JONNY B GOODE
Tosh Peter Lyrics

Deep down in Jamaica, close to Mandeville
In the heart of Jamaica, near Mandeville, a story unfolds.

Back up in the woods, on top of a hill
High up in the forests, a remote hut stands.

There stood an old hut made of earth and wood
An ancient, rustic dwelling crafted from natural materials rests on the grounds.

There lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
A young man raised in the countryside who goes by the name Johnny B. Goode inhabited the hut.

He never learned to read and a-write so well
While lacking proficiency in reading and writing,

But he could play his guitar like ringing a bell, yell
Johnny had an exceptional talent for playing the guitar that resonates with anyone who hears it.

And said, 'Go, go Johnny, Johnny B. Goode tonight,' yeah
Others would cheer and encourage Johnny to go and perform his guitar playing skills with a chant of 'Go, go Johnny B. Goode tonight.'

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Johnny carried his guitar in a rough sack.

Sitting in a tree in the railroad track
Positioned in a tree near the railway tracks,

Old engineer in the train sitting in the shade
A senior railway engineer sat nearby in the shade

Strummin' with the rhythm that them drivers made
As he strummed his guitar, he was in sync with the rhythms created by passing train drivers.

People passing by would stop and say
Passersby were mesmerized by the music they heard and would stop in their tracks.

Oh my, oh my, what the boy can play
They couldn't help but express their amazement at the skill level of Johnny's guitar playing with exclamations like 'Oh my, oh my, what the boy can play!'

Mama said: Son, you gotta be a man (go out, be a man)
His mother would encourage him to be a man and take charge of his life.

You gotta be the leader of a reggae band
Johnny was urged to take charge of a reggae band as a leader.

People coming in from miles around
People were anticipated to come from miles around

To hear you play until the sun goes down
They would come to listen to his music until the sun went down.

Boy, someday, your name will be in the lights
Johnny's mother would tell him that someday, his name would be in the lights.

Saying: Johnny, Johnny B. Goode tonight
People with loud cheers would say 'Johnny, Johnny B. Goode tonight.'

Said, 'Oh oh, go Johnny, Johnny you better be good'
Others warn Johnny that he needs to be good before he goes to play.

I said, 'Go, go Johnny, Johnny B. Goode tonight'
The chant of 'Go, go Johnny B. Goode tonight' continues.

Play Johnny, 'Go Johnny, Johnny B. Goode'
Johnny is urged to play his guitar as the chant repeats.

I said, 'Go, go, go, go, go Johnny, Johnny B. Goode tonight'
The chant becomes enthusiastic as the call to hear Johnny's guitar intensifies.

You can hear him play, go Johnny, better be good
As Johnny played his guitar, people were impressed by his skills and would once again remind him to be good.