In Cold Blood
Johnny Thunders Lyrics
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A city boy if you please
I probably forgot more, than you'll ever be
No doubt about it
You gotta (bop?) down, down the street Hey!
You afraid of those creeps?
Guardian angles are what we need
In cold blood
In cold blood
Well you probably think I'm pretty mad
Just because I like it down there
Well don't you worry dear
You'll never end up dead
In cold blood
Well no one here gets out alive
Living here its suicide
Avenue A you might survive
Riverton you'll finally die
In cold blood
In cold blood
Johnny Thunders's song "In Cold Blood" speaks about the street life and living on the edge of society. The lyrics highlight the tough upbringing and life in the streets of New York City. The first line of "Well, I was raised in the street" sets the tone for the rest of the song, describing the life of a city boy that knows the streets better than anyone else. Johnny Thunders has a better understanding of the dangers on the street than anyone else and has learned more throughout his life than others. He sounds defensive but also determined to make the best of the prevailing conditions, even with the looming threat of death.
The song paints an image of the survival on the streets, particularly in the verses: "You gotta bop down, down the street Hey! You afraid of those creeps? Guardian angles are what we need. New York City police are so sweet." The song emphasizes the presence of creeps and the need to protect oneself from them. The lyrics also suggest the need for the guardian angel's intervention and support from the police, which Thunders implies are rare in that part of the city. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "In Cold Blood," as if to say the situation on the streets is unyielding and always persistent.
Overall, Johnny Thunders's song "In Cold Blood" is a powerful ballad with a message about the harsh realities of poverty, danger, and life on the streets of New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I was raised in the street
I grew up in the hard life of the street.
A city boy if you please
I am a true city boy.
I probably forgot more, than you'll ever be
I have experienced more than you could even imagine.
No doubt about it
It is without a doubt.
You gotta (bop?) down, down the street Hey!
Get yourself moving quickly down the street.
You afraid of those creeps?
Are you scared of the scary people around us?
Guardian angles are what we need
We need someone to protect us and watch over us.
New York city police are so sweet
The police in New York City are nice and helpful.
In cold blood
A violent death.
Well you probably think I'm pretty mad
You may assume that I am crazy.
Just because I like it down there
Just because I enjoy the rougher parts of town.
Well don't you worry dear
Do not worry, my dear.
You'll never end up dead
You will never be the victim of a violent death.
Well no one here gets out alive
No one who lives here will leave this place alive.
Living here its suicide
Staying in this city is dangerous and harmful.
Avenue A you might survive
You might live if you move to Avenue A.
Riverton you'll finally die
You will die if you stay in Riverton.
In cold blood
A violent death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW HARR, JERMAINE JACKSON, WILLIAM LEONARD ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@warshipsatin8764
one of his best songs lyrically imo
@tylurmackinnon6217
Jimmy miller was great with Johnny’s music
@GiseleLeaLEIBOVITCH200566
Johnny lived in Paris quite often on and off. He crashed at my place one night (I had just turned 18) in 1984 with this mad woman called Angie whose claim to fame was that she appeared in Madonna's debut soft porn flick but pretended all over town that the Stones had written Angie in her honor !!! She was a heroin addict like Johnny and he hid his stash somewhere in the kitchen... She waited for him to sleep and she got up to look for his gear. Luckily and insanely enough, I wasn't an addict so I looked at those events from afar... He wasn't asleep & knew full well what she was up to ... Johnny was a very sweet loving human being with a great sense of humor. He'll always be in my heart. RIP John Genzale...
@thesleekgreek
No way! Wow - you must have so many stories, what was he like?
@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec
You can tell by the music that he felt a lot of compassion. That’s why I always preferred his hard rock to say Aerosmith. Aerosmith is all about misogyny and testosterone poisoning, etc. Johnny was a loving humble guy and a great artist.
@STCN0B0DY
this song is dedicated to Mr. John Belushi and the other celebrities who copped their drugs in the lower east side..."You gotta park down the street, hey are u afraid of those creeps?" refers to Belushi's fear of copping by himself and getting ripped off. It was a tough neighborhood and only the tough survived. "No One here gets out alive, living here is suicide, Avenue A you might survive, but Rivington you'll finally die in cold bloood" Definitly true
@tedbundy3729
That was the first place I copped dope in the early 90's, good ole Alphabet City with all the squatters. It would probably cost $5,000 a month to live there now.
@jonyscrewzo
thank u for the info
@henrychinaski7861
Indeed thanks
@warshipsatin8764
"new york city police is so sweet"
man i bet the nypd in the 70s handed out beatins like candy