Trollheart

Yeah, I probably should have the journal retitled Lights Down Low: Trollheart's Gay Journal of Ballads and Slow Songs. Yeah, we won't be doing that...


Title: “The Sun Goes Down”
Artiste: Thin Lizzy
Nationality: Irish
Year: 1982
Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Subgenre:
Source: Thin Lizzy's final album, 1982's Thunder and Lightning
Written by: Darren Wharton and Phil Lynott
Chart position(s) (Singles only): UK: 52
Storyline: I have no idea; I have never understood what this song is about
Main instrument: Guitar
Other version(s) by:
Comments: Proving that Lizzy could write the odd stunning ballad (and there were very few in their catalogue), this song proved extremely prophetic and tragic. Although it's not the last song on their final album, it was the last single to be released from it (as you can see above, it totally bombed) but its title certainly presaged the end of a band who had struggled with, achieved and then somewhat lost their fame over the course of a decade. I say above that the main instrument is guitar, and it is, but really the song would be a lot less without the atmospheric keyboard soundscapes of Darren Wharton, who co-wrote it. If anyone knows what it's about - “There is a demon among us/ Whose soul belongs in Hell/ Sent here to redeem us/ She knows it all too well” ???? - then please do enlighten me as I have no clue. It's a beautifully laidback song though, with Lynott's trademark brogue slightly toned back and a superb guitar solo from John Sykes, who had just joined the band at this point.

Although of course nobody in the band knew or expected this would be their final record, four years later Phil Lynott would be dead, and Lizzy as a band would be over. They've sort of resurrected themselves recently as The Black Star Riders, but it kind of isn't the same. Just as Queen will never be Queen without Freddie, it really can't be denied that Lynott was Lizzy, and with his death the sun really did go down on this fine band. Such a waste.

Rating:

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