Sugar Blues

The more one studies the lyrics of some of Phil Lynott's songs, the more it is apparent that he harbored some sort of death wish. "Sugar Blues" from the Chinatown album may contain some fine and typical Thin Lizzy soloing, but in the words of Lynott biographer Mark Putterford, it also contained "perhaps the most disturbing disclosure of them all." The song is obviously about Lynott's growing addiction to heroin, but as Dublin promoter Smiley Bolger said, "It was so obvious we couldn't see it."

Lynott co-wrote "Sugar Blues" with guitarists Scott Gorham and Snowy White, and drummer Brian Downey; it runs 4:22 and was released on the album in October 1980. A live version was also released as the B-side of the single "Chinatown." This was recorded at Cork City Hall on April 13, 1980. Less than six years later, Lynott's addiction to class A drugs led to his death aged just 36.