Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr (July 15, 1952 - April 23, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr (July 15, 1952 - April 23, 1991), was a rock and roll guitarist and singer, first with the New York Dolls, the proto-punk glam rockers of the early '70s. During the late '70s, he was a familiar figure on the New York punk scene, both with The Heartbreakers and as a solo artist. His screeching, penetrating guitar sound is distinctive and highly influential in punk rock music. Thunders tangled with the demons of fame and drug addiction until his death on April 23, 1991 of a methadone overdose. Some suspect foul play. The theory is that two hustlers met Thunders in a bar and they hung out in his room where they proceeded to kill Thunders, steal his belongings, and spike him with methadone to make it seem like an overdose. This theory arose when Thunders' sister Mariann requested to see the police report and half of the report was missing. The autopsy also showed no evidence of alcohol in his system, which is perplexing because many witnesses say that they saw Thunders drinking with the two men the night before he was killed. Johnny Thunders was 38.

I Love You
Johnny Thunders Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I look in your eyes, I see words I can't describe
Every word I'm telling you and I tell you, I love you

And oh, don't try to put me down
Oh, just because my back is turned all around
I'm playing it straight for once 'cause, baby I love you, I really do
There's no one like you an' baby I love, baby, I love you
No matter what I do, baby I love you and I tell you, I love you

Oh, don't try to put me down
Oh, just because my back is turned all around
I'm playing it straight for once 'cause, baby I love you, I really do
There's no one like you an' baby I love, I love you

An' baby I love you, I really do
No one like you, baby I love you
Baby I love you, baby I love you, baby I love you

Baby I love you, baby I love, baby I love you
No matter what I do, baby I love you and I tell you, I love you

Overall Meaning

The song "I Love You" by Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers is a declaration of love filled with raw emotion and a hint of vulnerability. The lyrics express the unexplainable feeling of being in love and the struggle to find the right words to describe it. The singer is deeply in love and cannot contain his feelings, wanting desperately to express his love to his beloved. He sees the world in a different light and the words he wants to use to describe his love for her are beyond his grasp - he can only say "I love you".

The chorus tells us that he's playing it straight for once and there's no doubt about his sincerity in expressing his love for her. However, he senses that his beloved may not reciprocate his feelings and warns her not to put him down just because he's turned around. In spite of these fears, he remains steadfast and continues to speak truthfully about his love. The repetition of the phrase "baby I love you" emphasizes the depth of his emotion and his need to express it.

Overall, the song is a classic love ballad that conveys the emotions of love and vulnerability. The song is a declaration of honest and unabashed love that can be felt through the raw and emotive vocals. The song is a classic example of the punk rock movement of rejecting societal norms and pursuing personal freedom of expression.

Line by Line Meaning

When I look in your eyes, I see words I can't describe
I have strong feelings for you that are hard to express with words, but I can see them in your eyes

Every word I'm telling you and I tell you, I love you
I want you to know that I'm being sincere when I say 'I love you'

Oh, don't try to put me down
Please don't try to make me feel bad about myself or our relationship

Oh, just because my back is turned all around
Don't assume I'm not invested in this relationship just because I'm not facing you at the moment

I'm playing it straight for once 'cause, baby I love you, I really do
I'm being honest and genuine about my feelings for you, and I want to be transparent in our relationship

I Love YouJohnny Thunders Lyrics

I Love You
Johnny Thunders Lyrics