Who's Johnny
DeBarge Lyrics
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When she says, "Who is Johnny?"
Games with names that girl is playing
All she says is, "Who is Johnny?"
I try to understand because I'm people too
And playing games is part of human nature
My heart's in overdrive
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And smiled in her special way
"Johnny," she said
"You know I love you"
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And tried to look the other way
Eyes gave her away, all right
She makes sure, I see her teasing
Hear her say, "Who is Johnny?"
There's no way to take this easy
Hear her say, "Who is Johnny?"
I really couldn't help but fall in love with her
Her being there has made my life worth living
I knew it from the start
That I would lose my heart
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And smiled in her special way
"Johnny," she said
"You know I love you"
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And tried to look the other way
Still pretending
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?" oh
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?" oh, no, no, no
I don't believe it
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And tried to look the other way
Eyes gave her away
(Girls like her) are very special
Girls (like her) don't rest
'Til you too are a believer
'Til you too have caught their fever
"Who is Johnny?"
There she goes and knows I'm dying
When she says, "Who is"
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And smiled with some other guy
"Johnny," she said
"I don't remember"
"Who's Johnny?" she said
And turned the other way
Eyes gave her away
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?" she said, "I don't remember"
"Who's Johnny?" she said and turned the other way
Left me standing there
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
Left me standing there
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
"Who is Johnny?"
DeBarge's "Who's Johnny" is about the emotional turmoil that comes with falling for someone who plays games with your emotions. The song tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who asks repeatedly, "Who is Johnny?" The man tries to understand the woman's motives and realizes that playing games is simply a part of human nature, but it still hurts him deeply. He is unable to resist her teasing and charm, but eventually discovers that she has been seeing another man. The song ends with a repetition of the question, "Who is Johnny?"
The lyrics express the confusion and heartbreak of being in love with someone who is manipulative and plays games. The repeated question of "Who is Johnny?" is symbolic of the woman's attempt to test the man's loyalty, and the lyrics suggest that such games can be hurtful and damaging to a relationship. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing and vulnerability, as the man struggles to understand the woman's intentions while falling deeper in love with her.
Line by Line Meaning
There she goes and knows I'm dying
The singer is deeply in love and is suffering because the girl he loves is toying with him.
When she says, "Who is Johnny?"
The girl is playing games with the singer, teasing him by pretending he is unimportant and asking him who he is.
Games with names that girl is playing
The girl is playing mind games, using words and names to confuse the singer and keep him guessing.
All she says is, "Who is Johnny?"
The girl keeps asking who the singer is, and this is driving him crazy.
I try to understand because I'm people too
The singer empathizes with the girl and understands that playing games is part of human nature.
And playing games is part of human nature
The singer recognizes that everyone enjoys playing games and teasing others, especially when it comes to love and romance.
My heart's in overdrive
The singer's heartbeat is very fast because he is so excited and nervous around the girl he loves.
It's great to be alive
The singer feels alive and full of energy when he is with the girl he loves.
"Who's Johnny?" she said
The girl keeps asking the singer who he is, as if he is nobody special to her.
And smiled in her special way
The girl smiles in a way that suggests she is teasing and enjoying the game she is playing with the singer.
"Johnny," she said
The girl pretends not to remember the singer's name, as if he is unimportant to her.
"You know I love you"
The girl finally admits that she loves the singer, but continues to play games with him and ask who he is.
And tried to look the other way
The girl pretends to be disinterested in the singer and looks away, but her eyes give away her true feelings.
Eyes gave her away, all right
The girl's eyes reveal her true emotions, despite her attempts to hide them from the singer.
She makes sure, I see her teasing
The girl wants the singer to know that she is teasing him and playing games with him intentionally.
Hear her say, "Who is Johnny?"
The girl keeps asking the singer who he is, as if he is unimportant to her.
There's no way to take this easy
The girl's mind games with the singer are making him anxious and uncomfortable, and there is no easy way out.
I really couldn't help but fall in love with her
The singer is hopelessly in love with the girl, despite her teasing and games.
Her being there has made my life worth living
The girl's presence in the singer's life has brought him so much happiness and fulfillment that life is worth living.
I knew it from the start
The singer knew from the moment he met the girl that he was going to fall in love with her.
That I would lose my heart
The singer knew that he would fall deeply in love with the girl, and that there was no way to stop it.
Still pretending
The girl continues to play games and pretend that the singer is not important to her, even though he knows she loves him.
(Girls like her) are very special
The singer recognizes that there is something special about the girl he loves, even though she is playing games with him.
Girls (like her) don't rest
The girl is never satisfied and always wants more from the singer, which is part of why she keeps playing games with him.
'Til you too are a believer
The girl will keep playing games with the singer until he believes that she truly loves him and is serious about their relationship.
'Til you too have caught their fever
The girl will continue teasing the singer until he is just as obsessed with her as she is with him.
When she says, "Who is"
The girl cuts herself off mid-sentence when talking to the singer, which is part of her teasing and mind games.
And turned the other way
The girl pretends not to be interested in the singer and turns away from him, but her eyes give away her true emotions.
Left me standing there
The girl leaves the singer alone and confused, uncertain of how to proceed with their relationship.
"Who's Johnny? Who's Johnny?"
The repetition of the question shows how deeply the girl is playing mind games with the singer, and how much it is affecting him.
"I don't believe it"
The singer is in disbelief that the girl he loves is playing games with him, and doesn't know how to handle it.
"Johnny," she said
The girl finally admits that she knows the singer's name, but continues to play games with him.
"I don't remember"
The girl pretends not to remember the singer's name, which is part of her teasing and playing games with him.
Left me standing there
The girl leaves the singer alone and confused, uncertain of how to proceed with their relationship.
"Who is Johnny?"
The girl keeps asking the singer who he is, as if he is unimportant to her, which is part of her teasing and mind games.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: INA WOLF, PETER F. WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jjgillmen
{ Stephanie watches as Number 5 speed-reads through an encyclopedia. }
"Holy crow, you can read!"
{ Number 5 tosses book to the side. }
"Ahh...input! MORE INPUT!!!"
"Okay...volume two!"
@topherowlish
Some songs just live inside you your entire life. This is one such song that defines a period in your life of good memories and feelings.
Johnny 5 is alive. Always.
@indigoranch
My aunt who's 12 years older than me gave me some of her 45s when I was a teen in the early 2000s...this was one of them, along with Madonna's Papa Don't Preach, Prince's Kiss, and Cyndi Lauper's She Bop. 👌
@briandouglasahern7067
Your aunt had good taste in music!
@doramartinez2432
Am a Mexican but my hometown is very close to the border on the Cameron county n we growed up with a American music influence n this is one of lot songs that I love to listen bc makes me remember happy times
@davidw1152
totally agree,im 48 and I wish I could be back in the 80s.
@andycrystal
'80s were superior in just about every way. Debate doesn't exist.
@anima_96x7
They play this song almost every day at work and it gives me such joyous vibes everytime I hear it. El's vocals truly shine throughout the song alongside an incredible array of backing vocalists and a wonderful wave of instrumentation. I especially love the final chorus (3:07 onward) and how it all comes together to form an amazing ending. The '80s truly was an iconic era for music and this song, along with El's other work, will forever be a part of it!
@lordgoro
Im johnny, since 1970
@VIRGOLEGACY
Yup everything you said…it doesn’t get more 1986 than this : )
@Doobie1975
Is this at Kroger?