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Only A Lad Lyrics
Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you don't get straight
You'll surely go to hell
But Johnny didn't care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didn't wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster
His teachers didn't understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn't want to learn things
(Had other interests)
He liked to burn things
The lady down the block
She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really can't blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He's our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
His parents gave up they couldn't influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude
And when he stole the care
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn't mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry
Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
It's not his fault that he can't believe
It's not his fault that he can't behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away
Perhaps he'll go away
He'll go away
(Repeat chorus)
Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it's funny
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there Johnny boy
I hope you fry!
Everyone said if you don't get straight
You'll surely go to hell
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didn't wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn't want to learn things
(Had other interests)
He liked to burn things
She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really can't blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He's our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn't mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
It's not his fault that he can't behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away
Perhaps he'll go away
He'll go away
You get away with murder
And you think it's funny
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there Johnny boy
I hope you fry!
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How is it more Oingo Boingo fans haven't commented on this song? This is easily one of their best! I think the meaning is clear and I wholeheartedly agree with Elfman's last verse. The punk ass criminals should fry.
I remember seeing "Capitalism" on some list of the "top conservative rock songs," which is funny since I think that song is an obvious satire of its speaker's conservative perspective. I think this song is the real conservative song on the record. That's not to say Elfman should be naively equated with the speaker of the song, but isn't it cathartic when he screams, "Hey there Johnny boy, I hope you fry!" That voice isn't ironized the way the speaker of "capitalism" is, because we know he's right: Johnny's problem isn't that he's "underprivileged," it's that he's a spoiled borderline psychopath. The irony works the other way, against the societal voices excusing Johnny's behavior and hoping pathetically, "Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away." In the real world, I'm sure there are lots of criminals who really are victims of their upbringings and circumstances. But Johnny's just a little prick who deserves whatever punishment he gets.
Enuma_Elish, At the end he says "Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me" and "I hope you fry!". Hes clearly stating his position in the matter.
This song is very much about society rewarding bad behavior. A guy who not only misbehaves as a child, but goes on to lead a life of crime and garners sympathy from other people and even admiration for being a "bad boy". Yes Elfman's lyrics were satirical and full of sarcasm, and in this case I think he's satirizing liberals for their belief that showing empathy will persuade people from doing bad things.
This song is a mockery of society about how kids will do horrible things, but adults will say, "He's only a lad, we really can't blame him," and the kid will get out of punishment. But that kid (Johnny) in the future, will get nowhere.
gonna be on the new guitar hero =] Encore: rock the 80's
This song sounded so familiar when I was playing it on Guitar Hero, and at first I thought, "This song sucks."
I hate that mentality that people like this are totally blameless for their crimes.
But of course you find out at the end where the singer stands, so it's all good :) Good thing, too - I love the sound.
This song sounded so familiar when I was playing it on Guitar Hero, and at first I thought, "This song sucks."
I hate that mentality that people like this are totally blameless for their crimes.
But of course you find out at the end where the singer stands, so it's all good :) Good thing, too - I love the sound.
I'm not sure how seriously we should take this song. I mean, it's on the same album as "Capitalism" and, pushing the same thing to an even greater extent, "Little Girls". Part of me wants to say that this song is, like "Capitalism", "serious satire." But maybe it is what Danny Elfman really thinks.
I think that he is serious about what this song is about. So he was often satirical but does that mean he hasn't the ability to be serious? I think at the end he sums it up with his opinion.
Also, WTF OINGO FANS?? COMMENT PLZ?