Jonathan Michael Richman (Natick, Massachusetts, May 16, 1951) is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Jonathan Michael Richman (Natick, Massachusetts, May 16, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic, backing. He is known for his wide-eyed, unaffected and childlike outlook, and music that, while rooted in rock and roll, often draws on influences from around the world.
Jonathan Richman began playing music and writing his own songs in the mid-1960s. In 1969 he moved to New York City, where he spent time living on the couch of The Velvet Underground's manager and working odd jobs while trying to break in as a professional musician. Failing at this, he returned to Boston. Having moved back, he formed The Modern Lovers. Other notable members of the group were keyboard player Jerry Harrison and drummer David Robinson, who later joined Talking Heads and The Cars, respectively. In 1972 they recorded a series of songs with John Cale producing, including the seminal "Roadrunner," which were eventually released on the group's sole album, Modern Lovers, in 1975.
Shortly after these recordings were made, Richman broke up the band and embarked on his long and eclectic solo career. For a while he continued recording under the "Modern Lovers" name (or rather, the more telling "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers" appellation), but all the members were different, and in the new incarnation were essentially his backing band. The sound of the new group was considerably different as well, focusing on acoustic instrumentation rather than the prior electric guitars and drums. The album Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers was released in January 1977, Rock and Roll with the Modern Lovers followed a month later, and Modern Lovers Live in 1978.
In 1979 Richman finally went completely solo. That year's Back in Your Life was released under the "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers" moniker, but this was true of only about half the disc—the rest was solo work. This album was probably the most extreme detour by Richman into eclecticism; after the odd but traditional acoustic rock of the previous albums, this one's solo tracks showed off a string bass and Glockenspiel as main instruments.A few years' hiatus ended in 1983 with Jonathan Sings!—memorably featuring a cover with Richman serenading a crowd wearing nothing but a guitar and neck strap. This was followed up with a series of pop efforts (Rockin' and Romance, It's Time for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and Modern Lovers 88 from 1985, 1986 and 1988 respectively). Soon after, he returned to swooping madly around the musical landscape: country music with 1990's Jonathan Goes Country, and Spanish translations of his earlier work (as well as traditional Spanish songs) with 1993's Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar!
Always possessing an ardent cult following, Richman has become better known in recent years thanks to a series of appearances on fan Conan O'Brien's show; also helping was a major part in the 1998 movie There's Something About Mary, where he played half of a two-man Greek chorus that commented on the movie while performing in the framed action itself.
He has continued his release schedule all along, with You Must Ask the Heart in 1995, Surrender to Jonathan in 1996, I'm So Confused in 1998, Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow in 2001 and Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love in 2004. In 1998 a live album of Modern Lovers recordings from the early '70s was released, Live at the Long Branch & More. There is also a DVD of a live performance Take me to the Plaza 2002. A tribute album, If I Were a Richman, was released by Wampus Multimedia in 2001. In live 'solo' shows, he frequently tours with drummer Tommy Larkins, the other part of the two-man chorus mentioned above. He is a tremendously charismatic stage presence, and this has helped maintain his dedicated cult following.
Richman's work with the first incarnation of Modern Lovers is a major influence on punk rock. One critic called him the "Godfather of Punk". Artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols and Joan Jett have covered "Roadrunner". Boston ska-punk band, Big D and the Kids Table, have covered "New England" live and on their Gypsy Hill EP. A version of "Pablo Picasso" performed by Burning Sensations was included in the 1984 cult film, Repo Man. David Bowie covered "Pablo Picasso" on his album Reality. Velvet Underground founding member John Cale has a version of the song on his 1975 album, Helen of Troy, and continues to include the song in his live shows. Iggy Pop has performed "Pablo Picasso" live and wrote an extra verse for it. Echo and the Bunnymen covered "She Cracked" in concert in 1984 and 1985 and Siouxsie and the Banshees have a version of the song on Downside Up.
Richman's music has set the tone for many alternative rock bands, such as Violent Femmes, Galaxie 500, They Might Be Giants ("Roadrunner" reportedly inspired John Flansburgh to become a musician), Weezer, Tullycraft, Jens Lekman, singer Frank Black (who composed the tribute song "The Man Who Was Too Loud"), Brandon Flowers, Art Brut, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady & Lifter Puller and Nerf Herder who composed a song about him, titled "Jonathan", which appeared on the band's second album How To Meet Girls. British country rock band The Rockingbirds released the single "Jonathan, Jonathan" in tribute to Richman in 1992.
As a producer himself, Richman and drummer Tommy Larkin produced Vic Chesnutt's final album Skitter on Take-Off in 2009 which appeared on Vapor Records. Chesnutt opened for Richman at concerts many times during his later years.
"Roadrunner" is on the soundtrack of School of Rock. In the commentary, director Richard Linklater mentions it is often called "the first punk song" and wanted to include it for that reason, along with all the other seminal rock songs in that film.
A tribute album, If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman, was released by Wampus Multimedia in 2001.
Jonathan Richman began playing music and writing his own songs in the mid-1960s. In 1969 he moved to New York City, where he spent time living on the couch of The Velvet Underground's manager and working odd jobs while trying to break in as a professional musician. Failing at this, he returned to Boston. Having moved back, he formed The Modern Lovers. Other notable members of the group were keyboard player Jerry Harrison and drummer David Robinson, who later joined Talking Heads and The Cars, respectively. In 1972 they recorded a series of songs with John Cale producing, including the seminal "Roadrunner," which were eventually released on the group's sole album, Modern Lovers, in 1975.
Shortly after these recordings were made, Richman broke up the band and embarked on his long and eclectic solo career. For a while he continued recording under the "Modern Lovers" name (or rather, the more telling "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers" appellation), but all the members were different, and in the new incarnation were essentially his backing band. The sound of the new group was considerably different as well, focusing on acoustic instrumentation rather than the prior electric guitars and drums. The album Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers was released in January 1977, Rock and Roll with the Modern Lovers followed a month later, and Modern Lovers Live in 1978.
In 1979 Richman finally went completely solo. That year's Back in Your Life was released under the "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers" moniker, but this was true of only about half the disc—the rest was solo work. This album was probably the most extreme detour by Richman into eclecticism; after the odd but traditional acoustic rock of the previous albums, this one's solo tracks showed off a string bass and Glockenspiel as main instruments.A few years' hiatus ended in 1983 with Jonathan Sings!—memorably featuring a cover with Richman serenading a crowd wearing nothing but a guitar and neck strap. This was followed up with a series of pop efforts (Rockin' and Romance, It's Time for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and Modern Lovers 88 from 1985, 1986 and 1988 respectively). Soon after, he returned to swooping madly around the musical landscape: country music with 1990's Jonathan Goes Country, and Spanish translations of his earlier work (as well as traditional Spanish songs) with 1993's Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar!
Always possessing an ardent cult following, Richman has become better known in recent years thanks to a series of appearances on fan Conan O'Brien's show; also helping was a major part in the 1998 movie There's Something About Mary, where he played half of a two-man Greek chorus that commented on the movie while performing in the framed action itself.
He has continued his release schedule all along, with You Must Ask the Heart in 1995, Surrender to Jonathan in 1996, I'm So Confused in 1998, Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow in 2001 and Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love in 2004. In 1998 a live album of Modern Lovers recordings from the early '70s was released, Live at the Long Branch & More. There is also a DVD of a live performance Take me to the Plaza 2002. A tribute album, If I Were a Richman, was released by Wampus Multimedia in 2001. In live 'solo' shows, he frequently tours with drummer Tommy Larkins, the other part of the two-man chorus mentioned above. He is a tremendously charismatic stage presence, and this has helped maintain his dedicated cult following.
Richman's work with the first incarnation of Modern Lovers is a major influence on punk rock. One critic called him the "Godfather of Punk". Artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols and Joan Jett have covered "Roadrunner". Boston ska-punk band, Big D and the Kids Table, have covered "New England" live and on their Gypsy Hill EP. A version of "Pablo Picasso" performed by Burning Sensations was included in the 1984 cult film, Repo Man. David Bowie covered "Pablo Picasso" on his album Reality. Velvet Underground founding member John Cale has a version of the song on his 1975 album, Helen of Troy, and continues to include the song in his live shows. Iggy Pop has performed "Pablo Picasso" live and wrote an extra verse for it. Echo and the Bunnymen covered "She Cracked" in concert in 1984 and 1985 and Siouxsie and the Banshees have a version of the song on Downside Up.
Richman's music has set the tone for many alternative rock bands, such as Violent Femmes, Galaxie 500, They Might Be Giants ("Roadrunner" reportedly inspired John Flansburgh to become a musician), Weezer, Tullycraft, Jens Lekman, singer Frank Black (who composed the tribute song "The Man Who Was Too Loud"), Brandon Flowers, Art Brut, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady & Lifter Puller and Nerf Herder who composed a song about him, titled "Jonathan", which appeared on the band's second album How To Meet Girls. British country rock band The Rockingbirds released the single "Jonathan, Jonathan" in tribute to Richman in 1992.
As a producer himself, Richman and drummer Tommy Larkin produced Vic Chesnutt's final album Skitter on Take-Off in 2009 which appeared on Vapor Records. Chesnutt opened for Richman at concerts many times during his later years.
"Roadrunner" is on the soundtrack of School of Rock. In the commentary, director Richard Linklater mentions it is often called "the first punk song" and wanted to include it for that reason, along with all the other seminal rock songs in that film.
A tribute album, If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman, was released by Wampus Multimedia in 2001.
Grunion Run
Jonathan Richman Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jonathan Richman:
1963 Let's get away from sleigh bells Let's get away from snow Le…
A Higher Power It's magic It's magic the way we got together, There's magi…
Abdul & Cleopatra Abdul's not seen Cleopatra It's been almost now a year. How …
Abominable Snow Man In The Market Well look, see, there's an abominable snowman in the superma…
Action Packed Well if the music gonna move me, Well first it's gotta…
Affection People all over the world People all over the world People a…
åffection Well, people all over the world, people all over the…
Afternoon You know, it's afternoon Yeah, yeah And there's the moon So …
Amazing Grace Well, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound which brings my jo…
Astral Plane Tonight I'm all alone in my room I'll go insane if…
At Night Here I am driving around at 3 am Looking for people…
Back in the USA (back in the usa by Chuck Berry, as done by…
Back in Your Life Well take me way up north to meet your Mom…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Buzz Buzz Buzz You see, Buzz buzz buzz goes the honey bee And tweedily…
Chapel Of Love Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married Goin' to…
Circle Well now you call them a farm 'cause they do…
Closer I'm there in the bed with my wife And she's looking…
Coomyah Coomyah Coomyah Coomyah Coomyah Coomyah yeah yeah Coomyah Co…
Corner Store Well I walked past just yesterday And I couldn't bare that…
Cosi Veloce Cosi veloce, cosi veloce, cosi veloce Cosi veloce, cosi velo…
Dignified and Old My telephone never rings She'd never call me I hate myself t…
Dodge Veg-O-Matic I'm gonna tell you 'bout the car that I just…
Double Chocolate Malted Double chocolate malted (Yeah, yeah, yeah) No ma'am, a sin…
Everyday Clothes Going to a party and she's wondering what's the way. I…
Fender Stratocaster Born in the 50s looking so bold Fender Stratocaster Everythi…
Fly Into the Mystery Let's make this a slow dance, ladies' choice See now, it'…
Gail Loves Me I want people to love me like I can love I…
Girlfriend If I were to walk to the Museum of Fine…
Give Paris One More Chance Well if you've been to cities but you've had enough Have…
Give Paris One More More Chance Well if you've been to cities but you've had enough Have…
Hello From Cupid Hello, this is Cupid speaking And I can make you fall…
Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow Well she don't act cool and she dont blow hot…
Here Come the Martian Martians Here come the Martain Martians And I wouldn't be surprised i…
Hey There Little Insect Hey there, little insect, don't scare me so. Don't land on…
Hospital When you get out of the hospital Let me back into…
I Well now you call them a farm 'cause they do…
I Can I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
I Can't Find My Best Friend Well I can't find my best friend To help me…
I Can't Stay Mad At You I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
I Eat With Gusto Damn! You Bet When I eat like I do it, I use not fork…
I Hear You Calling Me I hear you calling me You've called me when the moon…
I Must Be King I easy laugh, I easy cry I soft inside, she partly…
I Was Dancing In The Lesbian B Well I was dancing at a night club one Friday…
I'm Nature's Mosquito Well now, little mosquito, there must be Well some reason fo…
I'm So Confused Sometimes I think of only her Sometimes no I'm feeling delic…
I'm Straight I called this number three times already today But I, I…
Ice Cream Man Hi there everybody We're the modern lovers We're gonna sing …
If She Don't Love Me She says she don't love me But I don't know Says she…
Important in Your Life I'm always gonna have to know I'm important in your…
Just Because I'm Irish Just because i'm irish he thinks that i should know... Every…
Let Her Go Into The Darkness Well, she's back with her old boyfriend, He don't challenge …
Lonely Financial Zone In the lonely financial zone By the sea I have walked unde…
Love Me Like I Love I want people to love me like I can love I…
Lydia My old Lydia, Oh Lydia My old Lydia, Oh Lydia My old…
Modern World Well there's sex in the sunny day That shines down on…
Morning Of Our Lives It hurts me to hear, to see you got no…
My Baby Love Love Loves Me (one two three) Well, my baby love love loves me now Eve…
My Baby Loves Loves Loves Me I want people to love me like I can love I…
My Career As A Homewrecker Well I had just met the girl and her boyfriend She…
My Love Is a Flower Well, my love is a flower just beginning to bloom Like…
Neighbors Jonathan it's late, don't you think that I should go Naw…
New England See, I come from Boston. I'm gonna tell you about how…
New Kind of Neighborhood Hey, hey, well, your friends they came from out of…
Nineteen In Naples well when I was 19 I was insecure now ain't that…
Not So Much to Be Loved As to Love I used to walk all over town All over town Past the…
Not Yet Three Could you sleep at a time like this? Hearing Oldsmobiles tra…
Old World Well the old world may be dead Our parents can't understand…
Pablo Picasso Well Some people try to pick up girls And get called asshole…
Parties In The U.S.A. 1-2-3-4 Hi everybody! I'm from the 60's, The time of Louie…
Reno Well, a good babysitter can be hard to find Reno But I've…
Respect Me There aren't any ladies present here in this room, are…
Road Runner Roadrunner, roadrunner Going faster miles an hour Gonna driv…
Roadrunner One two three for five six! Roadrunner, roadrunner Going fa…
Roadrunner Once Roadrunner, roadrunner Going faster miles an hour Gonna driv…
Rockin Hey, what's that out there in the park? Well, I'll tell…
Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns Hey, what's that out there in the park? Well, I'll tell…
Rockin' Shopping Center Well, I landed at a shoppin' center, in an unknown…
Roller Coaster By The Sea You see I went on the roller coaster last night…
Rooming House On Venice Beach 1-2-1-2-3 Rooming house on venice beach. Rooming house on …
She Cracked Well she was sensitive She understood me She understood …
Since She Started to Ride She's got a brown suntan starting just above her collar Her…
Somebody To Hold Me Well I've got a new thing goin' now (Jonathan, what's happe…
Someone I Care About Well, I don't want just a girl to fool around…
Stop This Car All right this is a one, a two A one two…
Summer Morning I was walking around on Sunday morning A summer breeze was…
Tandem Jump Okay, first check your altimeter, Does everybody have 8500 …
That Summer Feeling That summer feeling That summer feeling That summer feeling …
The Beach Well now the beach be one of the best things…
The Girl Stands Up to Me Now Well... The girl stands up to me now More than she did…
The Lonely Little Thrift Store By the sidewalk there with the cracks in it With the…
The Morning Of Our Lives It hurts me to hear, to see you got no…
The Neighbors Jonathan it's late, don't you think that I should go Naw…
The Night Is Still Young Here I am driving around at 3 am Looking for people…
The Wheels on the Bus The windows on the bus go up and down Up and…
There His friends say stop whining, They've had enough of that. …
This Kind Of Music Well, they don't need much you know Somebody do a wiggle…
Those Conga Drums That's right oh Well down by the beach you know, every…
True Love Is Not Nice 1 and a 2 and Well it hurts from the bottom…
Vampire Girl Gather around for a minute or two And I'll admit something…
Vampiresa Mujer Escuchame, un momento o dos, Y confesarй, a vosotros, No p…
Velvet Underground They were wild like the USA A mystery band in a…
Vincent Van Gogh Have you heard about the painter Vincent Van Gogh Who loved…
Walter Johnson Well I'm a gonna tell you if you don't know Bum…
Wheels On The Bus The windows on the bus go up and down Up and…
When I Dance Things were slow A little slow And I was at the kind…
When I'm Walking Now when I get off the train and start walking…
When She Kisses Me Well, she was born in the winter When the sun shines…
You I hear you calling me You've called me when the moon…
You Can I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
You Can't Talk To The Dude You wonder why you're feeling blue, And you live with a…
You Must Ask The Heart Well don′t ask me about love I'm just your mind I see…
You're Crazy for Taking the Bus Well, a welfare gal and her drunk galoot And no one…
You're The One For Me If you didn't want me you shouldn't have been born That…
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