Landslide
Strawbs Lyrics


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Johnnie was eleven when he came of age
Running from a home in Mexico
Seven years later on Christmas Eve
Johnnie got married to an Eskimo
She was only young but the law was loose
All they needed was a clean start
And holding the ring on her warm finger
Johnnie got married to his sweetheart

And you know what happened next?
Johnnie ran off with his child bride
And you know what happened next?
They both got buried in a landslide

Johnnie went looking for a white saloon
To drive his lover to another town
They were setting sail for the land of hope
And she was only wearing a night-gown
The stars shone, the snow fell
The night hailed for a bright day
And waving goodbye to their ancestors
They rode away

And you know what happened next?
Johnnie ran off with his child bride
And you know what happened next?
They both got buried in a landslide

"I miss you Johnnie"
"I miss you too honey"

Johnnie was eleven when he came of age
Running from the shadow of a black cloud
Seven years later on Christmas Eve
An Eskimo made Johnnie proud

And you know what happened next?
Johnnie ran off with his child bride




And you know what happened next?
They both got buried in a landslide

Overall Meaning

The song “Landslide” by Strawbs is a tragic tale of a man named Johnnie who marries an Eskimo girl on Christmas Eve. The lyrics describe their young age and their desire for a fresh start. The law was loose and they took advantage of it to have a clean start. The song highlights the hardships experienced in love relationships of young couples.


While the song begins with hope and joy, the mood quickly turns as Johnnie runs away with his young wife. The imagery of the snow and stars in the song creates a haunting feeling. It amplifies a sense of isolation and the impending danger that is to come. As the story unfolds, tragedy strikes as Johnnie and his wife both get buried in a landslide. The irony of the song's title "Landslide" is not lost as it alludes to the tragic ending of the couple's love story.


Overall, "Landslide" is a story of love gone wrong. It speaks to the dangers of making decisions in haste without fully thinking through their consequences. The song elicits emotions of sadness, regret, and the weight of the decisions we make in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Johnnie was eleven when he came of age
Johnnie had a tough life from a young age and had to grow up fast to deal with his responsibilities.


Running from a home in Mexico
Johnnie had to leave his family and his home due to some unfortunate circumstances.


Seven years later on Christmas Eve
After running away, Johnnie had to wait for seven years to start anew and build a new life for himself.


Johnnie got married to an Eskimo
Johnnie found love in an unexpected place - with a person from a different culture and background.


She was only young but the law was loose
Despite their age difference, Johnnie and his bride were able to get married due to loose laws and regulations.


All they needed was a clean start
Johnnie and his wife needed to leave their past behind and start fresh, free from their troubles and problems.


And holding the ring on her warm finger
Johnnie was happy to see the wedding ring on his wife's finger, a symbol of their love and commitment to each other.


Johnnie went looking for a white saloon
Johnnie wanted to find a vehicle to take his wife away from their old life and towards a new, brighter future.


They were setting sail for the land of hope
Johnnie and his wife were optimistic about the future, ready to leave their old home and embark on a new adventure together.


And waving goodbye to their ancestors
Johnnie and his wife said goodbye to their past and their families, ready to move on and start a new chapter in their lives.


They both got buried in a landslide
Unfortunately, their plans were cut short by a sudden, unexpected tragedy that took both of their lives.


"I miss you Johnnie"
Johnnie's wife spoke these words, expressing her love and longing for her beloved husband.


"I miss you too honey"
Johnnie replied to his wife, letting her know that he loved her and missed her as well.


An Eskimo made Johnnie proud
Despite their challenges and struggles, Johnnie was able to find joy and pride in his relationship with his wife, who was from a different culture and background.




Contributed by Grayson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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