In the late 1990s Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing the album Timepeace in 1998, which won the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace. His colleagues at the University of Chicago never learned of Callier's life as a musician, but after the award the news of his secret life became widely known and subsequently led to his firing.[3][9]
As well as touring internationally, Callier continued his recording career, releasing five albums since Timepeace, including Lifetime (1999), Alive (2001), Speak Your Peace (2002) and Lookin' Out (2004). May 2009 saw his album Hidden Conversations featuring Massive Attack released on Mr Bongo records.[7][9] In 2001, Callier performed "Satin Doll" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo, a tribute to Duke Ellington, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Callier died on October 27, 2012, after a long illness.
Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be
Terry Callier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, Johnny, be gay.
There was an old man lived over the hill.
If he ain't moved away, he's a-livin' there still.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
The devil come up to the old man one day.
Oh, Johnny, be gay.
And he says, "Your old lady I'm takin' away."
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
"Well, take her, please take her with all o' my heart.
Oh, yeah, you can have her with all o' my heart.
I hope to my soul you two never part."
The devil he packed her up on his back.
The devil he packed her up on his back.
Straight down the hill he went clickety-clack.
Well, ten little devils said, "Welcome to hell."
Yeah, ten little devils said, "Welcome to hell.
Pa, turn up the fire; we'll sizzle her well."
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks.
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks.
She bound 'em up tightly an' beat 'em with sticks.
Well six scared little devils they run down the hall.
Six little devils they run down the hall,
Cryin', "Take her back, daddy; she's killin' us all."
Oh, the devil he flung her up on his back.
The devil he flung her up on his back.
Straight out o' hell he come clickety-clack.
She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed.
She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed,
An' she picked up a butterknife, went to his head.
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill.
Oh, Johnny, be gay.
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill.
"Devil won't have me; I wonder who will?"
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
The song is about a man named Johnny who is encouraged to be happy and carefree despite the challenges that life throws his way. The lyrics describe an old man who lives on a hill and whose wife is taken by the devil. Rather than being upset, the old man tells the devil to take his wife and hopes that they never part. The devil takes the wife to hell, where she manages to subdue some of his minions but eventually returns to her husband. However, the wife is not satisfied with her life and ends up killing her husband with a butterknife before wandering off, whistling and seemingly unbothered by her actions. The song's overall message seems to be that sometimes the best way to deal with difficult situations is to be content and happy with what one has.
Line by Line Meaning
There was an old man lived over the hill.
There was an old man living near Johnny's place.
Oh, Johnny, be gay.
Oh Johnny, be happy and carefree.
If he ain't moved away, he's a-livin' there still.
If he's still around, he must still be living there.
The devil come up to the old man one day.
The Devil visited the old man one day.
And he says, "Your old lady I'm takin' away."
He said that he was taking the old man's wife away.
"Well, take her, please take her with all o' my heart.
The old man allowed the Devil to take his wife wholeheartedly.
I hope to my soul you two never part."
He wished that they would stay together.
The devil he packed her up on his back.
The Devil carried the old man's wife on his back.
Straight down the hill he went clickety-clack.
The Devil went down the hill with his load.
Well, ten little devils said, "Welcome to hell.
Ten little devils in hell welcomed the wife and the Devil.
Pa, turn up the fire; we'll sizzle her well."
They wanted to torture and punish the wife.
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks.
The wife caught some of the little devils doing mischief.
She bound 'em up tightly an' beat 'em with sticks."
She punished the little devils by tying them up and hitting them with sticks.
Well six scared little devils they run down the hall.
Six scared little devils ran away from the wife down the hall.
Cryin', "Take her back, daddy; she's killin' us all."
They pleaded with their father to take the wife away because she was harming them.
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill.
The old man's wife was happy and content after returning from hell.
"Devil won't have me; I wonder who will?"
She wondered who would want her after the Devil did not keep her.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
Johnny, be happy if you are able to.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
Johnny, be carefree if it is possible for you to be so.
Johnny, be gay if you can be.
Johnny, try to find happiness in life.
Contributed by Harper Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.