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.
Love Train
Holly Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the Trevi Fountain
You're a golden heart
You're the highest mountain.
You bring me flowers every day of my life
You save me from the worry and the strife.
Take me in your arms
baby
I'm on a winning streak
When I met you I reached my peak.
Your perfect view makes me feel brand-new
yeah
Well
you're just right to keep me up all night
up all night.
Working all the time to make you mine all mine
yeah
Riding the love train
stroke it up
riding the love train.
Lovin' all the time to keep you feeling fine
yeah
Riding the love train
stroke it up
riding the love train.
You make time stand still
Your children laughter
love's overspill
I'll come running after.
You bring the spring right through my door
You're everything that's worth living for.
Thrill me with your charms
baby
baby
baby
me knees are weak
I need you now
don't play hide and seek.
No times long enough
leaving you is tough
You're just right to keep me up all night
up all night.
Refrain
Keep the flames burning
let your spirit fly
Stay on the right track
baby
till the day I die
Keep the coal coming.
Baby
baby
I'm on a winning streak
When I met you I reached my peak.
Your perfect view makes me feel brand-new
yeah
Well
you're just right to keep me up all night
up all night.
Refrain (2x)
Holly Johnson's "Love Train" is a song that speaks to the power of love and the positive impact it can have on one's life. The lyrics describe the object of the singer's affection as a work of art, the Trevi fountain, and the highest mountain. This person brings joy and beauty to the singer's life by bringing flowers every day and saving them from worry and strife. The chorus repeats the phrase "Riding the love train" which symbolizes the energy and momentum that comes from being in love. It's a feeling of being on a winning streak and reaching one's peak.
The singer is deeply committed to this person, saying that leaving them is tough and that they are just right to keep them up all night. The love between them is depicted as a powerful force that makes time stand still and brings the spring right through the door. The refrain encourages listeners to keep the flames burning and stay on the right track, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and spirit. The song is a celebration of the transformative power of love and the happiness it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a work of art
You are a masterpiece.
You're the Trevi Fountain
You are a symbol of beauty and romance.
You're a golden heart
You have a heart of gold.
You're the highest mountain
You are majestic and awe-inspiring.
You bring me flowers every day of my life
You constantly show me love and affection.
You save me from the worry and the strife.
You bring peace and calm to my life.
Take me in your arms
Hold me close and never let me go.
baby baby
A term of endearment.
I'm on a winning streak
Life is going great since I met you.
When I met you I reached my peak.
You bring out the best in me.
Your perfect view makes me feel brand-new yeah
You make me see the world in a new way.
Well you're just right to keep me up all night up all night.
You are perfect for keeping me awake, keeping me alive.
Working all the time to make you mine all mine yeah
I work hard to make sure you remain mine forever.
Riding the love train stroke it up riding the love train.
Together, we're on a journey of love and passion.
Lovin' all the time to keep you feeling fine yeah
I love you always and keep you happy.
You make time stand still
When I'm with you, time seems to stop.
Your children laughter love's overspill I'll come running after.
Your children bring so much joy and happiness and I will always be there for them.
You bring the spring right through my door
You bring new life and hope to my life.
You're everything that's worth living for.
You are the reason for my existence and the source of my happiness.
Thrill me with your charms baby baby baby me knees are weak I need you now don't play hide and seek.
You have such an effect on me that I can't resist you even if you try to play hard-to-get.
No times long enough leaving you is tough
I want to spend every moment of my life with you because it's hard to let you go.
Keep the flames burning let your spirit fly
Let's keep the passion and love alive and let your spirit soar freely.
Stay on the right track baby till the day I die
Let's always stay on the path of love and happiness until the end of our lives.
Keep the coal coming.
Keep the passion and love strong and flowing.
Refrain
Chorus
Refrain (2x)
Chorus repeated twice
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ant7971
Absolute pop perfection. One of the greatest songs ever made. And what an album! Incredible. Thankyou HJ! β€
@delboy5561
The best single and video release of 1989! What a debut for Holly this was. Fabulous to see it in glistening high quality. Forever β₯οΈ
@mariaoliveira5865
β€πNice mΓΊsica for everybody βοΈβ€οΈπ΅πΉ
@jpwphoenix1701
Iβve loved this song since I was a kid and definitely remember this video! I still listen to the song to this day, as itβs so good and uplifting. Thanks so much for this little trip down memory lane.ππ₯²β€οΈ
@user-nm6ho8rw8d
great song! amazing video! fantastic quality! my deep respect!
@TheMimomimo123
Soundtrack to my youth βΊοΈβ€οΈ
@ExceedX3
Wow nice love it β€
@hickenhackenfausti7233
one of the best..love it...thx
@henrykfritzsche7026
β€π₯°
@davidjones6470
Love this song me !!!!!