The Wild Boys

Duran Duran

The wild boys are calling on their way back from the fire
in august moon's surrender to a dust cloud on the rise
wild boys fallen far from glory
reckless and so hungered on the razors edge you trail
because there's murder by the roadside in a sore afraid new world

they tried to break us, looks like they'll try again

wild boys never lose it
wild boys never chose this way
wild boys never close your eyes
wild boys always shine

you got sirens for a welcome there's bloodstain for your pain
and your telephone been ringing wile you're dancing in the rain
wild boys wonder where is glory
where is all you angels now the figureheads have fell
and lovers war with arrows over secrets they could tell

they tried to tame you looks like they'll try again

wild boys never lose it
wild boys never chose this way
wild boys never close your eyes
wild boys always shine


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

The Wild Boys song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentThis was considered very different from anything they had ever done when they released it. Still is.
    emuInAmuumuuon March 25, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThe Wild Boys is a book by William S. Burroughs about renegade homosexual boys and is considered to be a better work than his more famous Naked Lunch. Simon le Bon has based many of his songs on literature.
    brobishon June 08, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI've always thought this song was about soldiers. Men who have fought in war and kept unrecognized when got back home.
    mcclaineon May 18, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI read that director Russel Mulcahy wanted to make a film based on the book. Duran was going to do the music (or at least the title song). The movie fell through, so Russel decided to do the video with them...
    talynnon April 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWhen I hear this song it chokes me up a bit.

    Imagine it as an analogy for growing up.

    The wild boys are a group of teenagers. They all set out to have a good time and figure out the world, party, and cut loose. Now these boys are known to be party animals, and when they come back to thier hometown they are treated like strangers, and blamed for everything. They are trying to make these boys take on responcibility, but they want nothing of it. And in thier minds everything is telling them to fight it.
    AnthonyEliteon July 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song reminds me of Lord of the Flies

    BTW, Duranie, I'm sure you know that that wasn't the only time Simon was stuck under water. He also capsized his sailboat during a big regatta.
    captainron042on May 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI got the 7-inch single of Wild Boys in 1985 for my seventh birthday. I was a huge Duran fan, but this song never really did it for me, even then. As bubbletea said, it's way overdone. Its video was way overdone too.

    The breakup of the original group just needed to happen. It was obvious with this song and video that they'd reached the limit. Luckily it ended and the band's music became much stronger as a result. They began focusing more on the music and less on the image. Whilst the Arcadia album was not all that memorable, Notorious and Big Thing both have great album tracks that few people ever hear.
    Starqueston April 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentBut the acoustic set from unplugged is the best version of this song... ever.
    ryan don June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love love love this song! Also, if you like this song, chances are you like Union Of The Snake too. I also love the video for this song, if you've ever seen it, you have to give it two thumbs up for creativity. Can you beleive all that in a video in the 80's? Also, while they were filming Simon on the windmill thing, the machine stopped with his head still underwater! He couldve died! and then we would have no ordinary world, notorious, or come undone!
    Duranieon April 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI am more familiar with the live version they performed at Live 8 than the original recording, but I still love this song! They're such a lively band and just show you what the 80s were like really!!
    SS2112on March 27, 2006   Link

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