Billy Liar (The Decemberists song)
Encyclopedia
"Billy Liar" is the first single released by The Decemberists. Deriving its title from the English
novel Billy Liar
, the song also references "Nogood Boyo" of Dylan Thomas
' Under Milk Wood
, and appears to generally talk about a young man's boredom during long summer days. Musically, it has an upbeat, somewhat piano
-driven, rather poppy
sound.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
novel Billy Liar
Billy Liar
Billy Liar is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse, which was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and featured in a number of popular songs....
, the song also references "Nogood Boyo" of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
' Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
, and appears to generally talk about a young man's boredom during long summer days. Musically, it has an upbeat, somewhat piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
-driven, rather poppy
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
sound.
Track listing
- "Billy Liar" – 4:08
- "Los Angeles, I'm Yours" – 4:17
- "Everything I Try to Do, Nothing Seems to Turn Out Right" – 4:03
- "Sunshine" – 2:23