James "Jim" Alan Stanley Johnston is a music composer who has been working … Read Full Bio ↴James "Jim" Alan Stanley Johnston is a music composer who has been working for World Wrestling Entertainment since the 1980s. His work is often accredited to the name James A. Johnston.

Johnston is famous for writing many of the memorable entrance theme songs for WWE, including the theme songs for The Undertaker, The Rock, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, amongst hundreds of others superstars. In addition, Johnston has also composed music for the majority of WWE's PPV and Television productions, including show themes, music videos, vignettes, commercials and tributes.

Johnston has mentioned in past interviews that he suffers from stage fright and a fear of live audiences, and it was this fear that led to him seeking a more 'studio oriented' music career. His first job in the entertainment business was working with MTV and VH1 to create bumpers and commercial cues, before a chance meeting in a sushi restaurant with a WWF producer led to him joining Vince McMahon's professional wrestling company. Initially composing TV themes for shows and commercial buffers, Johnston gravitated towards wrestlers' entrance themes, before eventually becoming a complete music composer for the company.

In 1989, Johnston composed original music for No Holds Barred, a movie starring Hulk Hogan. Although the score was never commercially released, the theme "No Holds Barred", with vocals by John Joyce, was later released on WWE Anthology album in 2002. Johnston also contributed the score to the 2010 WWE Studio's release, "Legendary", starring John Cena.

Johnston is well known for writing, composing and producing all his compositions, in addition to playing all instruments, and occasionally recruiting outside vocalists or additional musicians to contribute when the piece requires.

Johnston appears on the videotape Piledriver - The Wrestling Album 2 to introduce the video for Girls in Cars. He orchestrated the live band at the WWF Slammy Awards ceremonies, and traveled across the U.S. in 1995 as part of the "Raw Band". He also appeared on camera at WrestleMania XIV and the 1998 SummerSlam playing the DX theme with the Chris Warren Band. Johnston also had a brief clip in the film Beyond the Mat discussing his reasoning behind Vader's theme music. Johnston also appears on the bonus DVD for WWE Originals the 2004 album by the same name. The DVD features a 30 minute behind-the-scenes documentary on Johnston, offering insights into the composing, producing and directing of the album. There are also some humorous interactions of Johnston with Jonathan Coachman and Steve Austin. Johnston also appears on The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior discussing the Ultimate Warrior's theme song, and how it was able to be truly representative of the character. Johnston also appeared on the WWF WrestleMania XV DVD Extras, commenting on WWF's music, and how music is crucial in the World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment.

James Alan Johnston composed the music for two films recently produced by WWE Studios, 'Legendary' (starring John Cena), and 'Knucklehead', starring The Big Show. He also wrote the score for "No Holds Barred" starring Hulk Hogan, and contributed the track, "Ahmed Johnson" to Beyond the Mat.

Break Down The Walls
James A. Johnston Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Break down walls, break down walls
We’ve never cared what they built them for
Kick down doors, kick down doors
Leave them all in pieces lying on the floor, yeah ho

Throw my name, Throw my name
Drunk in the middle of a hurricane
Lay your blame, lay your blame

No one’s going to call you in from the rain now
What are we fighting for?
Leave it on the kitchen floor

Fill my cup, fill my cup
I’ll never know how I always use it up
Make the cut, make the cut
Sink the blade deeper ‘til I see the blood, ay!

Don’t pretend, don’t pretend
Acting all cool is no way to beat them
Break and bend, break and bend just
Do it how you want and you might transcend now

What are we lying for
Lets leave it outside the door

Break down walls, break down walls
We’ve never cared what they built them for
Heed the call, heed the call
When the sky cracks open and the black crow falls

Stake my claim, stake my claim
Drive it down deep through the bricks and slate
Call my name, call my name
I’m out finding tigers in the pouring rain now

We don’t need clothes no more
Leave them on the bedroom floor

Overall Meaning

The song "Break Down The Walls" by James A. Johnston starts with a challenge to Jericho to break down the walls. Judas is then mentioned as the singer compares himself to a priest. The singer claims to have something great to offer, which they bring to the stage in a beastly rage. The chorus then calls on people to step into the arena and break down the walls.

The second verse starts with the singer claiming to have awakened from a deep sleep and stating that those listening are weak. They claim to be the master of their listener's heap and to be able to lead them like sheep. The chorus then repeats before a bridge that calls out Jericho again and tells them they are coming down. Finally, the last chorus calls on people to break down the walls of Jericho, finishing the song with a call to action.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on, Jericho You know I got ya, yeah
Addressing Jericho, who will be forcibly broken down. Lauding the singer's capabilities.

One, Break the wall down (Break down the walls)
Directing to break down the walls of Jericho.

For those about to rock and what ya want Baby you know you're Judas and I'm your priest Baby what I got is not from the least Bring it through the stage in the rage of a beast
Referring to the listener as Judas and oneself as a priest. Flaunting their chosen profession as a performer.

Step in the arena and break the wall down Step in the arena and break the wall down
Encouraging the listener to enter an arena, and once inside, to break down the walls.

So good (You know I got ya), Soooooo right Yeahhh, Yeah
Claiming to have the listener's attention and satisfaction.

I've awakened from a deep sleep You're all weak You're living in the agony of defeat I am the master of your whole heap I am the pastor, flock ya like sheep
Declaring oneself superior to the listener and denouncing their 'weakness'. Advertising self as having control over them.

Step into the town and break the wall down Your heart beat is the only sound Step into the light and then you'll know You were stopped and dropped by the Walls of Jericho
Telling the listener to enter a specific town and break down the walls while making note of the only audible sound being their heartbeat.

Whatcha ya gonna do? Jericho You're coming down Feel me now, Jericho Can't stop, uh, (Feel me now) Break the walls down, Can't stop, Jericho
Asking Jericho on their impending doom while boasting about an unstoppable force that's going to break their walls down.

For those about to rock, set the clock For those about to jump, I'm all pumped For those about to go, watch me flow Break down the Walls of Jericho
Tailoring the message to different kinds of performers for a wide range of audiences. The walls must still come down.

What you want? I'll break you down What ya got? Jericho all around
Denoting the presence of Jericho around the singer while implying that anyone who resists will be broken down.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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