1963
New Order Lyrics

It was January, nineteen-sixty-three
The song starts by setting the scene in January 1963, likely to help the listener visualize the story.

When Johnny came home with a gift for me
Johnny came home with a gift for the singer, indicating that he cares for her or is trying to make up for something.

He said I bought it for you because I love you
Johnny explicitly states that he loves the singer, again indicating his intentions and feelings.

And I bought it for you 'cause it's your birthday, too
Johnny is not only showing affection, but has also remembered the singer's birthday and is thoughtful enough to celebrate it.

He was so very nice, he was so very kind
Johnny's actions and words portray him as a very nice and kind person.

To think of me at this point in time
Johnny's consideration for the singer is highlighted, showing that he is thinking of her in the present moment.

I used to think of him, he used think of me
The singer and Johnny had feelings for each other at some point in time but the tense suggests they are no longer together.

He told me to close my eyes
Johnny instructs the singer to close her eyes, likely to build up anticipation and excitement.

My gift would be a great surprise
The gift was supposed to be a surprise, which is why Johnny is making the singer close her eyes.

I saw tears were in his eyes
The singer notices that Johnny is crying, which reveals that something is troubling him or that he is sad.

He never meant to hurt me
Despite whatever he is going through, Johnny did not intend to hurt the singer.

Oh, God, Johnny, don't point that gun at me
The song takes a dark turn when Johnny pulls a gun on the singer. She is pleading with him to not harm her.

There's so many ways our lives have changed
The singer reflects on how their lives have changed, which suggests a history between the two.

But please, I beg, don't do this to me
The singer is begging for her life and for Johnny to not harm her.

Johnny, don't point that gun at me
The repetition of this line shows the intensity and urgency of the situation.

Can I save my life at any price?
The singer is willing to pay any price to save her own life, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

For God's sake won't you listen to me?
The singer is imploring Johnny to listen to her and not harm her, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

And though he was ashamed that he had took a life
The song transitions to a time after the shooting, revealing that Johnny did in fact take a life.

Johnny came home with another wife
The singer reflects on how Johnny started a new life with someone else after killing someone and escaping the situation.

And I often remembered how it used to be
The singer remembers what life was like before Johnny pulled the gun, hinting at what could have been if things had gone differently.

Before that special occasion, nineteen-sixty-three
Again, the specific year is mentioned to remind the listener of the time period, but also to hint at something significant happening in that year.

There was too many ways that you could kill someone
This line reflects on the fact that there are many ways to harm or kill someone, not just with a gun, which is a sobering thought.

Like in a love affair, when the love has gone
The song explores how love can turn sour and even deadly, if not handled carefully and with respect.

Johnny, you keep on using me
The repeated themes of Johnny 'using' the singer suggest a codependent relationship, or that Johnny takes advantage of her in some way.

Can I change my life for any price?
The singer still wants to change her life, after the traumatic events she's been through, emphasizing her desire for a better future.

Oh, Johnny, won't you listen to me?
The singer is still imploring Johnny to listen to her and hear her out, indicating that he still has some control over her.

I just want you to be mine
Despite everything, the singer still has feelings for Johnny and wants him to be hers, showing how deep those feelings go.

I don't want this world to shine
The singer doesn't care about worldly things or success, highlighting how her priority is on her relationship with Johnny.

I don't want this bridge to burn
The singer desires to maintain the relationship, even though it has been seriously damaged through traumatic events.

Oh, Johnny, do you miss me?
The singer is still questioning Johnny's feelings for her, suggesting that they could be both deeply in love but also codependently damaging to each other.

I just want to feel for you
The singer still wants to have feelings for Johnny, despite everything that has happened, suggesting that she is unable to move on from him.

I will always feel for you
The song ends with the singer recognizing that she will always have feelings for Johnny, for better or worse.