Paddy Goes To Holyhead (also PGTH or Paddies) are a German Folk-Rock band f… Read Full Bio ↴Paddy Goes To Holyhead (also PGTH or Paddies) are a German Folk-Rock band from Darmstadt (Germany) founded by Paddy Schmidt in 1988.

The band's name not only is inspired by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, but also refers to the so-called "paddies", a term once used for Irish emigrants, as well as the Welsh seaport Holyhead which had been an important transit station for many Irish emigrants.

Current members:

Paddy Schmidt: vocals, guitar, harp, whistles, bagpipes
Jo Naumann (1992–1995, and again since 2005): vocals, accordion, keyboards
Uwe "Uhu" Bender (since 2005): bass
Nicole Ansperger (since 2005): fiddle
Dirk "Schimmel" Schäfer (since 2007, former X-Cellent): percussion

Former members:

Rainer Opitz (1988-1991)
Andreas Reich (1988–1991); 1992–2003 with An Cat Dubh
Mathias Kohlmann (1989–1993)
Kalle Spriestersbach (1993-2007); former Crazy ’bout Kinski
Andi Kopp (1993–1998); former Crazy ’bout Kinski
Almut Ritter (1993–1997)
Blacky P. Schwarz (1995–1998)
Helen Mannert (1997–2001)
Jürgen Köhler (1998-2003)
Markus Hochwürden Ries (1998–2001)
Rüdiger Kist (1999–? , 2003–2005)
Jens Kempgens (2001–2004)
Wolfgang Ritter (2001–2004)
Mark Patrick (2002–2004)
Boris Mittelstädt (2004)
Marian Juravlea (2004)

Discography:

1989 — The Fairy King (Tape, self-published)
1989 — On The One Road (Tape, self-published)
1990 — Emigrants (Vinyl-LP, self-published)
1991 — Live In Darmstadt (Tape, self-published)
1992 — Here’s To The People (CD, Indigo)
1993 — Supermegaultraliveshow (CD, Indigo)
1994 — Ready For Paddy? (CD, Indigo)
1996 — E.& O.E. (CD, Indigo)
1998 — Hooray (CD, Indigo)
1998 — Live (CD, Indigo)
2000 — Paddy Tales (CD, Indigo)
2002 — Red Letter Days (CD, Indigo)
2004 — Acoustic Nights (CD, Indigo)

Website (in German):
http://www.paddy.de

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/paddygoes2holyhead

Johnny
Paddy Goes to Holyhead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A little boy lived in the shadow of an iron might
The gates were opened in the morning closed again at night
He was playing hunt for treasure in the lonely street
And the treasure he looked for was something for to eat

His clothes were torn, his face was dirty, he was quite forlorn
The trucks that gathered up his parents came for them at dawn

[chorus:]
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny - sing your song
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, sing your song

There was song and there was dancing a long long time ago
Now there′s terror in the waiting for tomorrow

[chorus]

Hunger, sickness fear and hoping lurk behind the gate
Sometimes laughter sometimes crying love and sometimes hate
Johnny sang his song all day to cover up his fear
Johnny sang his song and hoped the outside world would hear

[chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Johnny" by Paddy Goes to Holyhead tells the story of a young boy named Johnny who lives in poverty and hardship in the shadow of an industrial complex. He spends his days playing alone in the street, searching for food and trying to distract himself from the difficult reality of his life. The lyrics describe his torn clothes, dirty face, and the trucks that come to take his parents away every morning at dawn to work in the factories.

Despite the challenges he faces, Johnny finds solace in his singing, using it as a way to cope with the fear and uncertainty that comes with his circumstances. The song describes how he sings all day long, hoping that someone outside of his world will hear him and understand his plight.

The chorus of "Johnny" is an appeal for Johnny to keep singing his song, a plea for his story to be heard and for someone to reach out to him. The lyrics highlight the contrast between the joy and abundance of the past and the despair and terror of the present, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Overall, "Johnny" is a poignant and touching reflection on poverty and its devastating effects on individuals and communities. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion, and a call to action to work towards creating a world where such stories are no longer part of our reality.

Line by Line Meaning

A little boy lived in the shadow of an iron might
A young boy lived overshadowed by a powerful oppressor.

The gates were opened in the morning closed again at night
The boy lived within a restricted environment, with limited opportunities for freedom.

He was playing hunt for treasure in the lonely street
Despite his difficult situation, the boy still found joy in simple pleasures like playing games.

And the treasure he looked for was something for to eat
The boy's basic needs, such as food, were his primary concern.

His clothes were torn, his face was dirty, he was quite forlorn
The boy's appearance and demeanor reflected his poor living conditions.

The trucks that gathered up his parents came for them at dawn
The boy lived in a place where family separation was a common occurrence.

[chorus:]
Repeated refrain for emphasis.

There was song and there was dancing a long long time ago
The boy's situation contrasts with a past time where there was enjoyment and celebration.

Now there′s terror in the waiting for tomorrow
The boy's present situation is filled with anxiety and uncertainty about the future.

[chorus]
Repeated refrain for emphasis.

Hunger, sickness fear and hoping lurk behind the gate
The boy faces many challenges in his restrictive living environment, including hunger and illness, but still hopes for a better life.

Sometimes laughter sometimes crying love and sometimes hate
The boy experiences a range of emotions in his difficult situation, from moments of joy to heartache and animosity.

Johnny sang his song all day to cover up his fear
The boy uses singing as a coping mechanism to overcome his fears.

Johnny sang his song and hoped the outside world would hear
The boy longs for attention and support from the world outside of his restrictive environment.

[chorus]
Repeated refrain for emphasis.

Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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