Tumbling Down
J. Johnson Lyrics

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Smashed a hole through my TV screen
Too much too soon if you know what I mean
I lost my mind by the count of ten
Nobody ever gonna put me back together again

[Chorus:]
You gotta knock it out rock it
You gotta sock it out rock it

You gotta rock rock rock it
Til the walls come tumbln' down

Ladies flirtations I can't resist
I got to order you decease and desist
I just need some immoral support
And if your momma don't like it she can take me to court

[Chorus:]

Mash those potatoes don't be shy
Feels so good don't you ask me why
The night is wild but I'm in control
You gotta brush your teeth with rock 'n' roll

[Chorus:]

Overall Meaning

The song Tumbling Down by J. Johnson tells the story of a person who has broken down after experiencing too much, too soon. The first verse describes how the person has smashed a hole through their TV screen, possibly as a means of escaping reality. And then, they say they have lost their mind by the count of ten, indicating they may have reached a breaking point or rock bottom. The person believes that no one can put them back together again.

The chorus emphasizes the importance of rocking out and letting loose until the walls come tumbling down. This phrase is a metaphor for the person's emotional state, suggesting that they need to release their built-up stress and anxiety through music and dancing.

In the second verse, the person admits to being incapable of resisting the flirtations of women. They believe they need immoral support and do not care about the consequences, even if it means going to court. The third verse encourages the listener to let go and mash those potatoes, meaning let loose and enjoy themselves. The person claims to be in control despite the wildness of the night, but they still recognize the importance of brushing their teeth with rock and roll, indicating that they need to stay grounded even when they let loose.

Overall, Tumbling Down is a song that encourages the listener to let loose and enjoy themselves even when it feels like everything around them is falling apart.

Line by Line Meaning

Smashed a hole through my TV screen
I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't handle my emotions and broke my TV screen.

Too much too soon if you know what I mean
I was thrown into a situation without enough preparation, and it was too much for me to handle.

I lost my mind by the count of ten
I couldn't keep my composure and had a meltdown.

Nobody ever gonna put me back together again
I feel completely broken and unfixable.

You gotta knock it out rock it
To overcome my struggles, I need to fight and push forward.

You gotta sock it out rock it
I need to keep going even when things get tough.

You gotta rock rock rock it
I need to keep moving forward and never give up.

Til the walls come tumbln' down
Until I achieve my goal or overcome my obstacle, I won't stop trying.

Ladies flirtations I can't resist
I have a tendency to be drawn to women who flirt with me.

I got to order you decease and desist
I need to stop myself from acting on those flirtations because it's not appropriate.

I just need some immoral support
I'm struggling and need someone to encourage me, even if it's not the right thing to do.

And if your momma don't like it she can take me to court
I don't care about the consequences of my actions; even if someone tries to stop me, I'll do what I want.

Mash those potatoes don't be shy
I'm encouraging others to let loose and have fun.

Feels so good don't you ask me why
I'm enjoying myself, and I don't need to explain myself to anyone.

The night is wild but I'm in control
Even though I'm in a crazy situation, I feel like I have everything under control.

You gotta brush your teeth with rock 'n' roll
Life should be lived with passion and excitement, like you're rocking out to music.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PETER WOLF, SETH JUSTMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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