Lyrics
Johnny has a problem
Johnny is facing a problem.
Johnny is out of control
Johnny's behavior is unmanageable.
He had a TV party
Johnny participated in a TV party with rebellious youth.
With the kids in the black hole
Johnny spent time with rebellious youth in a black hole (symbolic of a subculture).
Stealing people's mail
Engaging in illegal activities like stealing mail.
And lynching the landlord
Participating in extreme actions like lynching the landlord.
Things to do when angry, young and bored
Listing activities done out of anger, youth, and boredom.
Johnny was only a lad
Johnny was a young lad.
Johnny hates the scene
Johnny dislikes the punk scene.
First he hit an old man
Johnny physically assaulted an old man.
Then he hit and run Pauline
Hit and run incident involving Pauline.
The record player spinning the best times
A record player symbolizing better times.
I never had
The narrator never experienced those better times.
So why do my old records make me sad?
Reflecting on the sadness triggered by old records.
Cause they're so bad
The old records are perceived as bad.
And no one seems to understand
Misunderstanding or lack of appreciation for the beauty of guitar.
The glory of guitar
Highlighting the glory of guitar even when out of tune.
When out of tune
Emphasizing the off timing as part of the beauty of music.
The off timing
Appreciating singers who can't sing for their uniqueness.
The singers who can't sing
Recognizing the beauty of love despite imperfections.
The beauty of love
He's a teenage vegetable
Describing Johnny as a troubled teenager.
This is the last resort
PCP (phencyclidine) is Johnny's last resort, indicating desperation.
He's got P-C-P in his veins
Johnny is deeply involved with PCP.
He lives inside a quart
Living inside a quart of PCP, highlighting addiction.
Johnny is a punk rocker
Johnny is associated with punk rock.
Johnny is he queer?
Questioning Johnny's sexual orientation.
Johnny needed two bags
Johnny requires drugs and a stolen car.
And a car to commandeer
Commandeering a car for illicit purposes.
Johnny wasn't liked much
Johnny wasn't well-liked but had many friends.
But he had a lot of friends
Reference to Johnny waiting on stage, consuming ludes.
Waits on stage
Describing Johnny as a mindless, brainwashed person.
Eating ludes
A mindless brainwashed pig
Despite flaws, Johnny was considered a good person.
Johnny was a good man
Tragic incident where Johnny was shot.
'Til the day that he got shot
Johnny owned a powerful, modified Chevy.
He had a jacked up Chevy
The car had the potential to cause harm.
That could blow you off the spot
Johnny always needs
Johnny always desires more than he gives.
More than he takes
Forgetting chords and breaks, highlighting imperfections.
Forgets a couple chords
Forgets a couple breaks
-Johnny says he's bound
Johnny feels constrained by the limitations of six strings.
By only six strings to this world
Johnny Quest hates sellout bands
Expressing Johnny Quest's disdain for sellout bands.
And Johnny puxors Ritalin
Johnny disapproves of Ritalin use.
And Johnny is an angry amputee
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