The band's website once noted Cracker as "The only band to ever open for both Grateful Dead and Ramones," a unique distinction which is also indicative of the band's sound and style. Cracker comfortably mixes influences and sounds ranging from classic country music, psychedelia, punk and folk into their brand of "Americana" style rock.
Lowery and Hickman are inalterable constants. The band continues to tour (as a full band, and also as the "Cracker acoustic duo").
Lonesome Johnny Blues
Cracker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
G-D-G-see-G-D-G
G-see-G-see-G-Em-G-D-G (ending:C-G-D-G-see-G-D-see-G)
Well, lucky number seven passed me by
Lucky number seven called my name and passed on by
Well he came back don't you know
With his brother six in tow
And that is how I got these Lonesome Johnny Blues
How I got these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Got the Lonesome Johnny Blues
And there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Here we go
Grim Reaper he pulled up into my drive
Grim Reaper pulled his little old Chevrolet right up onto the goddamn drive
"Johnny, I haven't come for you
But I want someone who's dear to you
And the price you pay is to remain alive"
And I'll stay here with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Stay here with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
With the Lonesome Johnny Blues
And there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Woah, no more trouble send him down the road, won't you please.
No more trouble won't you beat him up, won't you send him down the road
Trouble dumped out the trash
Ransacked the place for cash
And he wound up taking much more than I own
And he left me with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Left me with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
With the Lonesome Johnny Blues
And there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Johnny Blues
The sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Johnny Blues
The sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
The lyrics of Cracker's song Lonesome Johnny Blues is a lamentation of an individual who has been marked by the passing of the unlucky number seven. The singer explains that the number called out his name but did not choose him, instead, it returned with his brother, six, and thirteen landed by the singer's side. The experiences that followed exposed the singer to pain, sadness, and a deep feeling of inadequacy. In the second verse, the Grim Reaper visits the singer not to take his life but to seize the life of someone he holds dear. The condition for the act was for the singer to remain alive, and he is left to deal with the sadness of his loss while singing the Lonesome Johnny Blues.
The last verse of the song explains the effect of trouble on his life as he has been left with nothing but the Lonesome Johnny Blues, a feeling of sorrow triggered by the past experiences the singer has gone through. In conclusion, the lyrics illustrate the impact of life events and experiences on the emotional state of individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, lucky number seven passed me by
I missed a good opportunity
Lucky number seven called my name and passed on by
A good opportunity presented itself but did not work out
Well he came back don't you know
The opportunity reappeared
With his brother six in tow
Accompanied by another opportunity
And that is how number thirteen wound up by my side.
But it resulted in bad luck and misfortune.
And that is how I got these Lonesome Johnny Blues
The accumulated hurt and despair is described as the Lonesome Johnny Blues.
Got the Lonesome Johnny Blues
Describing one's emotional state
And there's nothing I can do
A feeling of loss of control and helplessness
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Expressing the emotion through song as a coping mechanism
Grim Reaper he pulled up into my drive
An event of misfortune or fear unexpected that enters one's life unexpectedly and forcefully
Grim Reaper pulled his little old Chevrolet right up onto the goddamn drive
Describing the event, perhaps with anger or sarcasm
"Johnny, I haven't come for you
The event did not result in actual physical harm to oneself
But I want someone who's dear to you
However, someone else close to you was affected
And the price you pay is to remain alive"
The cost of escaping harm is the burden of pain and sorrow
And I'll stay here with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Acknowledging the burden, and accepting the emotion as a part of oneself
With the Lonesome Johnny Blues
Describing the emotion associated with the burden
Woah, no more trouble send him down the road, won't you please.
A plea to avoid more misfortune
No more trouble won't you beat him up, won't you send him down the road
Expressing anger or desire to avenge the harm that was caused
Trouble dumped out the trash
Describing the damage and destruction caused by the event
Ransacked the place for cash
Further describing the material loss and damage
And he wound up taking much more than I own
The event resulted in a deeper sense of loss than just material goods
Left me with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Describing the lasting effects of the event on one's emotional state.
Johnny Blues
A nickname given to oneself, that personifies the emotional state
The sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Further describing the emotion and how it is affecting oneself
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID CHARLES LOWERY, DAVID CHARLS LOWERY, JOHN HICKMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
88flyswatter
I love this band. Decades passed and still...LOVE THESE GUYS! Go Johnny!
New Jack
Pure Musical Pleasure. Johnny has angelic talent.
moles2000
Good times!
Al Nonymous
What a fun song! Unless you've got those sad ol' weary lonesome johnny blues, I guess.......ah, hell, it's still a fun song!
ElvisKapesta
Yeeeee Haw! I LOVE this tune
DMG Glenn
go johnny go!
Sprogster999
Dave Lovering on drums too It don't get any better.
Sean Bartel
YESSSSSS!
steven Saxonis
great...I was a Crumb from the very first record...and didn't even know it...
Jay
Ands theres nothin i can do