Johnny B. Goode
t.o.m.e. Lyrics
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Johnny's mates knew she was a mole;
She told Johnny to be a rock and roll star -
He said, "No way, I'm staying right where I are."
Chorus:
Stay home Johnny, stay home...(etc.)
Johnny went on to do Melbourne Med.;
Johnny got rich being a doctor,
And then he died after a happy but boring existence.
No one knew Johnny, and he didn't care;
When on the bottom storey, he climbed the stair;
Johnny didn't get very far:
Most of all, he hated guitar.
The lyrics of t.o.m.e.'s "Johnny B. Goode" tell the story of a young man named Johnny who is pushed by his mother to become a rock and roll star despite her own struggles with drugs and alcohol. Johnny's friends are aware of his mother's problems and refer to her as a "mole," indicating that she is a source of shame for Johnny. However, he refuses to follow her urging and chooses to stay where he is. Despite this, the chorus imploringly asks him to "stay home" indicating a desire for him to avoid the pitfalls of the rock and roll lifestyle.
As Johnny grows up, he goes on to pursue a career in medicine and becomes wealthy, yet he ultimately dies a boring, unremarkable life. The lyrics suggest that despite this, he was content with his life, as the line "and he didn't care" implies that he was satisfied with his choices.
Throughout the song, the lyrics differ from the classic Chuck Berry song of the same name, making it clear that t.o.m.e.'s version is a reinterpretation of the original. The focus on Johnny's mother and her struggles with addiction, as well as the ultimate contrast between Johnny's life as a doctor and his mother's influence, creates a unique spin on the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny's Mum took drugs and alcohol;
Johnny's mother struggled with addiction to both drugs and alcohol.
Johnny's mates knew she was a mole;
Johnny's friends were aware of his mother's addiction issues.
She told Johnny to be a rock and roll star -
Johnny's mother encouraged him to pursue a career in rock and roll music.
He said, "No way, I'm staying right where I are."
However, Johnny refused his mother's suggestion and decided to stay where he was.
Chorus:
Stay home Johnny, stay home...(etc.)
The chorus repeats the message of Johnny choosing to stay home and not pursue a career in music.
Johnny got home, he went to bed;
After making his decision, Johnny went home and went to bed.
Johnny went on to do Melbourne Med.;
Johnny pursued a career in medicine at the University of Melbourne.
Johnny got rich being a doctor,
Johnny became wealthy as a doctor.
And then he died after a happy but boring existence.
Despite his financial success, Johnny lived a boring and unremarkable life until his death.
No one knew Johnny, and he didn't care;
Johnny lived a solitary life and was indifferent towards others not knowing him.
When on the bottom storey, he climbed the stair;
Johnny did not aspire to become famous and remained grounded in his ambitions.
Johnny didn't get very far:
Despite his financial success, Johnny did not achieve any notable accomplishments in his life.
Most of all, he hated guitar.
Johnny had no interest in music, particularly the guitar which his mother had tried to persuade him to play.
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