He is best known for being the founder member, songwriter and guitarist in The Smiths. The band released numerous singles and four studio albums between 1983 and 1987 until the band dissolved.
Since leaving The Smiths in 1987, Marr focused mainly on contributing to the work of established bands. He played session guitar and or wrote music for artists such as The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Billy Bragg and Kirsty Maccoll (among others). He also briefly became a full-time member of The The due to his friendship with singer Matt Johnson.
Most notably, in 1989 he teamed up with New Order's Bernard Sumner to form synthesiser/guitar super group Electronic. Combining at first with Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant, the duo released Getting Away With It which peaked at #12 in the UK charts. Electronic soon solidified as just Sumner and Marr and between them they released three albums. Self titled debut, Electronic, Raise the Pressure and Twisted Tenderness were released in 1991, 1996 and 1999 respectively.
In 2000, Johnny formed his own band called the Healers. He quickly enlisted Zak Starkey the drumming son of the Beatles’ Ringo Starr. In 2003 Johnny Marr + the Healers released an album called Boomslang, which featured Johnny writing lyrics and on vocals which was an unfamiliar role for him.
In September 2006 Marr announced his membership of the US band Modest Mouse on his website. His work appeared on their 2007 album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The following year he joined The Cribs as a full time member, touring, co-writing and recording their 2009 album Ignore the Ignorant. He left the band in 2011 to concentrate on solo work.
In 2013 he finally released his first proper solo effort, The Messenger. This was followed by extensive touring with the setlist including songs from his time in The Smiths and Electronic. He quickly followed up this debut with his second solo set in 2014 with Playland.
In June 2018, He released his third album called Call the Comet with 12 tracks. Call the Comet received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album scored an average rating of 76, based on 13 reviews. Writing for the Associated Press, Mark Kennedy opined that it was "easily his best as a solo artist, deep and rich both musically and lyrically" before concluding, "So feel free to stay in bed, Morrissey. Marr is who we need now."
Lockdown
Johnny Marr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been pushed hard for too long
Take back what they've done
It's a lockdown
Touch out if we want
Home is a city
It's gone and I'm a loser
Another lockdown
Freeze out
If we want
Love is a city
A war
And I'm a loser
Can I get back what I want?
In a lost town?
I know I was born between the exit streets
And entry's beats and
A salvage situation
Where nobody goes
An education I still don't know
Coastline of neon
Makes me look out to what's gone
Right now there's no better in this town
Ghosts out tonight
Help me break out of life
These times define me in this town
I know I was born between the angel's streets
And entry's beasts
And someone's situation that's nobody's home
An education that I still don't know
Look out everyone
Freezed out
And we was
Give back
Come on
Lockdown
Oh, touch out everyone
Be fast 'cos we're gone
Come back
It's on another lockdown
A lockdown
Lockdown
The lyrics of Johnny Marr's song Lockdown exude a sense of dissatisfaction and loss, perhaps stemming from the difficult times faced by people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The artist expresses a desire to reclaim what has been taken away from him and suggests that the situation he finds himself in is similar to being locked down. The first two lines of the song, "Look out everyone, I've been pushed hard for too long" convey a feeling of being overwhelmed and oppressed by one's situation. The singer then goes on to say "Take back what they've done, it's a lockdown," which can be interpreted as a call to action to reclaim what has been lost.
The lyrics further identify with the feelings of alienation and disconnection brought about by the pandemic. The lines, "Touch out if we want, home is a city, It's gone and I'm a loser" suggest a feeling of disconnectedness from one's surroundings, which has led to a sense of loss. The singer then talks about being in a lost town and asks, "Can I get back what I want?" In the last verse, he seems to reflect on his own experiences and educational background, recognizing that he is still learning and growing.
Overall, Johnny Marr's Lockdown explores themes of loss, isolation, and longing for connection, which are particularly relevant during the difficult times of the pandemic.
Line by Line Meaning
Look out everyone
I am about to take action and everyone should be ready and aware of the situation at hand.
I've been pushed hard for too long
I have been under immense pressure and strain for an extended period of time.
Take back what they've done
I am determined to reclaim what has been taken from me by those who have wronged me.
It's a lockdown
The situation is dire and requires a complete restriction of movement and action.
Touch out if we want
We have the freedom to move and touch what we desire within our city.
Home is a city
The city is where I belong and feel at home within its streets and people.
It's gone and I'm a loser
The city that was once my home has been taken away from me and I feel as if I have lost everything.
And they took back what I want
Those who have wronged me have taken away what I desire most.
Another lockdown
Once again, the situation has gotten so dire that we must impose a lockdown to prevent further harm.
Freeze out
We have the power to restrict movement and freeze out those who we do not want in our lives.
Love is a city
The love that we seek is found within the city and its people.
A war
Love can be a battlefield, filled with strife and conflict.
And I'm a loser
Despite my best efforts, I still feel defeated and like I am not good enough.
Can I get back what I want?
I am uncertain if I will ever be able to reclaim what has been taken from me.
In a lost town?
Am I stuck in a place that has been completely changed and is no longer the town that I once knew?
I know I was born between the exit streets
I was born into a world filled with goodbyes and endings, constantly exiting and entering new situations.
And entry's beats and
My life is filled with the sounds and rhythms of different experiences and encounters.
A salvage situation
I find myself in a situation where I must try to save and recover what has been lost.
Where nobody goes
This situation is one that is unfamiliar and shunned by others.
An education I still don't know
Despite my experiences, I am still unsure and have much to learn.
Coastline of neon
The bright lights of the city's skyline provide a stark contrast to my current situation.
Makes me look out to what's gone
The cityscape reminds me of what I have lost and cannot regain.
Right now there's no better in this town
The current situation is so dire that there is nothing better to be found in the town.
Ghosts out tonight
The spirits of those who have left the town are felt tonight, haunting the city.
Help me break out of life
I need assistance in breaking free from my current situation and the life that has been imposed upon me.
These times define me in this town
The current situation has completely shaped and defined who I am in this town.
Touch out everyone
Reach out and claim what you desire within the freedom of the city.
Be fast 'cos we're gone
Act quickly because we may not have the time and resources to do so later.
Come back
Return to what was once ours, even if it requires a fight.
It's on another lockdown
The situation has spiraled out of control once again and a lockdown is necessary to regain control.
A lockdown
The complete restriction of movement and action is necessary to prevent further harm and damage.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES DOVIAK, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@herbie53opf
Here I am under an actual lockdown.
@rs19147
One of the greatest British guitarists ever!!!
@jimfish1595
I love the way every song on this album gets straight to the point. Not much time wasted on intros
@stephaniemccarthy3783
this album is superb.i saw johnny last night and he is still the king......younger bands can only dream of being as good as this guy.......
@citysmith13
30 years on from first hitting the limelight and this guy still writes some shit hot music! Brilliant album, Johnny.
@workingliberal
Best album so far this year & setting the bar sky high for those who follow.
@tonylara120
One of best songs I've ever heard
@suds3405
He's still got it
@1275porsche
Those arpeggios, just brilliant !
@roblucero85
Just what the music scene needed, thanks for coming through Johnny