Lonely Boy
Vincent Gallo (Buffalo 66 1998) Lyrics

The lyrics to Vincent Gallo's song "Lonely Boy" evoke a sense of nostalgia as he reflects on his childhood memories. He sees a girl from his childhood who was not necessarily a friend, but someone familiar from his past. He describes her face as "milky red", but also "smiling", which suggests that this memory brings him some happiness, perhaps a respite from his present loneliness. But this feeling of warmth is short-lived as he thinks of his own family, particularly his father who he notes eats "a lot of snacks". It's unclear what the significance of this detail is, but it's possible that it represents his father's indulgences that may have impacted his childhood in some way.

The second half of the song becomes more introspective as Gallo reflects on the passage of time and the transience of life. He notes that he sometimes cries, not necessarily because of anything specific, but rather the feelings of nostalgia and loss that come from remembering his youth. He compares his memories to a "colored sky," implying that they are beautiful but fleeting. He wishes for time to stand still so that he can hold on to these memories a little longer. But all of this is in the past and the last lines of the song reveal the underlying theme of loneliness. Gallo repeats the lines "All my life I've been this lonely boy" as if to punctuate the transience of everything in his life including relationships.