Johnny Strikes Up The Band Lyrics

Lyric discussion by briarped 

Cover art for Johnny Strikes Up The Band lyrics by Warren Zevon

The song is about Johnny Carson. Way back when, people tuned into the Tonight Show to 'get away from it all', to put our mind at ease. And Johnny delivered night after night - the keeper of the keys, back by popular demand. Jubilation refers to his hilarious show. Fred de Cordova was Johnny's long-time, unflappable producer (Freddy get ready, rock-steady). In the Excitable Boy version, Warren even exclaims... Heeeeeeere's Johnny, like Ed McMahon used to do. If you grew up watching Carson and enjoy the song in this context, it may quickly become one of your favorites.