Actively involved in the Liverpool punk rock/new wave scene, Johnson played bass with Big in Japan and released several solo singles on the Eric's label, before finding fame as the lead singer and lyricist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who enjoyed considerable controversy and commercial success during their heyday in the early 1980s.
Holly left the group in 1987 after growing increasingly unhappy with their musical direction, but was immediately the subject of an injunction from the group's record company, ZTT Records, which cited his prior recording agreement and effectively barred him from releasing solo material with new label MCA Records.
Johnson famously embarked on a protracted legal battle with ZTT, the case finally being settled in Johnson's favour in 1989, the judge ruling that ZTT's original contract had constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade. The result represented a landmark legal outcome within the music business. Johnson's relationship with ZTT owners Trevor Horn and Jill Sinclair apparently broke down irretrievably due to the court case.
Johnson finally released his first solo album, Blast, which reached number one in the UK and spawned three hit singles. However, relations with MCA cooled over dissatisfaction with promotional budgets for his second solo album, Dreams That Money Can't Buy, released in 1991 after Johnson had left the label.
In November of that year, Johnson discovered he was HIV positive. This triggered a temporary withdrawal from the music business and public life in general. His condition was made public in April 1993. In 1994 his critically acclaimed autobiography, A Bone In My Flute, was published.
Since the mid 1990s, Johnson has worked primarily as a successful painter. His works have been exhibited at the Tate Liverpool, and The Royal Academy. He has contributed to Modern Painters magazine and the Paul Smith sponsored CARLOS magazine. He has continued to make music via his own Pleasuredome label, such as 1999's Soulstream, an album that includes a re-recording of "The Power Of Love", Johnson's de facto signature song.
Holly's 3 MCA albums have now been released on itunes via Universal.
Feel Good
Holly Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My Open Door
Where Love And Life Has Gone Before
My Wish For Peace Came True
I'm Left With Nothing Left To Do
But Sit And Stare At Days Gone By
No Tears Left To Cry
No Nountains Left To Climb
Everybody's got To Feel There's No Escaping What Is Real
Feel Good, Feel Good, Feel Good
Hearts Can Be Broken
Pain Can't Be Spoken
I Can't Stand To SeeYou Crying
If Truth It's Bettter Lying
I'm Hungy For Your Love And Laughter
Shining Through For Ever After
No Tears Left To Cry
No Nountains Left To Climb
Everybody's Got To Feel This Way Sometime
Everybody's got To Feel There's No Escaping What Is Real
Feel Good, Feel Good, Feel Good
They Say Ever Cloud
Has A Silver Lining
But When It's Rained Away
The Golden Sun Is Always Shining
Summer Comes And Goes
Cold Hearts And Winter Snows
Kill This Winter Of The Heart
Return To Spring Let Summer Start
No Tears Left To Cry
No Nountains Left To Climb
Everybody's Got To Feel This Way Sometime
Everybody's got To Feel There's No Escaping What Is Real
Feel Good, Feel Good, Feel Good
The lyrics of Holly Johnson's "Feel Good" express a sense of acceptance and resignation towards the ups and downs of life. The first verse speaks of a door left open for love and life to enter, but also of a wish for peace that has been fulfilled, leaving the singer with nothing to do but reflect on days gone by. The following lines, "No tears left to cry, no mountains left to climb, everybody's got to feel this way sometime," convey a sense of weariness and exhaustion.
The chorus repeats the phrase "feel good" three times, as if it were a mantra to be repeated and internalized. The second verse then addresses the pain and heartbreak that can also be part of life, with a plea to protect the other person's feelings even if the truth hurts. The line "hungry for your love and laughter, shining through forever after" brings a note of hope and positivity.
The bridge speaks of the cyclical nature of life, with summer and winter as metaphors for love and heartache, and a call to "return to spring, let summer start." Overall, the song seems to embrace the inevitability of both joy and sorrow, and suggests that the key to feeling good is to accept and appreciate life as it comes.
Line by Line Meaning
The Wind Blows Through
The wind blows through my open door, symbolizing change and new beginnings.
My Open Door
My open door represents an opportunity for new experiences and a fresh start.
Where Love And Life Has Gone Before
I reflect on my past experiences with love and life, as they shape who I am today.
My Wish For Peace Came True
My desire for peace and tranquility has been fulfilled, and I can now appreciate and enjoy the present moment.
I'm Left With Nothing Left To Do
Having achieved my wish for peace, I have no further goals or ambitions to strive for.
But Sit And Stare At Days Gone By
My lack of goals leads me to reflect on my past, and I spend my time reminiscing about days gone by.
No Tears Left To Cry
I have already experienced all of the sadness and emotional pain I can handle, and no longer have the energy or desire to cry.
No Mountains Left To Climb
I have already overcome all of the obstacles and challenges I faced in life, and there are no more mountains to climb.
Everybody's Got To Feel This Way Sometime
Everyone experiences moments of reflection and introspection, and it is a natural part of the human experience.
Everybody's got To Feel There's No Escaping What Is Real
We all must confront the reality of our lives at some point, and there is no avoiding it.
Feel Good, Feel Good, Feel Good
Despite the introspection and reflection, I choose to focus on the positive and feel good about where I am in life.
Hearts Can Be Broken
Love can cause heartbreak and emotional pain.
Pain Can't Be Spoken
Some emotional pain is difficult to put into words and can not be easily expressed to others.
I Can't Stand To See You Crying
It is difficult for me to see someone I care about in emotional pain or distress.
If Truth It's Bettter Lying
In some cases, it may be kinder or more helpful to avoid telling the painful truth and instead offer comfort or reassurance.
I'm Hungy For Your Love And Laughter
I crave connection and joy in my relationships with others.
Shining Through For Ever After
I hope to maintain strong and positive relationships with those I care about, even beyond the present moment.
They Say Ever Cloud Has A Silver Lining
There is always a positive aspect or benefit to be found in difficult or challenging situations.
But When It's Rained Away
However, sometimes the positive aspect or benefit is not immediately apparent or is obscured by hardship or loss.
The Golden Sun Is Always Shining
Despite the challenges and hardship, there is always hope and a bright future to look forward to.
Summer Comes And Goes
Life is full of seasons of change, and each season must be appreciated and cherished in its own right.
Cold Hearts And Winter Snows
The difficult or unpleasant seasons in life can be compared to a cold winter, where the heart feels hardened or closed off.
Kill This Winter Of The Heart
I strive to overcome the emotional pain and hardness of heart that can come with difficult seasons, and seek to find warmth and light in life.
Return To Spring Let Summer Start
I hope to find renewal and growth, and move towards a new season of positive change and opportunity.
Contributed by Julia V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.