He has released five albums and has spent the last eighteen years touring the country in his mother's Toyota Previa minivan, providing Canadians with a truly wild performance. He has shared the stage with acts like The Rheostatics, The Constantines, Cuff the Duke, The Silverhearts, The Guthries, and Joel Plaskett.
He has played such high profile schmooze fests like Halifax Pop Explosion, SappyFest (Sackville), Close to the Coast (Charlottetown), and Ranchfest (Vancouver).
He hopes one day to be rich and famous, buy a deep fryer for his bedroom, and finally dance with a girl when Stairway to Heaven is the last song of the night.
Roll Teddy Roll
B.A. Johnston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the city where I strayed
There`s been some good time living
And some good music played
And some good loving made
I like it
I like it just that way
I want to roll roll roll forever
I want to roll roll roll forever
I want to feel it till it`s gone
I want to roll roll roll forever
And live from song to song
Right there in the music
Is right where I belong
When I meet my Maker
With my music in my hand
He`ll smile down when He sees me
And ask about the band
I know He`ll understand
He knows life
And life can be so grand
I want to roll roll roll forever
I want to feel the beat go on
I want to roll roll roll forever
I want to feel it till it`s gone
I want to roll roll roll forever
And live from song to song
Right there in the music
Is right where I belong
In "Roll Teddy Roll," B.A. Johnston reflects on his life and his love for music. He looks back on his journey from the little town he grew up in to the city he now calls home. He acknowledges the good times he's had and even mentions that he's loved and been loved. However, despite all of that, he knows that the thing that has always given him the most pleasure is music. He loves the feeling of being lost in the rhythm, and he wants to experience that forever. To him, living "from song to song" is the ultimate goal. He believes that music is where he belongs, and when he meets his Maker one day, he's confident that He'll understand.
The lyrics in "Roll Teddy Roll" also suggest that B.A. Johnston feels a strong connection to the beat of the music. He describes it as feeling like it should go on forever, and even when it finally fades away, he still wants to feel it. This is a nod to the power of music and how it can evoke emotions in us that we never knew existed.
One interpretation of the chorus could be that B.A. Johnston is saying that he wants to spend the rest of his life dedicating himself to music. He doesn't want to do anything else. He just wants to roll with the rhythm and let it be his guide.
Line by Line Meaning
From the little town I ran from
I left my hometown to seek something new and exciting.
To the city where I strayed
I moved to a big city, perhaps without a clear plan or direction.
There's been some good time living
I've had some great experiences and enjoyed life so far in my journey.
And some good music played
I've played some music that I'm proud of.
And some good loving made
I've had some meaningful romantic relationships in my life so far.
I want to roll roll roll forever
I want to keep living life to the fullest and never stop having fun.
I want to feel the beat go on
I want to keep dancing and enjoying the music.
I want to feel it till it's gone
I want to enjoy life to the fullest until I can't anymore.
And live from song to song
I want to keep experiencing new things and never get bored or stuck in a routine.
Right there in the music
Music is very important to me and helps me feel alive and connected to others.
Is right where I belong
I feel at home when I'm experiencing music and the things it represents.
When I meet my Maker
When I die and face judgement.
With my music in my hand
With the things I created and experienced in life as a representation of who I am.
He'll smile down when He sees me
God will be pleased and proud of my life and accomplishments.
And ask about the band
God will be curious and interested in the music and experiences I had with others during my life.
I know He'll understand
I have faith that God will be compassionate and forgiving towards me.
He knows life
God is all-knowing and wise.
And life can be so grand
Life is full of great experiences and opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the world around us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILL JENNINGS, JOE SAMPLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind