The original band, billed simply as "The Modern Lovers", existed from 1970–74 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Jonathan Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of The Velvet Underground, and is now considered one of the leading bands of the "proto-punk" scene. It pointed the way towards much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie rock music of later decades. Their only album, the eponymous The Modern Lovers, contained stylistically unprecedented[citation needed] songs about dating awkwardness, growing up in Massachusetts, and love of life and the USA.
After recording several tracks in 1972 and '73, including "I'm Straight" (referring here to abstaining from drug use), and "Government Center", Richman wanted to scrap the tracks that were recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted at the time that they record as they already sounded. They continued and eventually, the first album was released in 1976. Long before its release, however, creative differences split the band apart.
Later, Richman used the name Modern Lovers for a variety of backing bands, always billed as "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers." These bands were quieter and featured more low-key, often near-childlike, songs, as Richman drew on folk-rock and other genres. Out of Richman's original bandmates, only Robinson was part of any of the other Modern Lovers incarnations.
I'm Straight
The Modern Lovers Lyrics
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But I, I got scared, I put it
Back in place, I put my phone back in place
I still don't know if I
Should have called up
Look, just tell me why don't ya if I'm out of place
'Cause here's your chance to make me feel awkward
And wish that I
I saw you though, today, walk by with hippie Johnny
I had to call up and say how I want to take his place
So this phone call today concerns hippie Johnny
He's always stoned, he's never straight
I saw you today, you know, walk by with hippie Johnny
Look, I had to call up and say, I want to take his place
See he's stoned, hippie Johnny
Now get this, I'm straight and I want to take his place
Now look, I like him too, I like hippie Johnny
But I'm straight
And I want to take his
I said, I'm straight
I said, I'm straight
I'm proud to say
Well I'm straight and I want to take his place
Now I've watched you walk around here
I've watched you meet
These boyfriends, I know, and you tell me how they're deep
Look but, if these guys, if they're really so great
Tell me, why can't they at least take this place
And take it straight, why always stoned
Like hippie Johnny is?
I'm straight and I want to take his place
Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is
I'm straight and I want to take his place
I said, I'm straight
I said, I'm straight
I'm
I'm straight and I want
All right you Modern Lovers what do you say?
(I'm straight!)
Tell the world now
(I'm straight!)
I said
(I'm straight!)
Yeah, I'm straight and I want to take his place
The Modern Lovers' song "I'm Straight" is often interpreted as a commentary on homosexuality, but it is actually a satire on the counter-culture of the 60s and 70s. In the song, the singer calls a girl he likes, but is too afraid to speak to her about his feelings. Instead, he focuses on her friend, Hippie Johnny, whom he wants to replace as her boyfriend. The singer mentions that Hippie Johnny is always stoned and "never straight," while he proudly declares "I'm straight." He believes that being straight is superior to being a member of the counterculture, which he sees as shallow and unserious.
Despite the ambiguity of the lyrics, the song remains an important cultural artifact of the punk and new wave movements of the 70s and 80s. It is widely regarded as one of the first punk rock songs and has influenced countless musicians, including The Ramones and The Sex Pistols.
Line by Line Meaning
I called this number three times already today
I tried calling you three times, but didn't get through.
But I, I got scared, I put it
I chickened out and hung up the phone.
Back in place, I put my phone back in place
I put my phone back where it was before.
I still don't know if I
I'm not sure if I should have called.
Should have called up
If I should have called you.
Look, just tell me why don't ya if I'm out of place
Please tell me if I'm being inappropriate.
'Cause here's your chance to make me feel awkward
You have the opportunity to embarrass me.
And wish that I
And you'll probably wish that I
Had never even called up this place
Never tried calling you at all.
I saw you though, today, walk by with hippie Johnny
I saw you with someone named hippie Johnny today.
I had to call up and say how I want to take his place
I had to call and tell you that I want to be with you instead of him.
So this phone call today concerns hippie Johnny
This call is about the guy I saw you with today.
He's always stoned, he's never straight
Hippie Johnny is always high and never sober.
Look, I had to call up and say, I want to take his place
I called to tell you that I want to be with you instead of him.
See he's stoned, hippie Johnny
This is why I think I'm a better choice than he is.
Now get this, I'm straight and I want to take his place
I'm sober and I still want to be with you instead of him.
Now look, I like him too, I like hippie Johnny
I don't dislike him, but I still want to be with you instead of him.
But I'm straight
The thing is, I'm sober.
And I want to take his
And I want to be with you instead of him.
I said, I'm straight
I want to emphasize that I'm sober and not like hippie Johnny.
I'm proud to say
I'm happy to tell you
Well I'm straight and I want to take his place
I'm a better choice for you than hippie Johnny because I'm sober.
Now I've watched you walk around here
I've been observing you in this place lately.
I've watched you meet
I've seen you with
These boyfriends, I know, and you tell me how they're deep
I know you've dated other guys, but you tell me they're serious.
Look but, if these guys, if they're really so great
If your other boyfriends are truly amazing
Tell me, why can't they at least take this place
Why can't they at least come here sober?
And take it straight, why always stoned
Why are they always high and not sober?
Like hippie Johnny is?
Just like hippie Johnny is always high.
Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is
I want to emphasize that I'm sober and not like hippie Johnny.
I said, I'm straight
I'm sober and not like hippie Johnny.
All right you Modern Lovers what do you say?
What do you think, Modern Lovers?
(I'm straight!)
(I'm sober!)
Tell the world now
I want everyone to know
(I'm straight!)
(I'm sober!)
I said
I want to emphasize again
(I'm straight!)
(I'm sober!)
Yeah, I'm straight and I want to take his place
I'm sober and I want to be with you instead of him.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MODERN LOVE SONGS
Written by: Jonathan Michael Richman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind