“Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys
“Lonely Boy” opens with a contradictory verse. The narrator thinks it is obvious that his love interest is below his standards, yet he falls in love with her and she turns the tables by not returning his devotion.
Throughout, he suggests that this person keeps him waiting for no reason and does not give him the kind of attention and care he deserves. This, he implies, makes him rather lonely despite the presence of this person in his life.
As he runs out of patience, he expresses his regret, stating that he should have left this girl just like her father did. Though he questions why he should allow himself to feel such pain, he seems to be unable to let go of this person and succumbs to the idea that his love interest will keep him stranded with little hope of a thriving relationship.
Facts about “Lonely Boy”
The Black Keys composed and produced “Lonely Boy” alongside Danger Mouse.
In October 2011, the band (through Nonesuch Records) released this track from their “El Camino” album. It was El Camino’s lead single.
Till date, many consider “Lonely Boy” to be the band’s most successful song. Upon its release, it climbed to the top of a number of rock singles charts in the United States, including Billboard’s own “Rock Songs” charts.
In addition to charting very high in many countries, this song also helped The Black Keys secure two Grammy wins in 2011. One of these wins was for the “Best Rock Song”, which it clinched by beating the following:
- Muse’s “Madness”
- Mumford & Sons’ “I Will Wait”
- Bruce Springsteen’s “We Take Care of Our Own”
- Jack White’s “Freedom at 21”
NOTE: The Foo Fighters won the aforementioned Grammy a year earlier (2012) with their song “Walk“.
