I listened to Phil Lynott's "Solo In Soho" yesterday, a record that I think has aged quite well. At the time, it might not have been what Thin Lizzy fans wanted from their fearless leader, with Lynott dabbling in synth-pop and funk. But the songs were strong enough to hold up over 40 years later, especially the lead single, "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts," which is pretty much Thin Lizzy in all but name.
This track is pop perfection, but what I love most about it is Lynott's wordplay and rhyme scheme. It's classic Phil and never fails to get me, particularly his impassioned delivery of Miss Lonely Hearts' plea to Lonely Girl.
Dear miss lonely heartsI had to write this letterTo tell you how I came to meet herShe was sweet but I dated her sisterThat's how I made my mistakeAnd I can't forget her
I felt depressedTill a friend of mine suggestedThat I write to this addressSo unless you can find a cureFor my lonelinessIt will persist, it will persist
Lonely boyLooking for anotherLonely girlTo love one anotherLonely heartsTurn to each otherLonely soulsLonely souls
Dear lonely boyI doubt if my replyWill bring much joyIt seems from your letter that you liedOr strongly impliedThat you were satisfiedTo take her sister by your side
I became distressedAt your total lack of tactfulnessSo at bestAll I can suggestIs that you resistAnd you put an endTo such thoughts of silliness
Lonely boyLooking for anotherLonely girlTo love one anotherLonely heartsTurn to each otherLonely soulsLonely souls
Dear miss lonely heartsI've got problemsYou're the only one I know that can solve themI love a girl but I'm dating her sisterAnd if I persist in my pursuit I will kiss her
Dear lonely girlI doubt if this reply will bring much joyBut you must not trust this boyYou must not lust this boyResistAnd do not kiss this boy
Yep, a fantastic tune. Solo In Soho also a great solo album. Sometime back in the eighties, I was sitting at Birmingham (U.K.) airport waiting to board my flight. My plane arrived, and the passengers from the incoming flight all departed. A lone figure emerged at the end after everyone else had already departed. A tall guy dressed head to toe black leather, shades, carrying a ghetto blaster and smoking a cigarette looking like the coolest thing you'd ever seen. It was Phil! If I'd had my wits about me I would have asked for an autograph (no cell for phones for selfies in those days). He saw me looking and gave me the tiniest of smiles and a head nod as I'm sure he could see how taken aback I was. He's very sadly missed.
ReplyDeleteFun story sixtyacres. Post at 4:30 am? I hope you had it automated. Or perhaps were up early to go running?
ReplyDeleteDude was way cool.
ReplyDeleteAh, here's a question for ya, based on your SOTD:
ReplyDeleteBruce's shootin' Janey or Warren's shootin' Jeannie?
PS Thumbs up on the PL song, which I most certainly had downloaded from this very site when I checked to see if I had it already and found it.
C in California
An excellent underrated lyricist who could put images into your head through his lyrics and as teenager growing up with his music a lot of his lyrics were relevant to mine and other young men experiences, go listern to "little girl in bloom".
ReplyDeleteHe was the coolest rock star never to make it in the States and is greatly missed. Thanks Sal for keeping him alive and thanks Phil for what you have left behind.
Always considered PL and TL as my own private Springsteen with more sass and better guitars but similar amazing storytelling….where Bruce writes more in the first-person, Phil was a better third-person story spinner, like a McCartney….God bless….solo or otherwise we’ll never see his like again.
ReplyDeleteAl