Freedy Johnston (born 1961) is a New York City-based singer-songwriter orig… Read Full Bio ↴Freedy Johnston (born 1961) is a New York City-based singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas. Johnston's first album, "The Trouble Tree" was released in 1990, and features the guitar playing of the roots musician and author, David Hamburger. Johnston sold some of his family's farmland to finance the recording of his second album, Can You Fly (an event he wrote about in a song on that album, "Trying To Tell You I Don't Know"). Johnston followed up with his 1994 major label debut This Perfect World, which received rave reviews and led to Rolling Stone Magazine naming him "songwriter of the year". That album also spawned a minor alternative hit with the song "Bad Reputation".

Johnston's songs are often about troubled loners, and cover topics like heartbreak, alienation and disappointment. Known for the craftsmanship of his songs, he has sometimes been called a "songwriter's songwriter".

He has contributed songs to the soundtracks for movies including Kingpin and Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead. Johnston and fellow musicians Jay Moran, James "Pie" Cowan, Duke Erikson, and Butch Vig perform occasional shows as a covers band called "The Know-It-All Boyfriends."

Johnston latest release is a covers album titled "Rain on the City", It includes selections from Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Matthew Sweet and The Hollies.

Sincere
Freedy Johnston Lyrics

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Mister can you tell me where I've come from
Looked like hell to me, took so long
And it's a frustration
Like I really need one
And the man at the station wouldn't help me at all
Help me at all

They think the Yank is just a jerk

Well this clown hocked his golden gloves
He ran out all ripped apart
Holding that solid gold heart

He paid the witch for a virgin's skinny arms
The warmth of her tiny voice
A little choice she won't recall
A thin veil she would not lift
I am sincere

Mister can you tell me wat to call this place
I've been cheated like I've never been
And it's a frustration
Like I really need one
And the man at the hotel's been breaking my balls
Breaking my balls

They think the Yank is just a jerk
Well this clown hocked his golden gloves

He ran out all ripped apart
Holding that solid gold heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Freedy Johnston's song "Sincere" delve deep into the psyche of a weary traveler who is desperately seeking answers about his whereabouts and past experiences. The opening lines, "Mister can you tell me where I've come from, looked like hell to me, took so long" indicate that the singer is lost and disoriented, with no idea about his origin. He is frustrated by his inability to comprehend his surroundings and seeks help from a man at a station, who refuses to assist him.

The second verse of the song sees the singer lamenting about his outsider status. The locals view him as a "jerk," and he feels alienated from the community. However, he has significant sacrifices to his name, such as selling his golden gloves and his heart. The reference to paying a witch for a virgin's arms is an allusion to a pagan ritual, which further emphasizes the singer's desperation.

The singer's frustration escalates in the final verse as he seeks to identify his current location, only to be met with more hostility from the man at the hotel. Despite his struggles, he asserts his sincerity in the face of all adversities by repeating the chorus' lines, "I am sincere." In summary, the song's lyrics reflect the confusion, desperation, and alienation experienced by the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

Mister can you tell me where I've come from
I am lost and confused, and I need someone to guide me and give me a sense of direction.

Looked like hell to me, took so long
My journey has been difficult and painful, and I feel exhausted and worn out.

And it's a frustration
This experience is frustrating and overwhelming.

Like I really need one
I already have enough problems, and I don't need any more frustration.

And the man at the station wouldn't help me at all
The people around me are unsympathetic and unhelpful, which makes me feel even more lost and alone.

They think the Yank is just a jerk
People judge me unfairly based on my nationality, and assume that I am foolish or ignorant.

Well this clown hocked his golden gloves
I have given up something valuable or important in order to get to where I am now.

He ran out all ripped apart
I am emotionally wounded and damaged by my experiences.

Holding that solid gold heart
I still cling to something precious or meaningful, despite everything else that has been taken from me.

He paid the witch for a virgin's skinny arms
I have made sacrifices or compromises in order to achieve my goals, even if they go against my values or beliefs.

The warmth of her tiny voice
I have found solace or comfort in unexpected places or from unexpected people.

A little choice she won't recall
I have made choices or decisions that I regret or can't undo, and now I am stuck with the consequences.

A thin veil she would not lift
There are secrets or mysteries that I may never fully understand or uncover.

Mister can you tell me what to call this place
I feel disoriented and disconnected from my surroundings, and I need someone to help me make sense of where I am.

I've been cheated like I've never been
I have been betrayed or wronged in a way that is deeply personal and hurtful.

And the man at the hotel's been breaking my balls
I am being harassed or pressured by someone in a position of authority, which makes me feel even more powerless and frustrated.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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