.

All my life I've been this lonely boy
Throughout my life, I have felt like a lonely boy.

Doo doo
The song ends with the lyrics 'Doo doo.'

Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VINCENT GALLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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