They soon changed their name to The Adicts and became known for their distinctive Clockwork Orange 'Droog' image, which, along with their urgent, uptempo music and light-hearted lyrics, helped set them very much apart from the rest of the genre. Temporary 1980s name changes to ADX and FUN ADICTS, for a children's TV appearance, also occurred.
Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
The band still has all its original members, uncommon for a band with such longevity.
The music of The Adicts proves that punk music is a very broad genre, often featuring extra instruments and sound clips such as carousel music (How Sad), violin played by Derick Cook (Joker in the Pack), gongs and keyboard percussion by Anthony Boyd (Chinese Takeaway), and even completely different songs like the switch to Gain To Lose's Tune #24 at the end of G.I.R.L..
The look of the majority of the bandmates is that of the Droogs from the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. All white with black combat boots and black bowler hats. The band says that the look appealed to them because of the teenage angst associated with A Clockwork Orange. Singer "Monkey" wears full joker make-up and his clothes are wild, patterned suits, flared trousers, colorful dress shirts, and other such things. His favorites seem to be checkerboard patterns, or polkadots. And of course, there's the obligatory bowler hat and gloves. Along with the look come stage antics involving streamers, confetti, playing cards, joker hats, toy instruments, and glitter just to name a few things.
members:
Keith 'Monkey' Warren - Vocals.
Mel (Spider)Ellis - Bass
Pete Dee Davison - Guitar
Michael 'Kid Dee' Davison - Drums
John 'Scruff' Ellis (Mel’s brother) - Guitar
Dan Gratziani - Violin,Piano,Mandolin
Johnny Was a Soldier
The Adicts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cause he didn't know
He served three years
In the Middle East
You know it doesn't show
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
When he came out
He tried to form a band
But he's only got one leg
And he can hardly stand
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymoooore
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)
Johnny was a soldier (wooooooooooahh)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)
Johnny was a soldier (wooooooooooahh)
Johnny was a soldier
Now he drinks alone
He gets sentimental
He watches girls dance
And he's thrown away his medals
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymore
Push push push push
Push push push push
Johnny was a soldier
He can't dance anymoooore
woooah
wooooooooooah
Johnny was a soldier(woooah)
Johnny was a soldier(woooah)
Johnny was a soldier(woooooooooooah)
Johnny was a soldier
Johnny was a slodier (Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a slodier (Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a slodier (Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a slodier
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a soldier (woooooooooooah)(Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier (woooooooooooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier (woooooooooooah)(Johnny was Johnny was)
Johnny was a soldier
Fade:
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
Johnny was a soldier (woooah)(Johnny was a soldier)
"The Adicts" is a British punk rock band that formed in Suffolk, England in 1975. One of their popular songs is "Johnny Was A Soldier," which was released as a single in 1982. The song tells the story of a soldier named Johnny who joins the army without knowing what he is fighting for. He serves three years in the Middle East, but his experiences have left him unable to dance and perform.
The song's opening line "Johnny joined the army, the cause he didn't know," suggests that Johnny wasn't motivated by the same sense of patriotism that most soldiers typically embody. This idea is reinforced by the fact that the song never mentions what conflict Johnny was fighting in or what his mission was. Instead, the focus is on Johnny's personal journey, one that takes him through the traumas of war and its aftermath, including physical disabilities, PTSD, alcoholism, and depression.
The song is notable for its driving rhythm, catchy chorus, and simple chord progression, which are hallmarks of punk rock music. The repeated lines of "push push push push" throughout the song seem to represent the idea of soldiers being pushed into battle and the way they are expected to keep moving forward despite the chaos and violence around them. The phrase "Johnny was a soldier" is repeated throughout the song with increasing intensity, as if to underscore the idea that Johnny's identity has been consumed by his military service.
Overall, "Johnny Was A Soldier" is a powerful song that speaks to the experiences of many soldiers, particularly those who have experienced the physical and psychological tolls of combat. It is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that soldiers make and the challenges they face when they return home.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny joined the army
Johnny signed up for the military
The cause he didn't know
He didn't have a clear motivation to serve
He served three years
He was deployed for a period of three years
In the Middle East
He was stationed in Middle Eastern countries
You know it doesn't show
He doesn't explicitly show the consequences of his deployment
Push push push push
Chorus/repetitive vocals
Johnny was a soldier
The subject of the song was a service member
He can't dance anymore
Johnny experienced loss or injury that affects his mobility and/or spirit
When he came out
When he returned from his deployment
He tried to form a band
He pursued artistic expression
But he's only got one leg
The service member has lost a limb
And he can hardly stand
The service member experiences physical challenges
Now he drinks alone
The service member self-medicates
He gets sentimental
He becomes emotional
He watches girls dance
He observes others who are uninhibited while he is not
And he's thrown away his medals
The service member has relinquished symbols of honor or achievement
Fade:
The song is finishing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deadfordays
my little daughter absolutely LOVE the adicts. I am so proud when I hear them singing random songs from this great band.
King Fartquad
Deadfordays Don’t even know her, but so I am I
Angel Pacheco
My nephews love the Cramps. I feel so proud
ado fonconi
Johnny joined the army The cause he didn't know He served three years In the Middle East You know it doesn't show Johnny was a soldier He can't dance anymore When he came out He tried to form a band But he's only got one leg And he can hardly stand Now he drinks alone He gets sentimental He watches girls dance And he's thrown away his meda
Bree Stone
The nostalgia. I just loved dancing to this
Twiisted Catt
It's a joke?
Dan A
But Johnny can't dance anymore :(
Michael Rocha
Classic... A True classic !
Frank McCourt
One of the best of the Adicts
Hale Bopp
My god this song rips.