As Tears Go By
Johnny Thunders Lyrics
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I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch as tears go by
My riches can't buy everything
I want to hear the children sing
Of rain falling on the ground
I sit and watch as tears go by
It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Doing things I used to do
They make me think of you
I sit and watch as tears go by
The song As Tears Go By was originally written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and their manager Andrew Loog Oldham for Marianne Faithfull in 1964. The lyrics are about the loss of innocence and the feeling of isolation that comes with growing older. Johnny Thunders' version of the song is slower and more melancholic than the original, with an emphasis on the sense of loneliness and longing that the lyrics convey.
The first stanza sets the scene of the song with Thunders observing children playing and smiling faces. He expresses a sense of detachment and separation from the happy scene, as if his own happiness is unreachable. The second stanza deepens his sense of isolation as he contrasts his wealth with his inability to communicate with children and feel the joy they are experiencing. In the third and final stanza, Thunders reminisces about his own childhood and how the children playing remind him of someone he has lost. He is left to watch as tears go by, unable to join in with the happy memories of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
It is the evening of the day
The day is coming to an end.
I sit and watch the children play
I observe the kids enjoying themselves.
Smiling faces I can see
I see cheerful expressions all around.
But not for me
But I am not feeling happy like them.
I sit and watch as tears go by
I watch my tears fall down as I look on.
My riches can't buy everything
My wealth cannot purchase everything.
I want to hear the children sing
I long to hear the kids' singing.
All I hear is the sound
But all that meets my ears are the drops of rain.
Of rain falling on the ground
Falling on the soil beneath my feet.
I sit and watch as tears go by
I look on with tears in my eyes.
Doing things I used to do
Performing activities I once used to do.
They make me think of you
This reminds me of you.
I sit and watch as tears go by
Once again, I sit to observe with eyes full of tears.
Contributed by Eli J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thurein Tun
@Scott Williams first of all sorry for your friends. Ok, so here it is, this is what i said/wrote- "So like i said, If you're a healthy one or have strong mind, ..."
I said if one is healthy and (yeah, i should've used "and" there. Better precise these days y know) strong mind. I just didn't go around telling everyone go turkey on heroin! I know how it's like ok? Also, did i say "hey go cold turkey till you die!", huh? Of cuz not. I just motivate addicts to try/feel the clean way first before go hanging on another form of addiction. That's so simply put that everyone with no intention to prove someone wrong would see it in my comment. You, as someone who experienced an addiction (any form) yourself must have know that dependence, i man any type and form of dependence is bad for every human being. You can't just deny, even you are so wanting to prove my wrong you shouldn't* deny it. Still far far from normal working lifestyle should i say? No dependant person is living life in it's fullness. Everyone of us know these drugs (especially methadone) fuck folks liver and brain. If a drug can maintain heroin withdrawal, then that drug must hard you know. And hard they all are. "side effects" people call, are in every single form of drugs and meds.
Keep in mind I'm saying all these as a person on methadone for~5 years. And yeah only 5 years, and that little 5 years could make me see i ain't living a normal functioning lifestyle.
Also, i shouldn't have put that last sentence in it. Sometimes people judge folks base on usage years when it comes to drugs, especially heroin.. It's like there ain't any information on the subject to read or heard from someone. you know junkies have big big ego up in the head (me included when i was one). Everyone single of them. As soon as you start injecting that drug into your vain you instantly become a self righteous bitch. And sometime, some of them just couldn't stop being that way.
Did you aware that you're come ordering me what to do? You think that's right in these days and age? It's like i was putting peoples into their deathholes.
So here is the fact here, no healthy body, i said I NO HEALTHY ONE have ever died from going raw withdrawal/cold turkey with it's direct effect*. Folks with medical complication in the past(especially someone with heart or liver problems), as every educated person could guess, may die from the result of the indirect consequences. And that ain't only my quote, that's what every single medical experts would told you.
I mean this conversation shouldn't have start from the first place man! I mean i said "try" or "test run" it, not row over til you're a deadman lol There ain't event horizon in cold turkey ing you know. Someone with normal working brain would know when they're reaching their limit and which is which. You feel it. And every peoples(addicts, family, every good hearted peoples) would prefer clean than a replacement and you damn know it! Damn this is something...
Afterall there have been more peoples succeed in going clean than ended up dead from some indirect effects or some foul play during come turkey. The ratio is like 99%. So what would be the smart/reasonable advice for someone to give to addicts?
Hmm like i said, this conversation doesn't make any sense.
Again, sorry for the families and loved ones of your dead friends. No one deserves to die soon. And that i really mean it!
Mental Stanley
I don't get all the wasted talent comments.
Millions of junkies with tons of talent OD and die every day without leaving behind any legacy at all.
Despite all of his issues he played in some great bands and left behind a lot of great records.
Leanne Evangelista
He looks like so many dudes in my Italian working class neighborhood
Mental Stanley
@Turtle Lohman
Getting emotional dude, his death has become legend with all types of rumors and exaggerations, murder, foul play, drugs, not drugs, luekemia, aids etc etc etc.. there is a coroner's report stating methadone and cocaine overdose.
You don't know either so calm down.
Turtle Lohman
He didnt OD, maybe stop making assumptions
Tohellwith Google
He was a great. Guns and Roses later covered him as did The Ramones while he lived. Had he not done so much he could have done more. He was one of the best of the 70s punk scene.
elisabeth mayer
Without the junk he probably wouldn’t have been so creative
Molo Skate
When I go through tough times I hear Johnny thunders. He has great music.
Molo Skate
Walter Carpenter I love your passion ! Hope all is well on your end .
Walter Carpenter
You nailed it man. Without his music I’d of prolly off’d myself a long time ago. Johnny hung in there cause HE HAD TO PLAY MUSIC . He was clearly meant to be doing exactly what he accomplished.
Having said that FUCK DOPE ! This is just a general statement. Not directed at you man ! Dope is not cool, you won’t be a better guitar player with it . Johnny was a drug addict but HIS MUSIC IS WHAT WE ALL LOVE !
baby roo
Me too