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 Will Come
Holly Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ups, the downs and the broken glass
Romance seems a million miles away
It will catch you by surprise someday
Dreaming of you and me
On a windswept beach by an emerald sea
Ooh..........ah...
(Chorus)
Love will come, love will come your way someday
And the hard times,
Are just the price that we have to pay
For love will come,
Don't you know, love will find a way
Yes love will come
Ooh..........ah...
Listen to your heart
The pleasure-pain of cupid's dart
Foolish ones who frown on sentiment
Will never find a prize that's heaven sent
Praying for you and me
For a million days filled with ecstasy
Ooh..........ah...
(Chorus)
We used to hope
Life was just one endless shopping spree
Now we know love is the one thing
That we get for free
Or do we?
(Chorus)
The song "Love Will Come" by Holly Johnson talks about the ups and downs of love and how it can catch someone off guard. The first verse talks about how even though life may have its challenges and heartbreaks, it will eventually pass. The second verse talks about dreaming of being with someone special and the possibility of having a life filled with joy and happiness. The chorus reassures the listener that love will come their way someday and though it may come with sacrifices, it is worth it. The bridge encourages the listener to listen to their heart and not be afraid to embrace love, despite those who may belittle it.
The lyrics of this song explore themes of love, perseverance, and how love is worth the price we pay for it. Johnson sings with a reassuring tone, letting the listener know that they are not alone in their search for love. The song is straightforward, but it speaks to the heart and can be a source of comfort for someone going through a difficult time. Johnson's vocals have an infectious energy, and the melody is catchy and upbeat.
Line by Line Meaning
Even this will pass
No matter how bad things get, they won't last forever
The ups, the downs and the broken glass
Life is full of highs and lows, and sometimes it's painful
Romance seems a million miles away
Finding love can seem impossible, like it's far away
It will catch you by surprise someday
Love will come when you least expect it
Dreaming of you and me
Thinking about being with someone special
On a windswept beach by an emerald sea
Imagining a perfect, romantic location for a date
(Chorus)
Repeating the main message of the song: love will come
Don't you know that
Trying to convince someone of something they may not believe yet
Love will come, love will come your way someday
Again, reinforcing the idea that love will happen eventually
And the hard times,
Acknowledge that love isn't always easy
Are just the price that we have to pay
Saying that going through tough times is worth it for the reward of love
For love will come,
Repeating the main message again
Don't you know, love will find a way
Saying that love will overcome obstacles and difficulties
Yes love will come
Once again repeating the main message
Listen to your heart
Suggesting that you should trust your feelings and instincts
The pleasure-pain of cupid's dart
Describing the mix of joy and pain that love can bring
Foolish ones who frown on sentiment
Criticizing people who don't value love or romantic feelings
Will never find a prize that's heaven sent
Saying that these people will miss out on something amazing
Praying for you and me
Wishing for a happy ending for the singer and the listener
For a million days filled with ecstasy
Hoping for a long and happy life together
We used to hope
Referring to past beliefs or attitudes
Life was just one endless shopping spree
Saying that people used to focus on material wealth instead of love
Now we know love is the one thing
Suggesting that the singer has learned the true value of love
That we get for free
Emphasizing that love is priceless
Or do we?
Asking a rhetorical question, implying that maybe love isn't really free after all
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.