Johnston spent extended periods in psychiatric institutions and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He gathered a local following in the 1980s by passing out tapes of his music while working at a McDonald's in Austin, Texas. His cult status was propelled when Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was seen wearing a T-shirt that featured artwork from Johnston's 1983 album Hi, How Are You. In 2005, Johnston was the subject of the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston.
His songs were typically painfully direct, and often display a disturbing blend of childlike naïvete with darker, "spooky" themes. Johnston's singing voice is rather high-pitched, and his performances often seem faltering or uncertain; pitchfork writes that Johnston's recordings range from "spotty to brilliant". He also draws and paints; he is a cult comic book artist and his illustrations have been featured with most of his albums.
Johnston was born in Sacramento, California and grew up in West Virginia, United States, but then moved to Waller, Texas. Johnston suffers from manic depression, and has had varying luck with different treatments. He has been institutionalized for periods.
In the late 1970s, Johnston began recording his songs on a $59 Sony Boombox, singing and playing either guitar, piano or harmonica. He gave tapes of his music to anyone who would take them. Johnston created the comic book inspired art that usually accompanied his own recordings. His debut recording Songs of Pain was released in 1981.
His early songs established a number of themes that would persist through Johnston's career: Unrequited love, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and comic book superheroes, especially Captain America and Jack Kirby's other works. "Joe"—a partly autobiographical character—has been featured in a number of songs. Johnston has cited The Beatles as a prime influence.
A sizable proportion of Johnston's songs throughout the years have dealt with his unrequited love for "Laurie," a girl he became friends with in college, who was the first to encourage him to record his music. The Laurie character quickly assumed the role of the idealized female muse. The real life Laurie Allen married an undertaker, prompting Johnston to write lyrics in which the Laurie figure becomes strongly associated with the imagery of death in addition to her original role as a muse. For example, the song Funeral Home in which Johnston sings that he's "going to a funeral home" represents both the foreknowledge of death and Johnston's desire to be reunited with Laurie, who at the time worked at a funeral home. Laurie Allen has since divorced and filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig arranged a meeting between Allen and Johnston.
Johnston gained a cult following in Austin, Texas. Some regarded Johnston as little more than a quaint curiosity, but others recognized a genuine talent: Johnston has a knack for creating great, catchy melodies, while his lyrics are evocative and often use clever wordplay. His songs have been covered by a number of admirers.
A 1985 MTV special on Austin brought Johnston wider attention, and a number of record stores outside Texas began selling his cassettes.
His music has been acclaimed by David Bowie, Sonic Youth, and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame praised Johnston's work, and often wore a t-shirt with a Johnston illustration and a caption reading, "Hi How Are You?"
1994 saw the release of Fun on Atlantic Records. The record was produced by Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers, a group who had long supported Johnston, even inviting him to open a number of concerts for them.
In 1993, Johnston painted a mural of the "Hi, How Are You?" frog, also known as Jeremiah after the Three Dog Night song, on the side of the Austin Sound Exchange music store. The site was converted into a Baja Fresh franchise in 2004. Although initial plans called for the mural to be torn down, public outcry caused restaurant owner John Oudt to let the mural stay, at a price of $50,000 in additional costs and lost revenue.
Fun was Johnston's only major-label release, but he has continued writing and recording songs, as well as drawing pictures.
In September 2004, a 2-disc release compilation entitled The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered. Disc one featured covers of Johnston's songs by such prominent artists as Eels, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Tom Waits, The Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes, and TV on the Radio, among others. Disc 2 featured Johnston's original tracks.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) is a documentary by Jeff Feuerzeig about Johnston's life and music, and won the Director's Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
In August 2005, it was reported that Johnston had been experiencing mood swings requiring medical attention. This led to cancellation of his touring schedule. On November 25th, 2005, Johnston was hospitalized for what appeared to be Lithium poisioning (Johnston takes lithium to control his manic depression). His father had found him in an incoherent state and unable to walk. Johnston is recovering and is thought to be out of any immediate danger.
On December 8th, 2005, it was reported that his condition remained "very serious", but on December 23rd, Johnston was released from the hospital. Johnston's family had been told that "Daniel would require long-term medical care and permanent dialysis for kidney failure," however his health dramatically and unexpectedly improved. Johnston died on September 10, 2019.
Hey Joe
Daniel Johnston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on, Joe
Don't make that sad song
Any sadder than it already is
Hey Jack
Get back
Get yourself together
Come on, come on
I know exactly what you're thinking of
Hey Cid
No matter what you did
It can work out
Work out
No matter how you feel right now
Hey George
Do your chores
Don't feel sore
I know it's a lot more than just being bored
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
The lyrics to Daniel Johnston's "Hey Joe" are filled with messages of encouragement to different people in his life. The song starts off with "Hey Jude" which is followed by "Come on, Joe, don't make that sad song any sadder than it already is." It seems like he's talking to a friend named Joe, who is perhaps going through a tough time and is possibly creating sad music. Johnston wants to make sure Joe is aware that he doesn't need to make his music any sadder than it already is.
The lyrics then move on to "Hey Jack, get back, get yourself together." This could be interpreted as Johnston telling Jack to snap out of whatever funk he's in and get his life together. The last two lines of the first stanza are "I know you're thinking of your nervous love, I know exactly what you're thinking of." This again reinforces the idea that Johnston is talking to someone going through a tough time, and he understands what they are going through.
In the second stanza, Johnston sings "Hey Cid, no matter what you did, it can work out, work out. No matter how you feel right now." This could be a message to someone who has made a mistake and feels like they can't move forward. Johnston is telling them that no matter what they did, they can work it out. The final line of the song is "There's a heaven and there's a star for you." This could be interpreted as a message of hope, telling the listener that no matter how bad things may seem, there is something good waiting for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude
Greetings and attention grabber to the person addressed in the song, named Jude.
Come on, Joe
Invitation and encouragement to the person addressed in the song, named Joe.
Don't make that sad song
Advice to Joe to not intensify the sadness of the situation.
Any sadder than it already is
Implication that the situation (and the song) is already pretty sad, so don't make it worse.
Hey Jack
Greetings and attention grabber to the person addressed in the song, named Jack.
Get back
Command to Jack to step away from something (presumably something negative).
Get yourself together
Advice to Jack to compose himself mentally and emotionally.
Come on, come on
Encouragement to Jack to take action and not give up.
I know you're thinking of your nervous love
Acknowledgment that Jack is preoccupied with someone he loves who may be causing him stress and anxiety.
I know exactly what you're thinking of
Assurance that the singer understands Jack's situation and empathizes with him.
Hey Cid
Greetings and attention grabber to the person addressed in the song, named Cid.
No matter what you did
Assurance that mistakes or bad choices in the past don't necessarily determine the future.
It can work out
Assurance that things can still turn out well, despite difficulties in the past.
Work out
Repetition and emphasis of the previous line that things can get better with effort and perseverance.
No matter how you feel right now
Reminder that emotions are temporary and changeable, and shouldn't be the basis for giving up hope.
Hey George
Greetings and attention grabber to the person addressed in the song, named George.
Do your chores
Command to George to complete his tasks, responsibilities, or duties.
Don't feel sore
Advice to George to not be resentful or angry about his situation or obligations.
I know it's a lot more than just being bored
Acknowledgment that George's situation or responsibilities may be challenging or overwhelming, but not to trivialize his struggles.
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
Hopeful and reassuring message to George that he will be rewarded or recognized eventually, either in this life or the next.
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
Repetition and emphasis of the previous line that there is a purpose and meaning to George's efforts and sacrifices.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DANIEL JOHNSTONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BlueePanties
Hey Jude
Come on, Joe
Don't make that sad song
Any sadder than it already is
Hey Jack
Get back
Get yourself together
Come on, come on
I know you're thinking of your nervous love
I know exactly what you're thinking of
Hey Cid
No matter what you did
It can work out
Work out
No matter how you feel right now
Hey George
Do your chores
Don't feel sore
I know it's a lot more than just being bored
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
@PeterPower1
Dearest Daniel,
Truly unique inspiration in my life.
You gave me the hope and motivation to take a path as a musician.
Understanding that to be a musician i did not have to have a perfect voice, be classically trained in an instrument or to look a certain way…that truly expressing oneself without censorship of the heart is all that really matters.
You sang with such raw and tender sincerity.
I remember the first time i chanced upon your music…it was Hey Joe.. some 15 years ago..within the first few chords it left me balling crying on my bedroom floor.
It was so honest and pure. Since that moment devouring every piece of music you ever created…seeing me through the rest of my adolescence, all through my college years….returning in times of heart ache…always holding you dear to my heart… your melodies always floating back when i needed them most…
Upon hearing the news of your passing last night i instantly returned to Hey Joe.. . feeling like a 17 year old boy again….it still touches me in the same way…finding such solace in your infinite wisdom.
Thank You Daniel…. so grateful and blessed for all you have shared…I will always love you.
True Hero.. eternal legend.. may you shine bright forever.
@roiybenkel682
Hey Jude, come on, Joe
Don't make that sad song
Any sadder than it already is
Hey Jack, get back
Get yourself together
Come on, come on
I know you're thinking of your nervous love
I know exactly what you're thinking of
Hey Sid, no matter what you did
It can work out, work out
No matter how you feel right now
Hey George, do your chores
Don't feel sore
I know it's a lot more than just being poor
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
@chrismuskha
I can't believe you're gone. This song hit way harder today than it ever had. There is a heaven and a star for you, Daniel. Wherever you are. Thank you.
@autodangerout
foda
@zacharyburklow5909
😥
@adrianpalmer777
well said
@SolvingOurKreation
"I know it's a lot more than just being bored." That line kills me.. Daniel's music has saved me on many occasions.. I'm so appreciative of him.
@Asilhan
Hey those who read this
No matter what you did
It can work out, work out.
No matter how you feel right now..
@taniafrayre5669
Asilhan 🖤
@BlueePanties
Hey Jude
Come on, Joe
Don't make that sad song
Any sadder than it already is
Hey Jack
Get back
Get yourself together
Come on, come on
I know you're thinking of your nervous love
I know exactly what you're thinking of
Hey Cid
No matter what you did
It can work out
Work out
No matter how you feel right now
Hey George
Do your chores
Don't feel sore
I know it's a lot more than just being bored
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
There's a heaven and there's a star for you
@PeterPower1
Dearest Daniel,
Truly unique inspiration in my life.
You gave me the hope and motivation to take a path as a musician.
Understanding that to be a musician i did not have to have a perfect voice, be classically trained in an instrument or to look a certain way…that truly expressing oneself without censorship of the heart is all that really matters.
You sang with such raw and tender sincerity.
I remember the first time i chanced upon your music…it was Hey Joe.. some 15 years ago..within the first few chords it left me balling crying on my bedroom floor.
It was so honest and pure. Since that moment devouring every piece of music you ever created…seeing me through the rest of my adolescence, all through my college years….returning in times of heart ache…always holding you dear to my heart… your melodies always floating back when i needed them most…
Upon hearing the news of your passing last night i instantly returned to Hey Joe.. . feeling like a 17 year old boy again….it still touches me in the same way…finding such solace in your infinite wisdom.
Thank You Daniel…. so grateful and blessed for all you have shared…I will always love you.
True Hero.. eternal legend.. may you shine bright forever.
@verity4111
The truth is, Daniel Johnston was a genius. Even though he was thought to be "mediocre" his lyrics were still genuine, and his music still beautiful. This is my favorite song.