Ode To A Black Man by Phil Lynott

Album: Solo In Soho (1980)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

In this bass-heavy rocker, Phil Lynott celebrates Black leaders and cultural icons, shouting out Martin Luther King, Muhammed Ali, Bob Marley, Robert Mugabe, Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix. But oddly, he throws shade on Stevie Wonder, making these snide references:

I don't want no songs for plants
Wonder released an album in 1979 called Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants.

I want liberty living in the city
A reference to Wonder's song "Living for the City."

Wonder may not have been known for his activism at the time, but he would be soon: Less than a year after Lynott released this song, Wonder led a rally in Washington, D.C. to push Martin Luther King's birthday as a national holiday.
Lynott, was the son of a white Catholic single mother at a time when even mere illegitimacy was taboo. His father was from the West Indies. Phil spent time between Manchester and Dublin, moving in mostly white circles, but he identified as black, as is clear in this song.
This was part of Phil Lynott's first solo album, Solo In Soho. At the time, the was still active in his group Thin Lizzy, which was more popular than ever.
"Ode To A Black Man" was released as the B-side of a song called "King's Call," which is not a tribute to Martin Luther King, but to Elvis Presley. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England
That's Huey Lewis, who had recently formed Huey Lewis and the News, on harmonica.

Comments: 1

Alpha from Washington, DcWow! When you refer to his upbringing, "comfortable" in what way? Unless you grew up as an Afro in a Euro community I doubt seriously you can judge exactly how comfortable the brother was. Also "doing what he damn well pleased" is a far cry from the fact that he was a drug addict, which by the way is a disease. And unless you've spoken with Stevie Wonder directly you probably shouldn't claim to know what he would or wouldn't take to kindly about. The line was funny but apparently was beyond your sense of humor. This so called "song fact" is nothing but opinion with the only exception being the amount of time the song lasts. What does "inspite of the title" mean anyway?

see more comments

More Songfacts:

I'll WaitVan Halen

Michael McDonald co-wrote the Van Halen song "I'll Wait."

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas

Will.I.am, literally dreamt up "I Gotta Feelin'." Said the Black Eyed Pea: "Have you ever had a dream where there's a melody in your dream? I'll wake up out of my sleep and record that! 'I Gotta Feelin' was one of those songs."

Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival

The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son" is about how the Vietnam war was being fought by soldiers without the privilege or connections to get out of it. "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them," John Fogerty said.

Walking On Thin IceYoko Ono

John Lennon's lead guitar work on Yoko Ono's "Walking On Thin Ice" proved to be his final creative act. It was upon their return home after completing laying down the track that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman.

Where Everybody Knows Your NameGary Portnoy

The TV show Cheers was nearly canceled after its first season, but the theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was very popular. To satisfy viewer demand, the theme was made into a full song and released as a single.

Mr. Tambourine ManBob Dylan

Bob Dylan's original version of "Mr. Tambourine Man," released on his album Bringing It All Back Home, has no tambourine, just guitars and harmonica.