Johnny's playroom
Is a bunker filled with sand
He's become a third world man
Smoky Sunday
He's been mobilized since dawn
Now he's crouching on the lawn
He's a third world man
Soon you'll throw down your disguise
We'll see behind those bright eyes
By and by
When the sidewalks are safe
For the little guy
I saw the fireworks
I believed that I was dreaming
Till the neighbors came out screaming
He's a third world man
Soon you'll throw down your disguise
We'll see behind those bright eyes
By and by
When the sidewalks are safe
For the little guys
When he's crying out
I just sing that Ghana Rondo
E l'era del terzo mondo
He's a third world man
Is a bunker filled with sand
He's become a third world man
Smoky Sunday
He's been mobilized since dawn
Now he's crouching on the lawn
He's a third world man
Soon you'll throw down your disguise
We'll see behind those bright eyes
By and by
When the sidewalks are safe
For the little guy
I saw the fireworks
I believed that I was dreaming
Till the neighbors came out screaming
He's a third world man
Soon you'll throw down your disguise
We'll see behind those bright eyes
By and by
When the sidewalks are safe
For the little guys
When he's crying out
I just sing that Ghana Rondo
E l'era del terzo mondo
He's a third world man
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was released in November 21, 1980. Your interpretation doens't make chronological sense. Sorry, I misread. You may be probably right.
The Falklands War happened near the conclusion of this period.
He may have started a real fire.
"Lera" - read - Spanish root
"del" - of the - Spanish root
"terzo" - third - Italian direct translation
"mondo" - world - Spanish root
It vaguely translates to "He reads of the Third World"
I have no idea what "Ghana Rondo" is.
"era" is past tense, not a noun. But why do the put in an Italian phrase...?
"Johnny's playroom is a bunker filled with sand." Is probably an internal thought.
Smokey Sunday could be either the main character's nickname from wartime or, and more likely, it is the setting for the following lines in the song.
"Soon you'll throw down your disguise
We'll see behind those bright eyes
By and by
When the sidewalks are safe
For the little guy"
These lines are from observers who probably care about this person and are ready to see their loved one again, but they know they must wait for the illusions to pass first.
The last lines are from the man with PTSD who remembers his experience while he was flashing back. He recalls his experience.
"I saw the fireworks
I believed that I was dreaming
'Til the neighbors came out screaming
He's a third world man"
The song is most unfortunate because the main character is aware of his condition.