Lonely Boy (Andrew Gold song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Lonely Boy”
Single by Andrew Gold from the album What's Wrong with This Picture?
B-side	"Must Be Crazy"
Released	1977
Length	4:24
Label	Asylum
Writer(s)	Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold singles chronology
"That's Why I Love You" (1976) "Lonely Boy" (1977) "Thank You for Being a Friend" (1978)

"Lonely Boy" is a song written and recorded by Andrew Gold in 1976 for his album What's Wrong with This Picture?. The song features backing vocals provided by Linda Ronstadt (for whom Gold had previously worked as a producer and backing musician). When released as a single in 1977, the song became a top-twenty hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. While it would prove his biggest U.S. hit, peaking at #7, Gold's later single "Never Let Her Slip Away" experienced greater success in the UK.

The song follows the life of a child who is neglected by his parents after the birth of a younger sister. Many assume this song to be autobiographical of Andrew Gold, yet the artist has denied this, despite great similarities between the lyrics and Gold's own life. The lyric "He was born on a summer day in 1951" matches Gold's August 1951 birthday, and "In the summer of '53 his mother/Brought him a sister" matches his sister's birthday.

The song has recently been covered by Lazlo Bane (who wrote the Scrubs title soundtrack) and currently available to listen to on their myspace page. The track was also released on their covers' album Guilty Pleasures.