In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
oh johnny
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh and johnny, do you miss me
i was so hungry i just wanted to attack
and i was so hungry well, i mean no, i'm never gonna look back
oh johnny, sometimes i wonder, sometimes i wonder
and i
and i
wonder what it's like to die
no no you see, i could have been a star..i could have been a whip
can i tell you something right now johnny we could have been sailing along on our ship
here's this ring that he wore
it's just another thing that he wore
but there's something about this ring that i just can't ignore
so i keep it but i don't know why
oh johnny
do you miss all of the ladies
all of the crazies
oh johnny, do you miss me
oh johnny
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh johnny, there's something i'd like to know
and i
and i
can you tell me john. can you tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
oh, hey johnny can you tell me what it's like to die
oh can you tell me what it's like to die
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh and johnny, do you miss me
i was so hungry i just wanted to attack
and i was so hungry well, i mean no, i'm never gonna look back
oh johnny, sometimes i wonder, sometimes i wonder
and i
and i
wonder what it's like to die
no no you see, i could have been a star..i could have been a whip
can i tell you something right now johnny we could have been sailing along on our ship
here's this ring that he wore
it's just another thing that he wore
but there's something about this ring that i just can't ignore
so i keep it but i don't know why
oh johnny
do you miss all of the ladies
all of the crazies
oh johnny, do you miss me
oh johnny
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh johnny, there's something i'd like to know
and i
and i
can you tell me john. can you tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
oh, hey johnny can you tell me what it's like to die
oh can you tell me what it's like to die
Lyrics submitted by Nelly, edited by sacketsharbor
Johnny Lyrics as written by Gordon James Gano
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hmm, I've always thought it was about blaming yourself for someone's suicide... Or maybe not blaming yourself. But being sad and a little bit pissed at the same time.