Lyrics
Yeah, when I go over yonder
Anticipation of an afterlife, going to the other side.
I will see my mother
Expectation to reunite with the speaker's mother in the afterlife.
My sister and my father
Expectation to reunite with the speaker's sister and father in the afterlife.
But my brother is going to hell
Recognition that the brother is destined for hell.
Well they hung him from the gallows
Brother's execution by hanging.
As the sun turned red from yellow
Atmospheric change during the execution, symbolized by the sun turning red.
The crowd they heard him halting
The crowd hears the brother's final words, possibly with difficulty.
And they sighed with much relief
Crowd's relief at the brother's halting speech.
The preacher asked him for any last words
The preacher asks for the brother's last words.
My brother spit onto his clean shirt
The brother defiantly spits on his clean shirt.
And he smiled without redemption and said
The brother smiles without seeking redemption.
"This is one soul God don't need"
Claim that the brother's soul is undesirable to God.
Though I loved him, I won't miss him
The speaker acknowledges love for the brother but won't miss him during his punishment.
As he's burnin' and he's twistin'
Description of the brother's torment and suffering.
For his heartless dedication
Recognition of the brother's heartless dedication to evil.
To the devil and its creed
Reference to the brother's allegiance to the devil and its principles.
As a child we called him rotten
Childhood nickname for the brother indicating unpleasantness.
Till he was lonely and forgotten
Brother's loneliness and abandonment by others.
And he revenged our constant jeering
Brother's retaliation against constant teasing through words and actions.
With his every word and deed
Brother's response to the constant mockery.
Oh and for my contribution
Speaker's acknowledgment of personal contribution to the brother's fate.
And the soul's lack of retribution
Brother's soul seemingly not facing consequences or retribution.
I would ask the Lord's forgiveness
Speaker seeks forgiveness from the Lord for their actions.
On my very bended knee
Expression of remorse and humility in seeking forgiveness.
It's the tale of Johnny Rotten
Introduction of Johnny Rotten as the focal character of the tale.
Who was lonely and forgotten
Reiteration of Johnny Rotten's loneliness and obscurity.
Its the tale of my only brother
Confirmation that Johnny Rotten is the speaker's only brother.
And its the tale of one bad seed
Summary of the narrative as the tale of a problematic individual.
Comment