English Boy (song)
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| "English Boy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pete Townshend | ||||
| from the album Psychoderelict | ||||
| Released | 19 July 1993[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 5:07 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer | Pete Townshend | |||
| Pete Townshend singles chronology | ||||
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"English Boy" is a song by Pete Townshend, released as the first and only single from his 1993 album Psychoderelict.[2][3] The song is used to introduce the character Ray High, as well as journalist Ruth Streeting, host of Street on the Street.[4] Townshend has said the song is about "the emergence of the modern punk", and has been referred to as the focus point for the entire album.[4] 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 Hope-Evans and additional cowbell) and dialog by Ray High, wrapping up the album and imploring "what happened to all that lovely hippie shit?"
