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.
You Can Count On Me
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Lyrics
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Everybody always running
Running from the things they can't understand
Everybody's always searching
Searching for something so close at hand
People get so blinded
They never seem to find it
But in time, I think you're going to find
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
Trouble, trouble always trouble
A girl like you needs someone to hold on to
Sometimes it seems we live in sorrow
Don't worry baby, together we can make it through
Holding on to someone
Holding on to life
Waiting for a moment
When it's time I believe you're gonna find
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
You can count on the one who loves you
You can count on my waiting heart
When no one seems to think of you, baby
I'll be waiting, I'll be watching
And no one will ever tear us apart
Holding on to someone
Just holding on to life
Waiting for that moment
When it's time I believe you're gonna find
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
Bandiera Songs BMI/Doppler Shift Music/ Liedela Music ASCAP
The lyrics to "You Can Count On Me" by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes speak of the human struggle to find love and security in a world filled with chaos and confusion. The song encourages the listener to hold on to the people who love and support them during difficult times, to not give up hope, and to keep searching for the happiness that they deserve. The first verse talks about how people always seem to be running and searching for something but never seem to find it. The second verse specifically addresses a girl who needs someone to hold on to during times of trouble and sorrow. The chorus repeats the message that the listener can count on the singer to be there for them, to hold on to life, and to wait for the moment when things will get better.
The lyrics to "You Can Count On Me" are uplifting and inspirational, offering comfort and reassurance to those who may be struggling with issues of love, loneliness, and despair. The song acknowledges the difficulties of life but also offers hope that things will eventually get better if the listener holds on to the people they love and trusts in their own resilience. The lyrics are enhanced by the driving, upbeat melody and the soulful, passionate singing of Southside Johnny, creating a powerful and memorable song that speaks to the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody always running
Everyone is always busy doing something
Running from the things they can't understand
People avoid anything they do not comprehend
Everybody's always searching
Everyone keeps looking for something
Searching for something so close at hand
Looking for something that is very near and easy to find
People get so blinded
Individuals can be easily blinded
They never seem to find it
They are never able to locate what they are searching for
It always seems so hopeless
It often appears that there is no solution
But in time, I think you're going to find
Eventually, I believe you will discover
Wo wo wo - Baby, you can count on me
I will always be there for you, no matter what
Trouble, trouble always trouble
Problems are always present
A girl like you needs someone to hold on to
Someone like you requires a person to lean on
Sometimes it seems we live in sorrow
Occasionally, it appears that we exist in grief and sadness
Don't worry baby, together we can make it through
Do not fret, we will overcome this obstacle as a team
You can count on the one who loves you
The person who loves you is dependable
You can count on my waiting heart
You can rely on my patient heart
When no one seems to think of you, baby
When it seems like nobody is paying attention to you
I'll be waiting, I'll be watching
I will be patiently waiting and watching over you
And no one will ever tear us apart
Nobody will ever come between us
Holding on to someone
Clinging to another person
Just holding on to life
Simply trying to survive
Waiting for that moment
Anticipating a certain moment
When it's time I believe you're gonna find
I am confident that when the time comes, you will discover what you have been searching for
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.