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.

She's So Strange
Johnny Thunders Lyrics

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You’re so strange
It didn’t start that way
But what can I say
You’re strange

You’re the talk the town
All the girls around
They’re all staring you down

Nothing’s changed

Can’t find a hand but everything’s a scandal
You’re so strange
Can’t find the time cause you’re wasting mine
Nothing’s changed

You’re so strange
You’re so strange
You’re so strange
So strange

Can’t find a hand but everything’s a scandal
You’re so strange
Can’t find the time cause you’re wasting mine
Nothing’s changed

You’re so strange
You’re so strange

You’re so strange
So strange

Overall Meaning

In Johnny Thunders's song She's So Strange, the lyrics speak to the singer's confusion and frustration with their romantic partner. At first, the partner was not considered strange, but as their relationship progressed, the singer finds themselves unable to understand their partner's behavior. The partner is the talk of the town, with girls staring at her, but this attention only seems to further alienate the singer. The partner seems to be wasting the singer's time and causing unnecessary scandals, leaving the singer feeling isolated and frustrated.

The lyrics suggest a sense of helplessness and confusion, with the singer unable to grasp why his partner is behaving in such a way. The repetition of the phrase "you're so strange" throughout the song further emphasizes this sense of bewilderment. The partner seems to be disrupting the singer's life, unable to find a hand or the time, which adds to the overall sense of chaos and unease in the song.

Overall, the song portrays a troubled relationship in which the singer feels alienated and confused, unable to understand or connect with their partner. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and helplessness, with the repetition of the phrase "you're so strange" suggesting a deep-rooted confusion.

Line by Line Meaning

You’re so strange
The subject of the song is an unusual and peculiar person

It didn’t start that way
At first, the subject did not seem strange

But what can I say
However, the singer is unable to explain the reason for the subject's odd behavior

You’re strange
The subject is strange, unusual and different from others

You’re the talk the town
The subject is a topic of conversation among the people in the town

All the girls around
The other girls in the town are curious about the strange subject

They’re all staring you down
The other girls in the town are staring at the strange subject with curiosity

Nothing’s changed
The situation with the subject has not improved or worsened

Can’t find a hand but everything’s a scandal
The subject is unable to form a relationship with anyone, and everything surrounding them is controversial and scandalous

Can’t find the time cause you’re wasting mine
The subject is a time-waster and causes the singer to waste their own time as well

You’re so strange
The subject is strange and peculiar

So strange
The subject is so bizarre and unusual that it cannot be explained

You’re so strange
The subject is strange and peculiar

So strange
The subject is so bizarre and unusual that it cannot be explained

Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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