Dirty White Boy

Dirty White Boy
by Foreigner
Fall 1979

As December 1979 unfurled there was a sense of relief in the air that the year, and indeed the entire decade, was ending. 

1979 had seen an oil shortage in the Summer that had further disrupted an already fragile U.S. economy, and the Iran hostage crisis of early November further had contributed to the feeling that the country had been going through a decided rough patch.

If you turned on the radio you were sure to hear Styx's 'Babe'. It was in Heavy Rotation and impossible to escape, the quintessential escapist song about love getting you through the hard times, as the decade dwindled away.

Luckily, Foreigner's 'Dirty White Boy' was still getting airplay and its hard rockin' served as a useful antidote to the insipidity of 'Babe'.

It's one of those classic rock songs from the 70s that sounds as good today as it did back then. It has a tongue-in-cheek tenor to it that likely wouldn't be detected by contemporary listeners, who no doubt are shocked by the cover art of the album Head Games. 

A great reminiscence of the album from the perspective of a thirteen year-old fan is available here.

Hey baby if you're feelin' down I know what's good for you all day Are you worried what your friends see Will it ruin your reputation lovin' me Cause I'm a dirty white boy, yeah A dirty white boy A dirty white boy Don't drive no big black car Don't like no Hollywood Movie Star You want me to be true to you Don't give a damn what I do to you I'm just a dirty white boy Dirty white boy Dirty white boy Dirty white boy Well I'm a dirty white boy Dirty white boy Dirty white boy Dirty white boy I've been in trouble since I don't know when I'm in trouble now and I know somehow I'll find trouble again I'm a loner but I'm never alone Every night I get one step closer to the danger zone Cause I'm a dirty white boy Dirty white boy Dirty white boy I'm a dirty white boy Dirty white boy C'mon c'mon boy White boy I'm a dirty white boy Dirty White boy Well I'm a dirty white boy Yeah I'm a dirty white boy Dirty white boy Yeah!!