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.
It's Not Enough
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can give me that
You can give me this
You can give me that
It's not enough
Money so green
So casually seen
It's not enough
It's not enough
Every town I go in
Every street I walk down
I can get anything I want
I just lay my cards down
I can count on diamonds
Rubies as well
Oh, big deal, baby
I still feel like hell
It's not enough
It's not enough
The lyrics to Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers' song It's Not Enough seem to be exploring themes of materialism and dissatisfaction. The repetition of "you can give me this, you can give me that" followed by "it's not enough" suggests that the singer feels like they are constantly searching for more, even when provided with material possessions or experiences. The use of the phrase "money so green, so casually seen" also highlights the idea that wealth and material possessions are not enough to satisfy the singer, despite their apparent ease and abundance.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that the singer has become jaded and desensitized to their lifestyle, with the line "it don't bother me" indicating a lack of emotional attachment or fulfillment. This is further emphasized in the second verse, where the singer describes their ability to obtain anything they want in any town they go to, yet still feels unfulfilled.
The final lines, "I can count on diamonds, rubies as well, oh big deal baby, I still feel like hell" summarize the overall sentiment of the song. Despite possessing valuable jewels and experiencing a life of luxury, the singer is still unhappy and unfulfilled, suggesting that true fulfillment cannot be achieved through material possessions alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You can give me this
I appreciate your gift, but it doesn't satisfy me completely.
You can give me that
I appreciate your gift, but it doesn't satisfy me completely.
You can give me this
I appreciate your gift, but it doesn't satisfy me completely.
You can give me that
I appreciate your gift, but it doesn't satisfy me completely.
It's not enough
No matter what you give me, it won't be enough to make me happy.
Money so green
Money is valuable, but it doesn't guarantee happiness.
So casually seen
Money is so common that it doesn't impress me anymore.
It don't bother me
Money doesn't affect my mood.
It's not enough
No matter how much money I have, it won't satisfy me.
It's not enough
No matter how much money I have, it won't satisfy me.
Every town I go in
Wherever I go, I have access to everything I want.
Every street I walk down
I have complete freedom to explore any place I want to.
I can get anything I want
I have so many options that I can choose anything I want.
I just lay my cards down
I know what I want and I'm not afraid to ask for it.
I can count on diamonds
I have access to luxurious possessions like diamonds.
Rubies as well
I also have access to rubies.
Oh, big deal, baby
These expensive items don't impress me anymore.
I still feel like hell
Despite having all these possessions, I still feel empty and dissatisfied.
It's not enough
No matter how many possessions I have, it won't satisfy me completely.
It's not enough
No matter how many possessions I have, it won't satisfy me completely.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETE TOWNSHEND, RACHEL MARY FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ChrisPCrock
You can give me this
You can give me that
You can give me this
You can give me that
It's not enough
Money's so green
So casually seen
It don't bother me
It's not enough
It's not enough
Every town I go in
Every street I walk down
I can get anything I want
I just lay my cards down
I can count on diamonds
Rubys as well
Oh big deal babyI still feel like hell
It's not enough
It's not enough
Oh you can take it
Every town I go in
Every street I walk down
I can get anything I want
I just lay my cards down
I can count on diamonds
Rubys as well
Oh big deal baby
I still feel like hell
It's not enough
@thekween9037
This one strikes a chord with your heart if you've been there. Fucking amazing.
@martinjusid2284
Amazing song. Guitar solo makes me treamble
@warshipsatin8764
been where? rich?
@soulbrother5435
RIP Johnny, Walter, Billy, Jerry
@longtail4711
JT and his band deserved so much better. Such criminally underrated talent, and they've been ripped off all over the place ever since as a testament. RIP Johnny Thunders. I was only a few months old when this album was released.
@martinjusid2284
So true. But Johnny keeped on playing AND he Will never be forgotten
@warshipsatin8764
for a bunch of junkies who had no ambition and didnt get along, id say they did fine. anyone who knows rock n roll knows how great they are and consider this record a classic
@Iggloo88
That second guitar solo is just pure heart. It never leaves me. RIP Walter Lure.
@RSidd
That guitar never fails to deliver!
@frankspade1848
What sucks is when you've lived this song. but still a great song.