Johnny Appleseed
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He might pass by in the hour of need
There's a lot of souls
Ain't drinking from the well locked in a factory
Hey, look there goes
Hey, look there goes
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
Lord, there goes Martin Luther King
Notice how the door closes when the chimes of freedom ring
I hear what you're saying, I hear what he's saying
Is what was true now no longer so
Hey, I hear what you're saying
Hey, I hear what he's saying
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
What the people are saying
And we know every road, go, go
What the people are saying
There ain't no berries on the trees
Let the summertime sun
(Fall on the apple) Fall on the apple
Lord, there goes a Buick forty-nine
Black sheep of the angels riding, riding down the line
We think there is a soul, we don't know
That soul is hard to find
Hey, down along the road
Hey, down along the road
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
Hey, it's what the people are saying
It's what the people are saying
Hey, there ain't no berries on the trees
Hey, that's what the people are saying, no berries on the trees
You're checking out the honey, baby
You had to go killin' all the bees
The song "Johnny Appleseed" by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros is a politically charged piece that speaks about various socio-political issues. The song begins with the words "Lord, there goes Johnny Appleseed, he might pass by in the hour of need," which highlights the importance of helping others in their times of need. The reference to "Johnny Appleseed" is based on a real-life American pioneer named John Chapman, who planted apple trees across the American Midwest to provide food for settlers. This reference, therefore, sets the tone of the song. Strummer argues that there are many souls out there that are not drinking from the well because they are locked in a factory – this can be interpreted as an allusion to the capitalist society that puts profit over people, leaving many locked in a cycle of poverty and exploitation.
The song then goes on to speak about Martin Luther King and how freedom is often misunderstood in modern times. The lyrics state: "If you're after getting the honey, hey, then you don't go killing all the bees," which means that we should not destroy the source of something good while trying to obtain it. In the second part of the song, the artist speaks about the hardships of finding one's true self and how it is difficult to distinguish the soul from the facade that people create. The song also touches on the idea that the people see the blemishes in society and how they want to fix it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, there goes Johnny Appleseed
A person named Johnny Appleseed is passing by
He might pass by in the hour of need
Johnny Appleseed may be able to help in a time of need
There's a lot of souls
Ain't drinking from the well locked in a factory
Many people are not living fulfilling lives due to being trapped working in factories
Hey, look there goes
Hey, look there goes
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
There are better ways to achieve success than by destroying the sources of it
Lord, there goes Martin Luther King
Notice how the door closes when the chimes of freedom ring
I hear what you're saying, I hear what he's saying
Is what was true now no longer so
Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist, but some question whether his message still holds true today
Hey, I hear what you're saying
Hey, I hear what he's saying
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
It's important to listen to different perspectives and not resort to destructive methods to achieve success
What the people are saying
And we know every road, go, go
What the people are saying
There ain't no berries on the trees
The people are expressing dissatisfaction with their circumstances
Let the summertime sun
(Fall on the apple) Fall on the apple
Enjoy the simple pleasures of life
Lord, there goes a Buick forty-nine
Black sheep of the angels riding, riding down the line
We think there is a soul, we don't know
That soul is hard to find
A car that stands out is driving down the road, and it's unclear whether it has a soul
Hey, down along the road
Hey, down along the road
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
Again, destructive methods won't lead to long-term success
Hey, it's what the people are saying
It's what the people are saying
Hey, there ain't no berries on the trees
Hey, that's what the people are saying, no berries on the trees
You're checking out the honey, baby
You had to go killin' all the bees
It's important to pay attention to the needs of the people, and success shouldn't come at the expense of destroying what's necessary to achieve it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joe Strummer, Martin Slattery, Pablo Cook, Scott Shields, Tymon Dogg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@qxqp
Lyrics
Lord, there goes Johnny Appleseed
He might pass by in the hour of need
There's a lot of souls
Ain't drinking from no well locked in a factory
Hey, look there goes
Hey, look there goes
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
Lord, there goes Martin Luther King
Notice how the door closes when the chimes of freedom ring
I hear what you're saying, I hear what he's saying
Is what was true now no longer so
Hey, I hear what you're saying
Hey, I hear what he's saying
If you're after getting the honey, hey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
What the people are saying
And we know every road, go go
What the people are saying
There ain't no berries on the trees
Let the summertime sun
Fall on the apple, fall on the apple
Lord, there goes a Buick forty-nine
Black sheep of the angels riding, riding down the line
We think there is a soul, we don't know
That soul is hard to find
Hey, down along the road
Hey, down along the road
If you're after getting the honey
Then you don't go killing all the bees
Hey, it's what the people are saying
It's what the people are saying
Hey, there ain't no berries on the trees
Hey, that's what the people are saying, no berries on the trees
@ctcollinthib
'If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all the bees' might be the most punk lines Joe Strummer ever sang.
@lejlatiric7037
True!
@Psilolysergicamine
This song gets me emotional to the point I almost tear up and I feel it swelling inside me idk what it is but I sure as hell wish Joe were still here. We need more people like him in this world, especially in these times.
@juleetravers
Psilolysergicamine YOU SAID IT. Spot on. Thank you.
@agramsci
If you're out to get the honey, you don't go killin all the bees. We will rise up.
@mickey1271
Agreed
@midcitysk8
I feel the same way.
@ashe984
Psilolysergicamine he never dies
@geemarsh.7766
17 years gone. Still missed.
So much to give us. RIP Joe. 💚
@beatlesareshite
21 now... 😢
Fckn love the guy x