Most of the album's tracks are about the "Troubles" and the grim reality of life in Northern Ireland with the songs containing themes of teenage boredom, sectarian violence, police oppression, etc., urging people to "grab it and change it, it's yours" in what became their signature song "Alternative Ulster".
Johnny Was
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics
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'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
From a stray bullet
Woman hold her head and cry
Accompanying her was a passerby, who
Saw the woman cry
Now she knows that the wages of sin is death
The gift of God is life
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
Oh, yeah
Woman hold her head and cry
'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
Just because of the system
Woman hold her head and cry
Comforting her, I was passing by and I
I saw the woman cry
She cried, oh, oh
Oh, oh, Johnny was a good man
He never did a thing wrong, no
Take it down
Johnny went out on a Saturday night
He never hurt anybody, never started no bar room fight
Johnny never did nobody no wrong
He never hurt anybody never-ever-ever-ever, johnny was a good man
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, yeah-yeah
Johnny was a good
Johnny was a good man, I tell ya
Johnny was a good man
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny was a good man, yeah
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny was a good man, hey
On a top-floor flat in the middle of the night
There's a man with rifle and Johnny in his sight
I said oh no-no-no-no-no-no
We can't let that kind of thing happen here no more
Oh, no
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, yeah
A single shot rings out in a Belfast night and I said oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Oh-oh
Johnny was a good man
Johnny was a good man
Johnny was a good man
Johnny was a good man, said
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, hey, hey
Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bears, oh-oh?
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, hey, hey, yeah!
Too many Johnnies, too many Johnnies
Too many Johnnies, somebody care
I care!
The song "Johnny Was" by Stiff Little Fingers tells the story of a mother who is mourning the death of her son due to the violence and injustice within the system. The lyrics of the song evoke a powerful sense of sadness and frustration as the woman cries because of her son's death. The passerby that saw her crying wonders if she can work it out, acknowledging that the wages of sin is death, while the gift of God is life. The song also tells the story of Johnny, who was a good man, never hurting anyone, never starting a bar room fight, and never did anyone wrong. He was just another victim to the violence and injustice caused by the system. The song concludes with the plea to end the cycle of violence and to care for one another.
Overall, "Johnny Was" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the societal and political issues of its time (and continues to resonate with contemporary audiences). The song highlights the pain that communities are experiencing due to the injustices of the system and the harmful policies being implemented. It also urges its listeners to work towards ending the violence and the cycle of victims, to take care of one another, and to never forget those who have lost their lives in the fight for justice and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman hold her head and cry
A woman is crying and holding her head.
'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
Her son was killed in the street by a bullet.
From a stray bullet
The bullet that hit him was random and unintended.
Accompanying her was a passerby, who
A passerby was with her.
Saw the woman cry
The witness observed the woman's emotional outburst.
Wondering, can she work it out?
The passerby is questioning whether the woman will recover from the tragedy.
Now she knows that the wages of sin is death
The woman has come to understand that wrongdoing can end in tragedy.
The gift of God is life
Life is a precious gift from God.
Johnny was a good man
Johnny was a virtuous person.
'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
The woman is still crying because of her son's death.
Just because of the system
The system is culpable for the son's death.
Comforting her, I was passing by and I
The passerby is comforting her.
He never did a thing wrong, no
Johnny was never guilty of anything.
Johnny went out on a Saturday night
Johnny went out on a weekend night.
He never hurt anybody, never started no bar room fight
Johnny was peaceful and non-violent.
Johnny never did nobody no wrong
Johnny never wronged anyone.
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, yeah-yeah
Repeat of chorus - Johnny was a good man.
On a top-floor flat in the middle of the night
In a location high up in a building at night.
There's a man with rifle and Johnny in his sight
Someone is aiming a rifle at Johnny.
We can't let that kind of thing happen here no more
This type of violence cannot continue in their community.
A single shot rings out in a Belfast night and I said oh-oh
A gunshot is heard in a Belfast night.
Can a woman's tender care
A rhetorical question about a mother's love and care.
Cease towards the child she bears, oh-oh?
Can a mother's love ever stop, even after a loss?
Too many Johnnies, too many Johnnies
There have been too many tragedies like Johnny's.
Somebody care
Somebody should care and take action to stop the violence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rita Anderson Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind