Johnny Butt was a man with a real strong will to survive
He just keep pushin' on even though he was barely alive
So shoot it up, shoot it up, it just don't matter
Johnny says he wants go do it
Says he wants to kill a cop

We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome
We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome

So Johnny just keep pushin' 'cause the streets are yours
There'll come a day, when all that shit won't matter
So shoot it up, shoot it up, it just don't matter
When you're resisting anyway

We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome
We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome

So Johnny just keep on pushin', the streets are yours
There'll come a day when all of that shit won't matter
So shoot it up, shoot it up, it just don't matter
Resisting anyway

We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome
We've got a brand new dance
It's called we've got to overcome

Overall Meaning

The Ballad Of Johnny Butt is an upbeat ska punk track by Sublime that tells the story of a man named Johnny Butt who refuses to give up despite his constant struggles. The song's lyrics imply that Johnny Butt is a drug addict who is barely surviving on the streets, but he keeps pushing through it all. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase 'we've got a brand new dance, it's called we've got to overcome,' which suggests that Johnny and those like him are fighting to overcome their struggles. There's a sense of defiance in the song, with Johnny stating he wants to 'kill a cop' and urging others to resist.

Despite the perhaps darker themes of the song, there's a sense of hopefulness in it that is characteristic of many Sublime tracks. The upbeat ska beat and the refusal to give into despair suggests that there is always a chance to overcome adversity. The repetition in the chorus reinforces this idea, suggesting that there is a new way forward, and that Johnny Butt and others like him can find a new way to live and thrive.

Line by Line Meaning

Johnny Butt was a man with a real strong will to survive
Johnny Butt had an incredible strength and determination to survive despite all his adversities.

He just keep pushin' on even though he was barely alive
Despite facing serious difficulties, Johnny kept persevering and pushing himself to keep going.

So shoot it up, shoot it up, it just don't matter
To Johnny, taking drugs was just a way to numb his pain and he didn't care about the consequences.

Johnny says he wants go do it
Johnny has a desire to take drugs.

Says he wants to kill a cop
Johnny has violent and aggressive tendencies towards law enforcement.

We've got a brand new dance It's called we've got to overcome
The difficulties and challenges that we face require a new approach and mindset to overcome them.

So Johnny just keep pushin' 'cause the streets are yours
Johnny should keep going despite his struggles because one day he will own the streets and his hardships will be in the past.

There'll come a day, when all that shit won't matter
One day, Johnny will look back and the things that seemed important to him will no longer matter.

When you're resisting anyway
Johnny should continue to resist and fight for what he believes in, even when faced with obstacles.

So Johnny just keep on pushin', the streets are yours
Johnny should continue pushing himself despite any setbacks because eventually he'll overcome them and be in control of his own life.

Resisting anyway
Johnny should maintain his resistance and tenacity in the face of adversity.

We've got a brand new dance It's called we've got to overcome
We must adopt a new perspective and approach to overcome our challenges.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN BURR ROACH, MIKE DAVIS, RICHARD ANTHONY SELGA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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