Black Boys On The Corner

Album: Whiskey in the Jar (1972)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is an autobiographical song from the recalcitrant Phil Lynott. According to the Mark Putterford biography, it was released as the B Side of "Whiskey In The Jar" on the Decca label in November 1972, and in August 1986 on a limited edition 12 inch EP. It was intended to be the A Side, and according to Lynott's authorised biographer, Stuart Bailie in The Ballad of The Thin Man, it was written to deal with "the prejudices and stereotypes enforced on the black man". This may have been the case, but Lynott himself never suffered from any of these prejudices and stereotypes, as a critical reading of any of his biographies reveals.

    Lyrical content aside, Thin Lizzy began life as a power trio, and as with the later twin-lead lineup, the supremely confident Lynott was never afraid to allow the axemen to dominate a track, as lead guitarist Eric Bell does here. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

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