Almanac Music: ‘Oh Boy’ – Songs Referencing the Words ‘Boy’ and/or ‘Boys’
Almanac Music: ‘Oh Boy’ – Songs Referencing the Words ‘Boy’ and/or ‘Boys’
Hi, Almanackers! This piece in my long-running series about key popular song themes concerns songs that reference the word ‘boy’ and/or ‘boys’. We’ll keep this songlist simple – all that is relevant are songs that make use of either or both of these words.
So, dear readers, please put your relevant songs in the ‘Comments’ section. Below, as usual, are some examples from me to set the tone.
‘Boys’, written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell, performed by The Beatles (1963)
‘This Boy’, written by John Lennon, credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles (1963)
‘The Black Velvet Band’, traditional, performed by The Grehan Sisters (1967)
(fabulous version – KD)
‘Lola’, written by Ray Davies, performed by The Kinks (1970)
‘Oh Boy’, written by Tony Romeo, performed by Diana Trask (1974)
‘Boys Don’t Cry’, written by Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst and Michael Dempsey, performed by The Cure (1979)
‘The Boys Light Up’, written by James Reyne, performed by Australian Crawl (1980)
‘Beautiful Boy’, written and performed by John Lennon (1980)
‘Boys Will Be Boys’, written by Mark Gable, Brett Williams, Ian Hulme and Lindsay Tebbutt, performed by The Choirboys (1988)
‘If I Were A Boy’, written by Brittany Jean Carlson and Toby Gad, performed by Beyoncé (2008)
………………………………………..
Now, dear readers / listeners – it’s over to you. Your responses to this topic are warmly welcomed. In the ‘Comments’ section, please add your own choice of a song referencing boys, along with any other relevant material you wish to include.
[Note: as usual, Wikipedia has been a solid general reference for this piece, particularly in terms of checking dates and other details.]
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises is available HERE
Read more Almanac Music HERE
If you would like to receive the Almanac Music and Poetry newsletter we will add you to the list. Please email us: [email protected]
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
First that come to mind KD are:
‘Oh, Boy’ – Buddy Holly
‘I’m a Boy’ – The Who
Col Ritchie
Thanks for opening the batting as usual. Col – two fine songs to get this ‘innings’ up and running.
Welcome back KD (jnr)
The first song lyric to pop in:
Rules & Regulations (1967) from the Mellow Yellow album
‘Is it a boy or is it a girl?
Takes all kinds to make our world go round
The army life ought to be a stipulation
A-that’s the proper education
Twenty-five years probation
And give ’em a double ‘elping of
The rules and regulations (sing it up boys!)’
cheers, KD (snr)
Suburban Boy – Dave Warners From The Suburbs
Honey I’m A Big Boy Now – Billy Bragg
Goodbye Little Boy – Triffids
(sorry Rick)
Boys! What Did The Detective Say – Sports
The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy
The Saturday Boys – Billy Bragg
The Boy Done Good – Billy Bragg
Boys Keep Swinging – David Bowie
Boy On The Run – Dingoes
Excitable Boy – Warren Zevon
Bad Boy For Love – Rose Tattoo
Can we include “cowboys” KD?
Swish