Missing
The Three Johns Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's not dead or alive
He's not off with some other guy
He's not lost track of the time
He's just

Missing

People say hey it'll never happen to me
Just goes to show how foolish people can be
I've been waiting all night for a sign from my baby
But he's

Missing

He's not coming through the door
He's not dialing the phone
He's not out on the dance floor
He's not walking home alone
He's just

Missing

He's not drugged or lost
Or trying to escape
He's not being raped
He's not in my arms
Looking in my eyes
Smiling for me
He's just

Missing

People say hey it'll never happen to me
Just goes to show how foolish people can be
I've been waiting all night for a sign from my baby
But he's





Missing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Three Johns’s Missing express the feeling of uncertainty and fear that come with losing someone important. The lines “He’s not dead or alive / He’s not off with some other guy” suggest that the person is not in any immediate danger or has left for another relationship. The second verse adds to the ambiguity, stating that he is not doing anything that could potentially harm him or cause him to lose his way. The chorus emphasizes the main theme of the song, with the repetition of the word “missing” signifying the void and confusion that the singer is experiencing as she waits for a sign from her missing loved one.


The chorus also points out the naivety of assuming that such a situation would never happen to oneself, juxtaposing the harsh reality with the false assurance of invincibility. The final lines “But he’s missing” act as a haunting reminder of the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, and the pain that comes with the unknown.


Overall, The Three Johns’s Missing is a poignant and introspective song that explores the feeling of loss and absence, and the helplessness that comes with not knowing what has happened to someone important. The lyrics are carefully crafted in a way that emphasizes the emotional impact of the situation, while the minimalist instrumentation adds to the overall melancholic tone of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

He's not dead or alive
He is not known to be either alive or dead


He's not off with some other guy
He is not spending time with another person


He's not lost track of the time
He is not unaware of the passage of time


He's just Missing
He is simply not present


People say hey it'll never happen to me
Some people believe that bad things will not happen to them


Just goes to show how foolish people can be
These beliefs are often proven wrong, demonstrating people's foolishness


I've been waiting all night for a sign from my baby
The singer has been waiting for communication from their loved one all night


He's not coming through the door
He is not arriving at the artist's location


He's not dialing the phone
He is not making a phone call to the artist


He's not out on the dance floor
He is not dancing in a public space


He's not walking home alone
He is not traveling home without accompaniment


He's just Missing
He is simply not present


He's not drugged or lost
He is not under the influence or unable to navigate his surroundings


Or trying to escape
He is not attempting to flee from a situation


He's not being raped
He is not experiencing sexual assault


He's not in my arms Looking in my eyes Smiling for me
He is not physically present and interacting with the artist in an intimate way


He's just Missing
He is simply not present


People say hey it'll never happen to me
Some people believe that bad things will not happen to them


Just goes to show how foolish people can be
These beliefs are often proven wrong, demonstrating people's foolishness


I've been waiting all night for a sign from my baby
The artist has been waiting for communication from their loved one all night


But he's Missing
He is simply not present




Writer(s): Mark Leonard, John Waite, Charles Sandford Copyright: Alley Music A/C Paperwaite Music

Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions