Southside Johnny (real name John Lyon, born December 4, 1948 in Neptune, New Jersey) is an American singer, harmonica player, and songwriter, who usually fronts his band The Asbury Jukes.
Lyon grew up in Ocean Grove, New Jersey and graduated from Neptune High School. As an artist, Southside Johnny first achieved prominence in the mid-1970s as the second act to emerge from the Jersey Shore music scene and be considered part of the Jersey Shore sound, following Bruce Springsteen. Southside's first three albums, I Don't Want to Go Home (1976), This Time It's For Real (1977), and Hearts of Stone (1978), were Stax-influenced R&B arranged and produced by the co-founder of the band and Springsteen confederate Steven Van Zandt and largely featured songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. The Van Zandt-written "I Don't Want To Go Home" became Southside's signature song, an evocative mixture of horn-based melodic riffs and sentimental lyrics. Other notable songs included "The Fever","Talk to Me," "This Time It's For Real," "Love on the Wrong Side of Town," and the definitive version of Springsteen's " Hearts of Stone."
Southside has long been considered the Grandfather of "the New Jersey Sound." Jon bon Jovi has acknowledged Southside as "his reason for singing."
In 1982 the Rolling Stone Magazine voted the album Hearts of Stone among the top 100 albums of the 70's and 80's.
Cast under Springsteen's long shadow, national commercial success eluded Southside and the Jukes, and in 1979 they were dropped by their record company. Now working without Van Zandt, they released The Jukes in 1979 and Love is a Sacrifice in 1980. Neither of these achieved much success either. The band's first official live release also came out in 1980, the double album Reach Up and Touch the Sky.
During the 1980s Southside Johnny's recording contracts continued to change almost by album, but he continued to release records: Trash It Up (1983), a disco influenced album written by Billy Rush and produced by Nile Rodgers; In the Heat (1984) an album trying to reach out to "Adult Oriented Radio"; and At Least We Got Shoes (1986) where guitarist and Jersey shore fixture Bobby Bandiera, who often plays a custom guitar built by First Act Guitars took over songwriting and guitar work from Billy Rush and led the Asbury Jukes back to their original sound. Songwriting credits on At Least We Got Shoes also contain a song co-written by Bandiera and singer Patti Scialfa, who was known as a Jukes collaborator since the 1980 album Love is a Sacrifice and who became a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band in 1984.
In 1988 Southside Johnny released his first solo record Slow Dance containing ballads and love songs, but also "Little Calcutta" which is still discussed as Southside's most political song of his career, describing the life and environment of the homeless in New York City.
More record label switches, Jukes personnel changes, tours and club dates followed.
Jukes' recording career was re-launched with the album Better Days (1991), which featured production by Van Zandt, songs by Springsteen, and vocal performances from Van Zandt, Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. With Bobby Bandiera driving the band, the Jukes were gaining new energy for a world wide tour supporting the album. But once again, Southside Johnny's bad luck with the industry was shown when the record label went bankrupt while the tour was still rolling.
Southside performed the theme song for the 1990s sitcom Dave's World, a cover of Billy Joel's "You May Be Right."
Southside eventually relocated to Nashville taking a break from the music business. A few members of the Asbury Jukes would end up being part of The Max Weinberg 7 on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien television show, while some others went on tour and into the recording studio with artists like Jon Bon Jovi, Mink DeVille, Graham Parker, Robert Cray.
In 1998 Southside Johnny came back into the spotlight with an independent release titled Spittin' Fire, a live record with a semi-acoustic Jukes lineup released in France containing a 20 song set recorded during a series of 10 shows at the "Chesterfield Café" in Paris, France.
After a decade without a record contract Southside finally founded his own record label in 2001 under the name of Leroy Records, and started releasing and distributing his new records fully under his own control: Messin' with the Blues (2000), Going to Jukesville (2002), Missing Pieces (2004), Into the Harbour (2005).
Southside continues to perform, and maintains substantial audience followings in some regions of the U.S., such as New Jersey, New York, northeast Ohio, and abroad, in the UK and continental Europe, as 2002's Live At The Opera House DVD, filmed at a sell-out performance in Newcastle upon Tyne, demonstrates. As of 2005, he resides on the Delaware Bay. His annual appearances at Springsteen's Asbury Park holiday shows draw as much crowd excitement as Springsteen himself.
I Don't Want To Go Home
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't want to go home
I am in no hurry baby time can wait
I don't want to go home
Listen to the man sing his song
I don't want to go home
I don't mind baby to stay alnight long
Cause I don't want to go home
Listen baby
I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky baby
What ever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home
Look at all the people staying
Saying I don't want to go home
In the night
I don't want to go home
I know the words to the song I feel
I don't want to go home
I know it's talking about the way I feel
I don't want to go home
Listen baby
I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky baby
What ever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home
I want to hear people laughing
And having a good time
I want to know why she told me she had to go
Why did she leave me lonely
I know it's time to go
But I don't want to go home
You don't play the blues soft and low
Cause I don't want to go home
Listen baby
I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky baby
What ever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home
The lyrics to "I Don't Want to Go Home" by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes speak to the feeling of not wanting the night to end, not wanting to leave the party or the company of a special someone. The singer is in no rush to leave and is content to stay out all night long. The mention of "the man" singing his song could be a reference to a live music performance, which adds to the overall atmosphere of a fun night out. The lyrics also touch on the idea that sometimes relationships don't work out and the singer is left wondering why things didn't work out with the person they were with. Despite this, they still don't want to leave the moment and return home.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that it's getting late
I am aware of the time, but I don't want to leave yet.
But I don't want to go home
I have a desire to stay longer.
I am in no hurry baby time can wait
I don't feel rushed or pressured to leave, I can be patient.
Listen to the man sing his song
I want to enjoy the music being performed.
I don't mind baby to stay alnight long
I'm willing to stay for the entire night.
Cause I don't want to go home
I have a strong desire to stay and not leave yet.
Listen baby
Hey, listen to me.
I know we had to try
We've been through some tough times together.
To reach up and touch the sky baby
We aimed high and had big dreams.
What ever happened to you and I
What caused our relationship to break down?
Look at all the people staying
There are many people who are choosing to stay.
Saying I don't want to go home
They also have a desire to stay longer.
In the night
During this nighttime event.
I know the words to the song I feel
The lyrics resonate with my emotions.
I don't want to go home
I am determined to continue enjoying this experience and not leave.
I want to hear people laughing
I want to be surrounded by positivity and joy.
And having a good time
People are enjoying themselves in a happy atmosphere.
I want to know why she told me she had to go
I am curious about why someone left the event.
Why did she leave me lonely
I feel alone and abandoned by her departure.
I know it's time to go
Although I don't want to, I am aware that it is necessary to leave soon.
You don't play the blues soft and low
The music is not played quietly or melancholic.
Cause I don't want to go home
I am motivated by my desire to stay and continue having fun.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN VAN ZANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
(S. Van Zandt)
Oh, I know that it's getting late
But I don't want to go home
I'm in no hurry baby time can wait
'Cause I don't want to go home
Listen to the man sing his song
I don't want to go home
I don't mind if it takes all night long
'Cause I don't want to go home
Listen, baby, I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky, baby
Whatever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home?
Lord, look at how all the people stare
Said I don't want to go home
In their minds I know they've all been there
I don't want to go home
I know the words to this song are real
But, oh, I don't want to go home
I know he's talking 'bout the way I feel
And I don't want to go home
Listen, baby, I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky, baby
Whatever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home?
I want to hear people laughing and having a good time
I want to know why she told me she had to go
Why did she leave me lonely?
I know that it's time to go
But I don't want to go home
You can play play your blues, play 'em soft and low
'Cause I don't want to go home
Listen, baby, I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky, baby
Whatever happened to you and I
That I don't want to go home?
I don't want to go, believe me, darling
I don't want to go home
Don't wanna be all alone
I don't want to go home, baby
Ain't nobody waitin' at home
Baby, won't you please come home
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, won't you please come home?
@healingbuddy
Love those Asbury Jukes. Unfortunately, they were so underrated at the time and never achieved the same celebrity as Bruce or others. They definitely deserved more attention than they received. Great work.
@chuckwest7045
Very underrated. Love this tune !!
@jamesrose3395
agree
@nycarolpainter2792
(and by the way, they are not obsessed with Fame).
My jersey "Juke" friends are 😎.
@creamydistortion
Y.tge best
@jimnasium3979
They weren't underrated...they sucked!
@ricalofs817
I heard this song 40 years ago. Still is great. Thanks to southside man.
@Brooklyn50s
Proud to say I was into South Side from the beginning. I have every one of these albums. Rock on South Side!
@kuvasz5252
me too. loved loved the brass
@BrokenMisfit
Albums! Lol Yes!