8 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
I'm Straight Lyrics
I, called this number three times already today.
But I got scared, I put it back in place.
(I put my phone back in place)
I sure don't know if I should have called up.
Look just tell me if I'm out of place.
'Cause here's your chance to make me feel awkward.
And wish that I had never even called up this place.
I saw you though today, you know walk by with Hippie Johnny.
I had to call up and say, how I want to take his place.
So this phone call today conerns Hippie Johnny.
He's always stoned. He's never straight.
I saw you today, you know walk by with Hippie Johnny.
Look, I had to call up to day, how I want to take his place.
See, he's stoned.
Hippie Johnny.
Now get this, I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
Now look, I like him too.
(I like him...)
Hippie Johnny.
But I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm Straight.
I said I'm Straight.
I'm proud to say...
Well, I'm Straight and I want to take his place.
Now I've watched you, walk around here. I've watched you meet.
With boyfriends(I know) and you tell me how they're deep.
Look but, I think...If these guys, if they're really so great,
Tell me why can't they at least take this place and make it straight?
Why always stoned,
Like Hippie Johnny is?
I'm straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm certianley not stoned,
Like Hippie Johnny is.
I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm Straight.
I said I'm Straight.
I'm...
I'm Straight, and I want to...
(Alright, all you Modern Lovers, What is it?)
I'm Straight!
(Tell the world now).
I'm Straight!
(That's it).
I'm Straight!
(Yeah).
I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
But I got scared, I put it back in place.
(I put my phone back in place)
I sure don't know if I should have called up.
Look just tell me if I'm out of place.
And wish that I had never even called up this place.
I saw you though today, you know walk by with Hippie Johnny.
I had to call up and say, how I want to take his place.
He's always stoned. He's never straight.
I saw you today, you know walk by with Hippie Johnny.
Look, I had to call up to day, how I want to take his place.
Hippie Johnny.
Now get this, I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
Now look, I like him too.
(I like him...)
Hippie Johnny.
But I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm Straight.
I said I'm Straight.
I'm proud to say...
Well, I'm Straight and I want to take his place.
With boyfriends(I know) and you tell me how they're deep.
Look but, I think...If these guys, if they're really so great,
Tell me why can't they at least take this place and make it straight?
Like Hippie Johnny is?
I'm straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm certianley not stoned,
Like Hippie Johnny is.
I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
I'm Straight.
I said I'm Straight.
I'm...
I'm Straight, and I want to...
(Alright, all you Modern Lovers, What is it?)
(Tell the world now).
I'm Straight!
(That's it).
I'm Straight!
(Yeah).
I'm Straight, and I want to take his place.
Song Info
Submitted by
ultrasleaze On Aug 13, 2002
More Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers
Hospital
Ice Cream Man
I'm a Little Dinosaur
The Morning Of Our Lives
Fly Into the Mystery
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Wow, no love for Johnathan Richman (let alone his best song)?? shakes head in shame
This song needs to be heard to understand. The way the lrics are dictated gives away all the feelings. If you have ever spoken like they way this song is sung, then you shoudl relate.
Oh, it always makes me laugh. "Look, I like him too! I like him. Hippy Johnny." Top tune.
Jonathan Richman is hilarious. I like the line (which was mis-transcribed above-- but great job with the lyrics otherwise) "If these guys, if they're really so great, Tell me why can't they at least take this place and take it straight?" In other words, if these people are really so deep, etc., why do they need drugs? The implication is that life is hard, and its kind of a cop out to use drugs to get through it. Here here!
i will comment since i'm here.
yea, upthera44, I agree. Apparently Hippie Johnny refers to on-and-off Modern Lovers guitarist John Felice. This message still stands true today. My mates are all clever but hide behind the fake auspices of shitly-mixed drugs at parties. "I'm proud to say I'M STRAIGHT!" - must have been a controversial thing just after the '60s.
Also, a lot of (citation needed) people in the UK think that this song refers to JR's sexual orientation. Ahh, the Atlantic...
I really see this song as a precursor to the straight edge attitude and culture that developed almost ten years later. Jonathan Richman was really health minded and it's apparent in some of his other earlier works (like in "She Cracked" when he says "I stay alone, eat health food at home"), and I think this song is a statement about people taking care of themselves instead of seeing some kind of rebellion in self destruction.
"I'm Straight" refers to being sober from alcohol and drugs.The song is pretty clear. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_edge
i heard it a year ago. something like "i don't want nobody else but you" definately something about "i get excited just thinkin about you dancin in your underwear" i could be completely off. does this sound familiar?