Johnny Boy

This song has always painted a picture of a man who's deeply depressed and contemplating suicide. A lot of people think it's something religious and they're probably right but this is how I see it.

"He stays home from work this time He never really told his wife"

He stays home from work and doesn't tell anybody. Strikes me as something somebody who's made up their mind to take their own life would do if they don't want someone to stop them.

"He never really told a lie but this time he decides that it's alright. It's alright."

He's never really liked before, but he decides to start now by not telling people he's staying home? Again seems like something somebody who plans to end their life would do. He decides alright, perhaps because of the common thought among the depressed that when he's done the deed "the world will be better off without him?" He thinks by telling this lie and allowing himself to end his life he's doing his loved ones and himself good thus justifying the lie?

"No one really knows his mind and no one knows behind his eyes. The man deserves a medal But he's never really won a prize before."

The sad truth about many/most depressed people. Others don't understand them, they don't know what happens in their heads. He's done some exceptional things that have gone unrecognized and that's driven him further down this dark path.

"He goes to lock the door."

This line gives me chills. He's locking the door and effectively sealing his fate. Nobody can stop him now.

"He is falling And though he knows it's not The world looks down and frowns."

This part might be a bit of a stretch but he is "falling" to the ground after doing it? He knows deep down this is wrong, but depression has taken over his mind and the larger part of him now thinks this is the right decision. Again, he feels he's making the world a better place, but he's actually doing the opposite-"the world looks down and frowns."

"Get up Johnny boy, get up Johnny boy, Get up cause the world has left you lying on the ground."

In the p.o.v. Of one of his loved ones? They want him to recover, to not make this horrible decision to kill himself because the world has him "lying on the ground." They want him to get up because it does get better.

"You're my pride and joy, you're my pride and joy. Get up Johnny boy because we all need you now. We all need you now."

Again from one of his loved ones, just continuing to explain that he does have value. Another thought that seems to creep into the mind of many depressed-that they have no worth to others. But the truth is that his family and loved ones really need him, he's just consumed by this horrible disease.

"Someone said where you going Someone said to you goodbye"

People do care about him. They want to know where he's going and what he's doing. Perhaps this person is saying goodbye fully unaware that this could be the very last goodbye between the two of them.

"They deflect the disrespect when they say that they blame it on the times They blame it on the times."

They're blaming this depression of his on hard times in the world in general? Kind of telling him to get over it because everyone is a little unhappy? Obviously this is the exact wrong thing to tell somebody who's depressed because it's a totally different kind of sadness, which led him to what happened in verse 1.

We all know you're qualified to fix a chair and love your wife They all know you're qualified but they lie when they blame it on the times. And we blame it on the times.

He's a fully functioning human being. He can do things everyone else can do. These people who are blaming it "on the times" see that he can still function and assume nothing is really wrong with him.

So this is what the song means to me. I'd love for others to add thoughts to this. Easily one of my favorite songs right now.