This song is so so powerful, probably my absolute favorite. I don't really interpret the lyrics as a guy suffering from a school bully, but rather abuse from a family member. This Johnny person is constantly bruised by the words from the abuser, blamed for the difficulties in their life, probably physically hit. He "only sees from 9 to 5" because those are the hours he's away from home- he can feel safe and find solace outside of that personal hell. This stupid game is the repeated acts of being abused, reconciling, then back to the beginning- running in a dizzying circle. The problem is never actually fixed, just beat further under the rug. None of these "wannabes" know what is really occurring, where he is breaking inside from such torment. Johnny is tired of hiding, and that gun doesn't serve as a threat to kill someone else, rather himself. The abuser will be sorry one day to find Johnny gone, where the abuser is now to blame. That sick game of letting the abuser experience a twisted high from hurting Johnny will finally be put to and end. He will no longer appease to the abuser by hating himself, because the abuser's "love" really isn't that at all. He will be free to fly, smile,and it will finally be the abuser's turn to suffer.
Yea, too much analysis but whatever, intense lyrics!
This song is so so powerful, probably my absolute favorite. I don't really interpret the lyrics as a guy suffering from a school bully, but rather abuse from a family member. This Johnny person is constantly bruised by the words from the abuser, blamed for the difficulties in their life, probably physically hit. He "only sees from 9 to 5" because those are the hours he's away from home- he can feel safe and find solace outside of that personal hell. This stupid game is the repeated acts of being abused, reconciling, then back to the beginning- running in a dizzying circle. The problem is never actually fixed, just beat further under the rug. None of these "wannabes" know what is really occurring, where he is breaking inside from such torment. Johnny is tired of hiding, and that gun doesn't serve as a threat to kill someone else, rather himself. The abuser will be sorry one day to find Johnny gone, where the abuser is now to blame. That sick game of letting the abuser experience a twisted high from hurting Johnny will finally be put to and end. He will no longer appease to the abuser by hating himself, because the abuser's "love" really isn't that at all. He will be free to fly, smile,and it will finally be the abuser's turn to suffer. Yea, too much analysis but whatever, intense lyrics!