English Boy

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'English Boy' is the first song on Pete Townshend's 1993 album Psychoderelict. There are three versions of this song:

• the first, lengthier version features dialog by Ruth Streeting over instrumental parts of the song.
• the second was released as an edited, no dialog version, and appeared on both single releases in 1993 and on the Pete Townshend compilation albums Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking, Anthology, and Gold.
• a reprise, which ends the album and features a slightly different backing (including harmonica by Peter Evans-Hope and additional cowbell) and dialog by Ray Smith, wrapping up the album and imploring "what happened to all that lovely hippie shit?"

In the UK, the song was released as a single in the following variations:

• 'English Boy' (non-dialog) / 'English Boy' (dialog) (7" vinyl)
• 'English Boy' (dialog) / 'Fake It' / 'Psycho Montage' (CD single 1)
• 'English Boy' (non-dialog) / 'Fake It' / 'Flame' (Simon Townshend demo) / 'Early Morning Dreams' (Pete Townshend demo) (CD single 2)

This song is used to introduce the character Ray High as well as journalist Ruth Streeting, host of Street On The Street ("strictly no rock star bullshit" on her show) who makes her distaste for Ray well-known.