(Est. 1995 Page After Page)

Blue Boy

Credits

Written by Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Broughton Lunt, Jeff Bova
Produced by Cyndi Lauper & Lennie Petze
Executive Producer: David Wolff
Engineered and mixed by Brian McGee
Additional mixing by Jason Corsaro
Arranged by Cyndi Lauper, Lennie Petze, Jeff Bova & Stephen Broughton Lunt
Linn Drums: Jimmy Bralower
Keyboards: Jeff Bova
Additional Keyboards: Peter Wood
Guitar: John McCurry

Release Information

• Album Version on:

  • True Colors album

  • (?) Change Of Heart 7"

  • Boy Blue 12"

• Remix Version on Boy Blue 7"

• Live Version on:

  • Hole In My Heart 7", 12", 3"CD

  • I Drove All Night 12", 3"CD, 5"CD

Notes

This song was written for a Cyndi's friend who died of AIDS, and the title comes from a poem by Eugene Field called "Little Boy Blue". This poem is based on a kid's story:

"Little Boy Blue"
The little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and staunch he stands;
And the little toy soldier is red with rust,
And his musket moulds in his hands;
Time was when the little toy dog was new,
And the soldier was passing fair;
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.

(This info was given by Robert Alonso, Jr.)

Here is what Cyndi says about this song:
"I tried to write about my friend. I knew he really loved 'That's What Friends Are For.' I know that maybe he would have liked me to do a song like that. Instead I wrote about him personally. I don't know that my lyrics were good enough, I don't know that anything was good enough. Maybe it was too personal. I don't know. But I wrote it for him. It was because of him that I keep trying to do stuff. And other friends. So many talented people, so many of our friends and so many gifted people have passed on. Or struggle everyday. Just to live. And it was because of my friends and others that I do this. Maybe that song wasn't good enough I don't know."
And when she was talked about her intense live performance that was released as the video for the song, she responded:
"I used to cry every night when I sang that song. I was so mad. You know, you go through so much and I was so mad. I was mad that my friend was gone, I was mad at the way people treated me...We didn't know what the hell it was. We didn't know anything. Then all of a sudden it was out in the open and everyone was talking about it, but when he first told me about it I didn't understand. I didn't know. And then all of a sudden my friend was ill and ill and ill and then...It was so hard. I was so angry and every night I would sing my guts out, but you'd open your eyes after and it was the same. But sometimes, in a lot of ways, it was healing."
(This info was given by Barry who interviewed her)

 

Lyrics

You never knew yourself well enough

But she never knew you at all

And when she put you out on your own

It may have stolen your innocence

But not your soul

​

Tell me where is little boy blue

You'll find him standing always

One step ahead

Fast a little, shy a little, boy blue

Wise blood runs warms and deep

On the street ... Kids walking, just a kid walking

​

You send a letter with photographs

And I'll tuck them under my dreams

And if we wake up old beyond our years

Not quite as brave as we seem

It's just the pain that never disappears

​

Tell me where is boy blue

You'll find him standing always one step ahead...

Dance a little, cry a little...

Where are you boy blue

Where are you...

​

© 1986 Rellla Music Corp., Perfect Punch Music (BMI) and Liquid Crystal Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved

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