Murphy has performed twice at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and in Italy, France and other European countries. She also teaches Italian cooking and supports outreach programs for middle school-aged girls. Murphy's music features story-telling and personal expression. In her own words, the challenge to her songwriting "is to evoke as many images as possible with as few words as possible."
Murphy made her 2005 record release, Girls Get In Free following a sabbatical from performing and a period of personal difficulties. This record combined Murphy's music with a cause she supports as the CD release party benefitted GENAustin, a non-profit outreach program that helps middle school-aged girls develop strong self-esteem. Murphy is also a member of GENAustin's Board of Directors.
Today Murphy performs solo, with her rock band, and as part of a 70s tribute band, SKYROCKET!. Murphy also teaches Italian cooking using recipes learned from her grandmother at Austin's Central Market and other cooking schools.
Johnny Too Blue
Trish Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was the misfit.
Momma's little brother in his military outfit.
Turning all the lights out,
Smoking on the floor,
We used to listen to him listening to the Doors.
My little brother must have been about two
He said,
Oh.
Johnny dropped bombs on Viet Nam.
Couldn't really look back,
Never really came back.
Son don't you quit.
Get a handle on it.
Boy settle down, they know you too well in this town.
Got himself a wife.
Got himself a daughter.
She must be grown now;
He never even saw her.
Oooh, Johnny too blue.
Johnny be a good kid,
Do like your daddy did.
The man of the hosue can't afford to be stupid.
Driving down the road in your momma's big car.
Johnny don't you go too far.
Teenage girlfriend.
She was one of my friends.
Cooking Johnny supper in the little apartment.
They went one night
To get a cup of coffee.
Johnny got angry...
He hauled off,
He hit her upside the head,
Wasn't really murder,
He caught her on the temple,
Didn't mean to hurt her.
Johnny got out after serving three to five,
Still talking to her like she was still alive,
Why?
Johnny goodbye.
Johnny be a good kid,
Do like your daddy did.
The man of the hosue can't afford to be stupid.
Driving down the road in your momma's big car.
Johnny don't you go too far.
Ooooh.
Johnny be a good kid,
Do like your daddy did.
The man of the hosue can't afford to be stupid.
Driving down the road in your momma's big car.
Trish Murphy's song Johnny Too Blue tells the story of a troubled man named Johnny. The song begins by describing Johnny as a misfit who used to babysit for the singer and her little brother while listening to The Doors. We learn that Johnny served in the military and dropped bombs in Vietnam, but he never really came back from the war. The singer's little brother once called Johnny the meanest man he knew, which hints at a darker side to Johnny's personality.
As the song progresses, we learn that Johnny got married and had a daughter, but he never saw her grow up. He became known in town and had to settle down to avoid drawing attention. However, he couldn't escape his troubled past, and he ended up serving time in prison after he hit his girlfriend in the head during an argument.
The lyrics of this song are incredibly powerful, and they paint a picture of a man who is struggling to find his place in the world. The song also touches on themes of war, domestic violence, and the consequences of past actions. Trish Murphy's haunting vocals and the music's melancholic tone add to the overall emotion of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny used to babysit.
Johnny used to take care of us when we were kids.
He was the misfit.
Johnny didn't fit in with the rest of the family.
Momma's little brother in his military outfit.
Johnny was in the military and was Momma's younger brother.
Turning all the lights out, Smoking on the floor, We used to listen to him listening to the Doors.
We used to hang out with Johnny in the dark, smoking and listening to music together.
My little brother must have been about two, He said, "Johnny, you're the meaner man I never knew."
My little brother once said that Johnny was the meanest person he had ever met.
Johnny dropped bombs on Viet Nam. Couldn't really look back, Never really came back.
Johnny fought in the Vietnam War and never really recovered from the experience.
Son don't you quit. Get a handle on it. Boy settle down, they know you too well in this town.
Johnny's father told him to get his act together and behave because the town already knew about his past troubles.
Got himself a wife. Got himself a daughter. She must be grown now; He never even saw her. Oooh, Johnny too blue.
Johnny got married and had a daughter, but never got to see her grow up. He is now depressed and upset about it.
Johnny be a good kid, Do like your daddy did. The man of the hosue can't afford to be stupid. Driving down the road in your momma's big car. Johnny don't you go too far.
Johnny's father told him to be responsible and not make the same mistakes he did. Johnny was warned not to take risks and get into trouble.
Teenage girlfriend. She was one of my friends. Cooking Johnny supper in the little apartment.
Johnny dated one of my teenage friends and they would cook together in his small apartment.
They went one night To get a cup of coffee. Johnny got angry... He hauled off, He hit her upside the head, Wasn't really murder, He caught her on the temple, Didn't mean to hurt her.
One night, Johnny and his girlfriend went out for coffee and he got angry and hit her in the temple with a blow that inadvertently killed her.
Johnny got out after serving three to five, Still talking to her like she was still alive, Why? Johnny goodbye.
Johnny was in prison for three to five years for the accidental murder of his girlfriend, but he still talked to her as if she was alive. This caused him to feel depressed and say goodbye to her for the last time.
Contributed by Dylan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.