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.

Mia
Johnny Thunders Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My baby went mia
Got lost on her way
My baby went mia
I don't know what to say

But she's gone
But she's gone
But she's gone

A million girls wanna take her place
A million girls will get kicked in their face
A million girls wanna try
A million girls will cry

My baby went mia
Got lost on her way

My baby went mia
I don't know what to say

Overall Meaning

The song "Mia" by Johnny Thunders is a melancholic ballad about the singer's lost love. He sings about his baby who went "mia", which is an acronym for "missing in action". The use of this term gives the song a military connotation, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The singer is lost and confused as he doesn't know what happened to his love, but he is certain that she is gone. The repetition of the line "But she's gone" reinforces the sense of despair and hopelessness that he feels.

In the second stanza, the singer acknowledges the fact that there are many other girls who would like to take his love's place, but he dismisses them as unworthy. He warns them that they will only get hurt if they try to replace his lost love. The line "A million girls will get kicked in their face" is a powerful metaphor for the emotional pain that they will endure.

The song "Mia" showcases Johnny Thunders' raw and emotive vocal style, and the simple yet effective instrumentation creates a haunting atmosphere that perfectly suits the mood of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

My baby went mia
My significant other has disappeared

Got lost on her way
She went missing and I'm not sure how it happened

My baby went mia
My significant other has disappeared

I don't know what to say
I'm at a loss for words with this situation

But she's gone
She's no longer here

A million girls wanna take her place
There are countless girls who desire to fill her shoes

A million girls will get kicked in their face
However, those who compete will meet with pain and rejection

A million girls wanna try
Many seek the chance to be with me

A million girls will cry
Those many hopefuls will inevitably shed tears in their pursuit

My baby went mia
My significant other has disappeared

Got lost on her way
She went missing and I'm not sure how it happened