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Johnny Appleseed Lyrics

Through word of mouth let it be known
The man who spends his life on a mission, he's legendary
Travelling from coast to coast
He's the contemporary Johnny Appleseed

[Spoken]: "Now, man, who was talking shit about Johnny anyway?
He's down for the cause, holmes."

He's making sure his garden grows
He'll plant a seed in every town he goes
Fertilizing the countryside
Couldn't stop him with insecticide

Making sure the garden grows, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with the garden hose
And you know he'll be plantin' his seed, yeah, yeah, yeah
Groomin' the backyard, or whackin' a weed

[Spoken]: "Oh, yes, this Johnny character is just what we're looking for
He's very straight, very gang, very Hispanic
He'll do just fine."

When diggin' holes, he'll be wearing a glove
He go into the shed, get out a shovel, and he shove
He'll plant the seed, makin' sure it's sown
He go into the shed and he start hoein' with the hoe, ho, ho, ho

Makin' sure that the garden grow, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with the garden hose
Groomin' the backyard or whackin' the weed, yeah, yeah, yeah
The contemporary Johnny Appleseed
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8 Meanings

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Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

I always thought this song was just a commentary on hispanic gardeners - i.e. the stereotype that many gardeners are Latino, and therefore they are the modern day Johnny Appleseeds.

A second thought that came to mind was the possibility that this guy plants Marijuana seeds everywhere, but there's not really any direct evidence to support that. More likely this is just about general gardening.

Song Meaning

Although I took a re-listen, and maybe there is some direct evidence to support the marijuana thing. At the first spoken bit:

"Hey man, why you talkin shit about Johnny anyway? He's down with the cause, holmes."

"The cause" perhaps being legalization of pot? Then, the second spoken part:

"This Johnny character is just what we're looking for. He's very street, very gang, and very Hispanic. He'll do just fine."

This could be either an authority figure saying that Johnny would be a good person to go after as he "fits the profile", so...

Not Valid
Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

this song is about the band's drummer, erik sandin. its rumored that he gets laid in ever town (he'll plant a seed in ever town he goes). this earned him the nickname 'johnny appleseed'.

Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

Ahahaha, that's freakin awesome.

Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

"Johnny Appleseed" is in fact about Erik Sandin, (or "Smelly"), the drummer for NOFX. Fat Mike and Melvin talked about it in an interview a few years after White Trash... was released.

The only idiosyncrasy is that in the spoken lyrics after each chorus, El Hefe describes someone Hispanic while in reality, Smelly is representative of the "White Trash" in the album title - Mike and Melvin are the "Two Heebs," and of course El Hefe is the "Bean."

During recording, the album was to be called White Trash, Two Kikes, and a Spic. However, Eric Melvin's mom caught wind of this, explained it to Melvin's grandmother, and she became so upset that Melvin decided they needed to change the title. This was also discussed in an interview circa 1996/1997.

I submitted the spoken lyrics and made a few corrections so that these lyrics match what is featured on the original lyric sheet issued with the LP in 1992.

Happy listening!

Song Meaning
Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

I always thought that this song was about American legend 'Johnny Appleseed'. But the comment about the band's drummer makes a lot more sense. NEway, fine guitar work here, good harmonies, funky song. IMHO, the 'White Trash...' album is NOFX' only real good one. Or, at least, the last good album they made.

Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

If you really like NOFX, you should like something about every album. If you read their book (hepatitis bathtub) and watch videos of their live shows AND watch NOFX backstage passport you'll get to know a lot about them and appreciate them more. They've been through a lot and are good dudes. I ask myself sometimes "what would you say if someone asked you your favorite song by them". And I realized that o can't pick just one. Each song has its own magic and genius. Do any of you have favorites? And why?

Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

o yea, this song is sung by el hefe, if it wasnt obvious enough...

Cover art for Johnny Appleseed lyrics by NOFX

German Hitmeister, sorry but you are wrong. Punk in Drublic is their best.