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.
Some Things Last a Long Time
Daniel Johnston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On my wall, on my wall
The colors are bright
Bright as ever
The red is strong, the blue is pure
Some things last a long time
Some things last a long time
Your picture is still
On my wall, on my wall
I think about you
Often, often
I won't forget all the things we did
Some things last a long time
Some things last a long time
It's funny, but it's true
And it's true, but it's not funny
Time comes and goes, but all the while
I still think of you
Some things last a long time
Your picture is still
On my wall, on my wall
The colors are bright
Bright as ever
The things we did, I can't forget
Some things last a lifetime
Some things last a lifetime
Some things last a lifetime
The song "Some Things Last a Long Time" by Daniel Johnston is a touching tribute to a lost love. The lyrics express a deep sense of longing and nostalgia, as the singer muses over the memory of their ex-partner. The opening lines describe a picture of the ex that still adorns the singer's wall, while the following lines evoke the memories that this image inspires. The colors of the painting are "bright" and "pure," and seem to represent the intensity and authenticity of the love between the two people.
The chorus is the most memorable part of the song. The repetition of the phrase "Some things last a long time" seems to suggest that despite the passage of time and the ending of the relationship, certain feelings and memories persist. The singer declares that they can never forget the things they did with their beloved, and that these experiences will last a "lifetime." The final lines of the song are especially poignant, as the singer acknowledges the bittersweet truth that time and memory can never truly replace the person they have lost.
Overall, "Some Things Last a Long Time" is a deeply personal and evocative song that captures the essence of lost love. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt the pain of separation or the longing for a past relationship. The simple yet powerful lyrics, accompanied by Johnston's plaintive vocals and acoustic guitar, make for a moving and unforgettable musical experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Your picture is still
The memory of you is ever-present in my life
On my wall, on my wall
In my my thoughts, my memories, and my heart
The colors are bright
The vibrant feelings of our shared moments are still fresh
Bright as ever
The same intensity of emotions remains as before
The red is strong, the blue is pure
The happiness and sincerity of our past are still distinct
Some things last a long time
Memories of certain moments stay with us forever
Your picture is still
I cherish your image in my mind and heart
On my wall, on my wall
Your essence illuminates my being and my life
I think about you
Your influence on my life is constant
Often, often
Your impact is indelibly marked on me
I won't forget all the things we did
Our moments together are unforgettable, and I treasure them
Some things last a long time
The memories we created will always be a part of me
It's funny, but it's true
The bitter-sweet quality of our past is both amusing and honest
And it's true, but it's not funny
Our past might bring happiness or sadness, but we cannot change it
Time comes and goes, but all the while
Even though time passes, your impact remains strong
I still think of you
Your memory is forever with me
Some things last a long time
The emotions and memories left by our time together are eternal
Your picture is still
Your image remains a defining aspect of my life
On my wall, on my wall
Your presence continues to shape and inspire me
The things we did, I can't forget
Our shared experiences are unforgettable to me
Some things last a lifetime
The memories we created will always stay with me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Daniel Johnston, Jad Fair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind