Poor Boy (Split Enz song)

"Poor Boy"
Single by Split Enz
from the album True Colours
B-side	"Missing Person (Live)"
Released	1980 (1980)
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	Melbourne, 1979
Genre	New wave
Length	3:28
Label	Mushroom Records
Writer(s)	Tim Finn
Producer(s)	David Tickle
Split Enz singles chronology
"What's the Matter with You" (1980) "Poor Boy" (1980) "One Step Ahead" (1980)

"Poor Boy" was a song written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1980 True Colours album. It was released as a single in the UK only.

The song

The lyrics concerned a young man who had fallen in love with a girl on another planet, who he had only discovered existed when tuning his radio, and his regret that they will never meet face to face. In place of a sung chorus, the song made use of an ethereal keyboard solo by Eddie Rayner.

Cultural references

In 2009 a Melbourne Theatre Company production of the same name redeveloped the song's themes, with the other-worldly character presented as the ghost of a car accident.

Track listing

Released in the United Kingdom only.

1. "Poor Boy" 3:28
2. "Missing Person (Live)" 3:39

Personnel

• Tim Finn - vocals
• Neil Finn - vocals, guitar
• Noel Crombie - percussion
• Malcolm Green - drums
• Nigel Griggs - bass
• Eddie Rayner - vocals, keyboards

ENZSO version

"Poor Boy"
File:Poor Boy album cover.jpg
Single by Enzso
from the album Enzso
Released	1995
Format	CD Single
Label	Sony/Epic
Producer(s)	Dave Woodcock Eddie Rayner
Enzso singles chronology
"Poor Boy" (1995) Message to My Girl (1995)
Dave Dobbyn singles chronology "Naked Flame" (1995) "Poor Boy" (1995) "Beside You" (1997)

"Poor Boy" is a song by Enzso, released as the first single from their album Enzso. With the B-sides "I See Red", which is available on the album, and "Albert of India".

Track listing

1. "Poor Boy" - Dave Dobbyn
2. "I See Red" - Tim Finn
3. "Albert of India" - Eddie Rayner