Arriving just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London. The Sex Pistols invited them to open on the ill fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed up with Track Records. Their debut--and only--studio album, L.A.M.F., featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several members left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix filling in for Nolan. The result was the live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79, considered a punk classic.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs (and for a sold out show at The Lyceum in London, England in 1984) until the death of Thunders in 1991 of a supposed methadone overdose. The facts remain unclear: Johnny's passport and money were missing. The coroner's report said no alcohol was in his bloodstream, though many witnesses say Johnny was drinking the night before with people that he had just met. He was 38 years old. Jerry Nolan died of a stroke a few months later at age 40.
Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. Richard Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken word performances. Billy Rath's whereabouts are currently unknown, leading to various rumors such as that he died or became a priest. Walter Lure still performs about once a month with his band the Waldos, playing mostly Heartbreakers songs. The influence of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers is still noticeable today in many punk rock bands. Johnny Thunders solo work is mainly made up of live albums, although he recorded the critical success So Alone in 1978 and Que Sera Sera in 1985. He often worked with Patti Paladin of the band Snatch and they recorded an album of covers, Copycats in 1987.
Chinese Rocks
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Lyrics
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They said, "Hey, is Dee Dee home?
Do you wanna take a walk? You wanna go cop?
You wanna go get some Chinese Rocks?
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
All my best things are in hock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
The plaster's falling off the wall
My girlfriend's crying in the shower stall
It's hot as a bitch, I shoulda been rich
Now, I'm just digging a Chinese ditch
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
All my best things are in hock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
Everything is in the pawn shop, it is
Ooh, aah, ooh, aah
The plaster's falling off the wall
My girlfriend's crying in the shower stall
It's hot as a bitch, I shoulda been rich
Now, I'm just digging a Chinese ditch
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
The song "Chinese Rocks" by Johnny Thunders tells the story of a drug addict perhaps who is running out of options and is living on the edge. The singer of the song is faced with an offer to go out and get "Chinese Rocks", a slang term for heroin. He reflects on his current state and paints a bleak picture of his life where everything he owned had been pawned off or sold to support his drug habit. His apartment's plaster is falling off, and his girlfriend is crying in the shower. He acknowledges his bad choices in life and is bitter about the fact that he could have been rich if he had made different choices.
The lyrics are raw and honest in their portrayal of the effects of drug addiction on an individual's life. The imagery of the falling plaster and the crying girlfriend brings a sense of despair and hopelessness to the song. The chorus of the song, "I'm living on a Chinese Rock, all my best things are in hock" is a powerful statement that sums up the singer's current state of life. Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the impact of drugs on the lives of people and the harsh realities that come with addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody called me on the phone
I received a phone call from someone
They said, "Hey, is Dee Dee home?
The caller asked if Dee Dee was home
Do you wanna take a walk? You wanna go cop?
The caller asked if I wanted to take a walk or if I wanted to go buy some drugs
You wanna go get some Chinese Rocks?
The caller asked if I wanted to buy heroin, which is often referred to as "Chinese Rocks"
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I am heavily addicted to heroin
All my best things are in hock
I have sold or pawned all of my valuable possessions to support my drug addiction
Everything is in the pawn shop, it is
All of my belongings are now in pawn shops
The plaster's falling off the wall
The physical state of my living situation is deteriorating
My girlfriend's crying in the shower stall
My significant other is upset and crying
It's hot as a bitch, I shoulda been rich
I am in unpleasant circumstances and regret not being wealthy
Now, I'm just digging a Chinese ditch
I am in a perilous situation and have dug myself into a metaphorical hole, like a ditch used for Chinese laborers
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I am still heavily addicted to heroin
Ooh, aah, ooh, aah
This is a portion of the chorus with nonsensical words used to create a catchy tune
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I am still heavily addicted to heroin
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I am still heavily addicted to heroin
I'm living on a Chinese Rock
I am still heavily addicted to heroin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dee Dee Ramone, Douglas Colvin, Jeffrey Hyman, Joey Ramone, John (ramone) Cummings, Johnny Ramone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind