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.
Living In The Real World
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Lyrics
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Where profit won't intertwine
With somebody's pain
We know there is hurt behind the laughter
The sting lingers after
Whoa for such a long time
Watching as the citizens steal
It's such a riot downtown
Living in the real world
Living in the real world
Every day in the real world
Finds a way to remind me
I roam living in a wolf pack
Getting my fingers snapped
Whenever I reach out
And if I - if I ever stumble
I'll feel their warm breath
Nuzzling death in my ear
Living in the real world
Living in the real world
Every day in the real world
Finds a way to remind me
Passions turned to worthless litter
Dot the shores of human rivers
The tide just keeps on sweeping me along
Living in the real world
Left so weak 'cause the love she handled every day
Time slowly ate away
And it's a mouth that's forever hungry
And it's too late, the deck was already stacked
She thought she had love down pat
Till the ace jumped out of the hole
She's living in the real world
Living in the real world
Every day in the real world
Finds a way to remind me
Living in the real world
Living in the real world
We're all living in the real world
Southside Johnny's song "Living In The Real World" is a poignant commentary on the harsh realities of life. The lyrics suggest that every day we are reminded of the difficulties of living in a world where profit often comes at the expense of someone's pain. The lyrics also touch on the idea that behind every laugh, there is a hidden hurt that lingers long after the moment.
The song's chorus emphasizes the theme of living in the real world, which means having to deal with the wolf pack mentality, where people are often more interested in tearing others down than helping them succeed. The lyrics suggest that even a small stumble could lead to disastrous consequences, with the prospect of death always looming in the background.
One of the most powerful lines in the song is "Passions turned to worthless litter/Dot the shores of human rivers," which suggests that our passions and ambitions can often lead to disappointment and failure, leaving us feeling washed up and adrift.
Overall, "Living In The Real World" is a deeply affecting song that speaks to the challenges of everyday life, asking us to confront difficult truths and to find strength in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I know there is a day without headlines
I am aware that there are times when there are no major news events reported
Where profit won't intertwine
A day that doesn't involve the financial gain of corporations
With somebody's pain
A day without anyone's suffering or misery
We know there is hurt behind the laughter
We understand that sometimes people fake happiness when they are actually in pain
The sting lingers after
The pain caused by a difficult experience can last a long time
Whoa for such a long time
The pain can be felt for an extended period
And one crazy fool laughing at the newsreel
Someone who finds humor in current events
Watching as the citizens steal
Observing people breaking the law and taking things that don't belong to them
It's such a riot downtown
There is chaos and disorder in the city center
Living in the real world
Experiencing the harsh realities of life
Living in the real world
Being immersed in a world where hardship is common
Every day in the real world
Each day is a reminder of how difficult life can be
Finds a way to remind me
Serves as a constant reminder of the challenges of surviving in the real world
I roam living in a wolf pack
Living among people who are ruthless and aggressive
Getting my fingers snapped
Being punished for making mistakes
Whenever I reach out
Whenever I try to connect with others
And if I - if I ever stumble
And if I ever make a mistake
I'll feel their warm breath
I will feel their disapproval and anger
Nuzzling death in my ear
Feeling as though I am doomed to fail
Passions turned to worthless litter
The things that used to matter to me are now meaningless
Dot the shores of human rivers
Are scattered around us like litter
The tide just keeps on sweeping me along
Life keeps moving forward no matter what happens
Left so weak 'cause the love she handled every day
Becoming emotionally drained because of the love she gave every day
Time slowly ate away
As time went on, her energy and passion were slowly eroded
And it's a mouth that's forever hungry
Never truly being satisfied by anything
And it's too late, the deck was already stacked
It is too late to change anything because the situation is already unfair
She thought she had love down pat
She thought she understood what love meant
Till the ace jumped out of the hole
Until she realized that there was something she didn't know about love
We're all living in the real world
Everyone is facing the challenges of the real world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Rush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind