Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Johnny Feelgood
Liz Phair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Johnny miss you, Johnny light on
Johnny makes me feel strangely good about myself
Moderation is a memory
Dive right in and let him send me
I could take this in doses large enough to kill
He's got diamonds on the bed of his thumbnails and I
Never realized I was so dirty and dry
Till he knocked me down, started dragging me around
In the back of his convertible car
And I liked it
I liked it more and more
Crimson and clover, soon he's taken over all my senses now
And I never met a man who was so pretty inside
He's got petals on the bed of his sweat sock drawer
And who the fuck am I to criticize him 'cause I really need him now
In fact I'm kinda freaking out
And I'm wondering where the hell you are
Johnny feel good, Johnny right on
Johnny miss you, Johnny light on
Johnny makes me feel strangely good about myself
And I've never met a man I was so crazy about
It kinda has become an obsession to me
I hate him all the time
But I still get up
When he knocks me down
And he orders me around
'Cause it loosens me up
And I can't get enough
And I'd pay to spend the night with him some more
And I liked it
Let me tell you I liked it more and more
I liked it
I liked it, yeah
I really liked it
I liked it
I really, really, really liked it
I really liked it
I can't believe it.
The song Johnny Feelgood by Liz Phair describes the singer's intense and complex relationship with a man named Johnny. The lyrics mention how Johnny makes her feel good about herself, but also how she hates him all the time. The singer is drawn to Johnny's physical beauty and is intoxicated by his presence, despite feeling dirty and dry before she meets him. She is so obsessed with him that she keeps going back to him, even when he knocks her down and orders her around. The chorus repeats Johnny's name, emphasizing his hold over the singer, and how he can both make her feel good and miss him.
The line "Crimson and clover, soon he's taken over all my senses now" is a reference to the song Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells. Liz Phair is making a direct allusion to their work and using it to describe the way Johnny has taken over her mind and body. The use of the word "doses" in the song is also interesting, as it implies that the singer is addicted to Johnny, and suggests that their relationship is not healthy.
Overall, Johnny Feelgood is a song about a complicated and tumultuous relationship, full of intense feelings and contradictions. The lyrics are raw and honest, and Liz Phair puts her emotions on full display.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny feel good, Johnny right on
Johnny is someone who makes me feel good and is always on the right track.
Johnny miss you, Johnny light on
I miss Johnny and his carefree, light-hearted personality.
Johnny makes me feel strangely good about myself
Being around Johnny makes me feel good about myself in ways I can't explain.
Moderation is a memory
I can't control myself around Johnny; I have thrown caution to the wind.
Dive right in and let him send me
I have given myself over to Johnny, letting him lead the way.
I could take this in doses large enough to kill
I am fully aware that my obsession with Johnny is destructive, but I continue to indulge it anyways.
And I never met a man who was so pretty inside
Johnny's beauty is not only on the surface, but radiates from within.
He's got diamonds on the bed of his thumbnails and I
Johnny is so beautiful that even the smallest details of his body are like gems to me.
Never realized I was so dirty and dry
Johnny has made me realize how unfulfilled and empty my life was before I met him.
Till he knocked me down, started dragging me around
Johnny has a way of completely taking over my life and controlling me.
In the back of his convertible car
Even the smallest moments spent with Johnny are intimate and exhilarating.
And I liked it
I liked it more and more
Despite the potential risks and dangers, I couldn't help but continue to indulge my obsession with Johnny.
Crimson and clover, soon he's taken over all my senses now
My entire being has become consumed by Johnny's influence.
He's got petals on the bed of his sweat sock drawer
Johnny's beauty extends to even the most mundane aspects of his life.
And who the fuck am I to criticize him 'cause I really need him now
Despite any flaws he may have, I can't possibly judge Johnny because I am so dependent on him.
In fact I'm kinda freaking out
And I'm wondering where the hell you are
My obsession with Johnny has reached a point where I am starting to fear my own emotions and wonder what my life would be like without him.
And I've never met a man I was so crazy about
No one has ever captured my heart and mind like Johnny has.
It kinda has become an obsession to me
My love for Johnny has crossed the line into a dangerous, all-consuming obsession.
I hate him all the time
But I still get up
Even when I am angry or upset with Johnny, I can't resist his pull on me.
When he knocks me down
And he orders me around
Johnny has a way of making me feel submissive and obedient, even when I don't want to be.
'Cause it loosens me up
And I can't get enough
Being with Johnny is a release for me; it allows me to let loose and feel completely free, no matter the consequences.
And I'd pay to spend the night with him some more
I am so addicted to Johnny that I would pay any price just to be near him and feel his presence.
Let me tell you I liked it more and more
I liked it
I liked it, yeah
I really liked it
I liked it
I really, really, really liked it
I really liked it
I can't believe it.
Throughout the song, I am confessing my deep love for Johnny and the fact that I am shocked by how consumed I have become by it.
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