Drummer Victor DeLorenzo said that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes, but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione would be replacing DeLorenzo as the band's drummer. In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes." Viglione is credited as the drummer on the 2016 release We Can Do Anything but would later be replaced by John Sparrow, who had played in the Violent Femmes backing band previously.
Their music is an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often express both a lyrical and musical sense of humor. Critics often attribute the Violent Femmes as laying the groundwork of dynamicism for the 90s grunge movement.
In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. The band signed to Slash Records and recorded their eponymous debut in July 1982.
The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone"). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release, and "Blister in the Sun" has become an alternative rock radio staple.
Johnny
Violent Femmes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh and johnny, do you miss me
i was so hungry i just wanted to attack
and i was so hungry well, i mean no, i'm never gonna look back
oh johnny, sometimes i wonder, sometimes i wonder
and i
wonder what it's like to die
no no you see, i could have been a star..i could have been a whip
can i tell you something right now johnny we could have been sailing along on our ship
here's this ring that he wore
it's just another thing that he wore
but there's something about this ring that i just can't ignore
so i keep it but i don't know why
oh johnny
do you miss all of the ladies
all of the crazies
oh johnny, do you miss me
oh johnny
do you miss your mother
do you miss your father
oh johnny, there's something i'd like to know
and i
and i
can you tell me john. can you tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
tell me what it's like to die
oh, hey johnny can you tell me what it's like to die
oh can you tell me what it's like to die
In the song “Johnny” by Violent Femmes, the singer asks a person named Johnny about whether he misses his mother, father, and the singer herself. The singer explains that she was once extremely hungry, and that hunger made her feel like she wanted to attack. She also expresses some wonderings about what it is like to die. The singer laments that she, and possibly Johnny as well, could have been successful in life, but now it is too late. Finally, the singer asks Johnny if he can describe what it is like to die.
This song has a somewhat mournful and introspective tone, as the singer seems to be reflecting on life choices and missed opportunities. The repeated questions about missing people and wondering about death hint at a feeling of loneliness or perhaps even regret. The reference to the ring adds to this feeling, as it brings up thoughts of lost relationships or possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
oh johnny
Addressing a person named Johnny
do you miss your mother
Asking if Johnny misses his mother
do you miss your father
Asking if Johnny misses his father
oh and johnny, do you miss me
Asking if Johnny misses the singer
i was so hungry i just wanted to attack
The singer was feeling intense hunger and aggression
and i was so hungry well, i mean no, i'm never gonna look back
The singer is distancing themselves from past actions driven by hunger and aggression
oh johnny, sometimes i wonder, sometimes i wonder
Expressing curiosity about Johnny
and i
The singer
and i
The singer
wonder what it's like to die
Reflecting on curiosity about death
no no you see, i could have been a star..i could have been a whip
The singer was once ambitious
can i tell you something right now johnny we could have been sailing along on our ship
Reflecting on missed opportunities with Johnny
here's this ring that he wore
Referring to a piece of jewelry worn by someone else
it's just another thing that he wore
The ring is insignificant to most people
but there's something about this ring that i just can't ignore
The ring holds personal significance to the singer
so i keep it but i don't know why
The singer holds onto the ring despite uncertainty about its importance
oh johnny
Addressing Johnny again
do you miss all of the ladies
Asking if Johnny misses women he's known
all of the crazies
Asking if Johnny misses people with eccentricities
oh johnny, do you miss me
Asking if Johnny misses the singer again
oh johnny
Repeating the address to Johnny
do you miss your mother
Asking if Johnny misses his mother again
do you miss your father
Asking if Johnny misses his father again
oh johnny, there's something i'd like to know
Expressing curiosity about something to Johnny
and i
The singer
and i
The singer
can you tell me john. can you tell me what it's like to die
Asking Johnny about his experiences with death
tell me what it's like to die
Repeating the request to know about death
tell me what it's like to die
Repeating the request to know about death
oh, hey johnny can you tell me what it's like to die
Asking Johnny again about his experiences with death
oh can you tell me what it's like to die
Repeating the request to know about death
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GORDON JAMES GANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EmpathyAndEntropy
This song makes me think of one of my best friends, B, and my brother. Both have passed. I cry nearly every time I listen but I feel better afterwards so I keep coming back.
@H82BUagain
I had a friend named Johnny as a teen and he was everything a friend should be and more, he had problems, but we all do, Oh Johnny, sometimes I wonder!
@theartistformerlyknownasmm246
Reminds me of my brother who passed last year. I hope he misses me. I hope he didn't feel as alone while he was dying as I do now he's gone
@orionstarr5313
one of my favorites :)
@darladylon4299
I second that friend.
@lobotomyscam1051
You have great taste.
@johnbox5013
Seventeen and no problems in my body!
@paulbuskey3326
How are there so few of us?
@Alsatiagent
Listen to The Modern Lovers "Summer Morning" and see where The Violent Femmes got some ideas for this great tune.
@Gorgie-lm1ti
What’s the back story to this epic song?