Nr Boy

N----R BOY

Meanwhile, Thomas Johnson – who became known as The Lonesome Drifter – got a poem from an insurance salesman in his hometown called “N----r Boy”, about someone who had big plans for his life. Johnson changed the title to “Eager Boy”, though in the original, the lyrics have a real poignancy: After listing his dreams in the verses, including wanting to become Senator and maybe even President – just like the current President Barack Obama – the chorus line is: “But everybody treats me like a toy / Because I’m just a n----r boy”.

(May 2011)