Their best known tunes include "Our Lips Our Sealed", "Vacation", and "We Got The Beat" among others. Their trend-setting debut album, 'Beauty and the Beat', didn't just reach #1 after its 1981 release but is also considered one of the cornerstone albums of American new wave. In the beginning, they played primarily what was known as 'pop punk', and they then made their sound more sunny and romantic, having later associated themselves with the distinct sound of 80s pop rock. The Go-Go's had five Top 40 hits in their heyday.
Website: http://www.gogos.com/
In addition, there was a group from Newcastle in the U.K. known as "The Go-Go's" in the 60s. That artist is known for their 1964 novelty Christmas single, titled "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek", which referenced the budding 'Doctor Who' craze. Like the later U.S. band of the same name, the group's name was a reference to go-go dancing.
Johnny Are You Queer?
The Go-Go's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is your love for real boy?
When the lights are low
You never hold me close
Well I saw you today boy
Walking with the gay boys
God it hurt me so
Johnny are you queer?
'Cause when I see you
Dancing with your friends
I can't help wondering
Where I stand
I'm so afraid I'll lose you
If I can't seduce you
Is there something wrong?
Johnny come on strong
Oh why are you so weird boy?
Johnny are you queer boy?
When I make a play
You push me away
Johnny are you queer?
'Cause when I see you
Dancing with your friends
I can't help wondering
Where I stand
Johnny you're forsaking
A love you could be taking
I wanna give it to you
But you never come through
Oh why are you so weird boy?
Johnny are you queer boy?
When you asked for a date
I thought that you were straight
Johnny are you queer?
Oh Johnny are you queer boy?
Johnny are you queer?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Johnny are you queer?
The lyrics to The Go-Go's's song "Johnny Are You Queer?" tell the story of a girl who is questioning the sexual orientation of her male love interest, Johnny. She expresses her confusion and frustration with his behavior, particularly when he spends time with "gay boys" and doesn't "hold [her] close" when the lights are low. She is afraid that she will lose him if she can't "seduce" him, and wonders if there is "something wrong." She repeatedly asks him, "Johnny are you queer?" and wonders where she stands with him when she sees him dancing with his friends.
The song is widely considered to be controversial and has stirred up debate over the years. Some interpret the lyrics as homophobic or derogatory towards the LGBTQ+ community, while others argue that the song was meant to be a playful, tongue-in-cheek take on the confusion and uncertainty that many young people experience when exploring their own sexuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny what's the deal boy?
What's going on with you, Johnny?
Is your love for real boy?
Do you really love me, Johnny?
When the lights are low
During intimate moments
You never hold me close
You don't show affection towards me
Well I saw you today boy
I saw you earlier today
Walking with the gay boys
Walking with a group of homosexual individuals
God it hurt me so
It was painful for me to see
Now I gotta know
I need to know the truth
Johnny are you queer?
Are you gay, Johnny?
'Cause when I see you
Whenever I see you
Dancing with your friends
Dancing with your group
I can't help wondering
I can't stop thinking about
Where I stand
What my position is in relation to you
I'm so afraid I'll lose you
I'm scared of losing you
If I can't seduce you
If I can't attract you sexually
Is there something wrong?
Is there something going on that I don't know about?
Johnny come on strong
Johnny, please be more assertive
Oh why are you so weird boy?
Why are you acting strange, Johnny?
When I make a play
When I make advances toward you
You push me away
You reject me
Johnny are you queer?
Are you gay, Johnny?
'Cause when I see you
Whenever I see you
Dancing with your friends
Dancing with your group
I can't help wondering
I can't stop thinking about
Where I stand
What my position is in relation to you
Johnny you're forsaking
Johnny, you're abandoning
A love you could be taking
A potential love that you could have
I wanna give it to you
I want to give you my love
But you never come through
But you never follow through with anything
Oh why are you so weird boy?
Why are you acting strange, Johnny?
When you asked for a date
When you requested a date with me
I thought that you were straight
I assumed that you were heterosexual
Johnny are you queer?
Are you gay, Johnny?
Oh Johnny are you queer boy?
Oh, Johnny, are you homosexual?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Please tell me, Johnny, are you gay?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Please tell me, Johnny, are you homosexual?
Johnny are you queer?
Are you gay, Johnny?
Contributed by Isabella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hugh Mongus
I kinda like this version better than Josie Cotton's. Though I love that version, too.
boywonder9021ho
LMFAO . . . -eddie Q(at his recording studio workin' on his cover of, "He's So Strange" and da voiceover from his bodyguard St. Romo of the LAPD lol
Claude Allard
I don't understand your comment.
J R
When was this performance recorded? Was it during the Go Gos early pubk period? It's so fun to hear the song sung in the subversive way that we 2nd graders thought it was intended to be back in 1982. We thought they were having to tone down the subversiveness in the song that was released for the radio because after all it was the Reagan years.
Jayme Splendid
You know this song was about Darby Crash?
Claude Allard
I like this version was better than Josie Cotton's. Theirs was actually the original.
Hugh Mongus
So what you're saying is that it was a different song when FEAR sang it...
Jimmy Gnosis
Actually the band FEAR wrote this song. Look it up, it was originally called "Fetch Me One More Beer"
Artdrtr
they were influenced by coke and heroin and played way too fast
Our travelingzoo
Sounds like a drunk bunch of girls on karaoke night