Johanna
Johnny Depp Jamie Campbell Bower Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel you
Do they think that walls can hide you?
Even now I'm at you window
I am in the dark beside you
Buried sweetly in your yellow hair
Johanna
With yellow hair
Like her?
I'd want you beautiful and pale
The way I've dreamed you were
Johanna
Johanna
And if you're beautiful, what then
With yellow hair
Like wheat?
I think we shall not meet again
My little dove
My sweet
Johanna
I'll steal you
Johanna
Good-bye Johanna
You're gone and yet you're mine
I'm fine Johanna
I'm fine
Johanna
Smoke
Smoke
Sign of the Devil
Sign of the Devil
C'iy on fire
Witch
A witch
Smell that Sir?
An evil smell
Ev’ry night at the Vesper’s bell
Smoke that comes from the mouth of hell
C'iy on fire
C'iy on fire
Mischief
Mischief
Mischief
And if I never hear your voice
My turtledove
My dear
I still have reason to rejoice,
The way ahead is clear
Johanna
I feel you
Johanna
And in the darkness
When I'm blind with what I can't forget
It's always morning in my mind
My little lamb
My pet
Johanna
You stay Johanna
(Johanna)
The way I've dreamed you are
Oh look Johanna
A star
(Buried sweetly in your yellow hair)
A shooting star
There
There
Somebody
Somebody
Look up there
Didn't I tell you?
Smell that air
C'iy on fire
Quick Sir
Run and tell
More and more like a witch's spell
There it is
There it is
The unholy smell
Tell it to the Beadle, and police as well
Tell 'em
Tell 'em
Help
Please(wrong)
Fiend (right)
C'iy on fire
C'it on fire
Mischief
Mischief
And though I'll think of you, I guess
Until the day I die
I think I miss you less and less
As everyday goes by
Johanna
Johanna
And you'd be beautiful and pale
And look too much like her
If only angels could prevail
We'd be the way we were
Johanna
I feel you
Johanna
Wake up,
Johanna
Another bright red day
We learn Johanna
To say
Good-bye
I'll steal you
The lyrics of Johnny Depp's song 'Johanna' speaks to the powerful emotions of love, obsession and longing. In a simple but poignant manner, the singer addresses Johanna, expressing his strong feelings for her. The repeated line, "I feel you, Johanna" emphasizes the intensity of his emotions and his overwhelming desire to be with her. The lyrics explore the concept of physical barriers, suggesting that even walls cannot keep him away from her, as he claims to be "at your window" and "in the dark beside you."
The imagery in the song is quite striking, with the focus on Johanna's yellow hair and the suggestion of her beauty and paleness. The singer's yearning for her is clear as he says he wants her to be "the way I dreamt you were." The song seems to hint at a separation between the two characters, with the singer implying that they may never meet again. The final verse suggests a sense of acceptance, as he acknowledges that he may miss her less with each passing day, but the powerful desire to be with her remains.
Interestingly, Depp has revealed in interviews that the song was inspired by a real-life experience he had during his childhood in Kentucky. He claims that as a child, he became obsessed with a girl named Johanna and would often stand outside her window. The title of the song is therefore a reference to this personal connection and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel you Johanna
I sense your existence, Johanna
I feel you
I sense your presence
Do they think that walls can hide you?
Do people believe that walls can conceal you?
Even now I'm at you window
Even at this moment, I'm outside your window
I am in the dark beside you
I'm lurking in the shadows near you
Buried sweetly in your yellow hair
In my imagination, I imagine burying myself softly in your yellow hair
Johanna
Your name, Johanna
And are you beautiful and pale
Are you stunning and light-skinned?
With yellow hair
Possessing yellow-colored hair
Like her?
Resembling a certain woman?
I'd want you beautiful and pale
I prefer you to be stunning and light-skinned
The way I've dreamed you were
Like the way I've imagined you to be
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
And if you're beautiful, what then
And does being attractive matter?
With yellow hair
Having yellow-colored hair
Like wheat?
Similar to the color of wheat?
I think we shall not meet again
I doubt we'll cross paths again
My little dove
Calling you my little bird
My sweet
Addressing you affectionately as my dear
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
I'll steal you
I'll take you away without your consent
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
Good-bye Johanna
Farewell, Johanna
You're gone and yet you're mine
Even though you're not here, you belong to me
I'm fine Johanna
I'm doing well, Johanna
I'm fine
I'm okay
Smoke
Referring to smoke
Smoke
Referring to smoke
Sign of the Devil
A warning sign of evil
Sign of the Devil
A warning sign of evil
C'iy on fire
The city is on fire
Witch
Referring to a female who practices witchcraft
A witch
A female who practices witchcraft
Smell that Sir?
Do you smell that, Sir?
An evil smell
A malodorous scent
Ev’ry night at the Vesper’s bell
Every evening at the bell that indicates sunset prayers
Smoke that comes from the mouth of hell
Smoke that originates from the entrance to the underworld
C'iy on fire
The city is on fire
C'iy on fire
The city is on fire
Mischief
Referring to trouble or harm
Mischief
Trouble or harm
Mischief
Harm or trouble
And if I never hear your voice
And if I never hear you speak
My turtledove
Addressing you affectionately as my bird
My dear
Addressing you affectionately as my loved one
I still have reason to rejoice,
I still have cause for celebration
The way ahead is clear
My path forward is straightforward
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
And in the darkness
And amidst the darkness
When I'm blind with what I can't forget
When I'm overwhelmed by what I can't remember
It's always morning in my mind
In my thoughts, it's always morning
My little lamb
Affectionately calling you my lamb
My pet
Affectionately calling you my companion
You stay Johanna
Remain here, Johanna
(Johanna)
Addressing you, Johanna
The way I've dreamed you are
As I've envisioned you to be
Oh look Johanna
Oh look, Johanna
A star
A heavenly object
(Buried sweetly in your yellow hair)
Describing a previous line where I imagined burying myself in your yellow hair
A shooting star
A meteor that shoots across the sky
There
Over there
There
Over there
Somebody
Referring to an anonymous person
Somebody
An unspecified individual
Look up there
Glance upward in that direction
Didn't I tell you?
Didn't I forewarn you?
Smell that air
Perceive that odor
C'iy on fire
The city is on fire
Quick Sir
Hurry, Sir
Run and tell
Flee and inform
More and more like a witch's spell
Increasingly resembling a charm used by witches
There it is
It exists over there
There it is
There it is located
The unholy smell
The foul odor that has no divine significance
Tell it to the Beadle, and police as well
Inform the Beadle and the authorities as well
Tell 'em
Let them know
Tell 'em
Inform them
Help
A plea for assistance
Please(wrong)
Incorrect usage of 'Please'
Fiend (right)
A demon or evil spirit
C'iy on fire
The city is on fire
C'it on fire
The city is on fire
Mischief
Referring to trouble or harm
Mischief
Trouble or harm
And though I'll think of you, I guess
And even though I'll sometimes contemplate you, I suppose
Until the day I die
Until my dying day
I think I miss you less and less
I believe I long for you less and less
As everyday goes by
As each day elapses
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
And you'd be beautiful and pale
You'd be stunning and light-skinned
And look too much like her
And appear too similar to another woman
If only angels could prevail
If only divine beings could emerge victorious
We'd be the way we were
We'd be identical to how we were previously
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
I feel you
I sense you
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
Wake up,
An admonishment to awaken
Johanna
Addressing you, Johanna
Another bright red day
Another day full of passion or ferocity
We learn Johanna
We come to understand, Johanna
To say
To articulate
Good-bye
A farewell
I'll steal you
I'll abduct you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind