Amid haunting images of sailors, foolish victims, and bystanders such as Rickie and Bird, I see a passing parade of love, commitment and heartache. This song has never been lost to me, and, 25 years later is still as powerful and timeless. I still see Johnny, in the rain, searching for the girl to whom he made a pledge - on his knees. Perhaps it is the suggestion of Dean, in the first verse, that allows me to visualize James as Johnny. His pain. Or that a tattoo represents a mark, a flaw, a bad decision.
And despite that I still see him holding her, and realising just what she has done - the mark. But not just to blame her. This is them and what they have done, what they have become. And just like in all meaningful poetry we realise a world, a dark world, dark streets and rooftop docks - and as if to counter it; angels, watching through each others eyes - not willing to intercede, incapable of action. Dirty streets win out of heaven above.
Amid haunting images of sailors, foolish victims, and bystanders such as Rickie and Bird, I see a passing parade of love, commitment and heartache. This song has never been lost to me, and, 25 years later is still as powerful and timeless. I still see Johnny, in the rain, searching for the girl to whom he made a pledge - on his knees. Perhaps it is the suggestion of Dean, in the first verse, that allows me to visualize James as Johnny. His pain. Or that a tattoo represents a mark, a flaw, a bad decision.
And despite that I still see him holding her, and realising just what she has done - the mark. But not just to blame her. This is them and what they have done, what they have become. And just like in all meaningful poetry we realise a world, a dark world, dark streets and rooftop docks - and as if to counter it; angels, watching through each others eyes - not willing to intercede, incapable of action. Dirty streets win out of heaven above.