Songs That Make You Go Huh? - (4/20)

[Railyn]

I know we've covered this topic before with a few different songs. It may be a very short week for me here. We're down two (sometimes three) people in the office this week, and it's chaos.

Anyway, I've always liked this song, but one day I sat and really listened to it, and it's strange. It tells a dark story, and I'm not sure of the point of it, plus given that it's a male singer, the perspective is strange.

There's a strange explanation on a good website devoted to the group that just confuses things further. I'll mention it below:

1963
By: New Order
Album: Substance 1987
Authors: Stephen Morris, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Hague

It was January 1963
When Johnny came home with a gift for me
He said "I bought it for you because I love you
And I bought it for you because it's your birthday too"
He was so very nice he was so very kind
To think of me at this point in time
I used to think of him, He used think of me

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw tears were in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me
Johnny don't point that gun at me
Can I save my life at any price?
For God's sake won't you listen to me?

And though he was ashamed that he had took a life
Johnny came home with another wife
And he often remembered how it used to be
Before that special occasion 1963
There was too many ways that you could kill someone
Like in a love affair when the love has gone
He used to think of her, she used to think of him

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me
Johnny you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh Johnny won't you listen to me?

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me

Johnny you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh Johnny won't you listen to me?

I just want you to be mine
I don't want this world to shine
I don't want this bridge to burn
Oh Johnny do you miss me?
I just want to feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free

My Opinion In A Nutshell: A song with a good lilting melody, and strange lyrics. The website says that it's based on one of the JFK theories that JFK wanted Jackie dead and he got the bullet instead, but I just find that more confusing. I don't know, maybe it's just me. The song has a really interesting sound regardless of the strange lyrics. Here is a link to the info page for this song. There may be clips there: neworderonline.com/Music/Song.aspx?SongID=1

Favorite Line: Don't have one.

[lora]

As confusing as the lyrics are, there's something intriguing about them, especially if you go with the JFK theory on that.

I like it.

[Railyn]

Lora said:

As confusing as the lyrics are, there's something intriguing about them, especially if you go with the JFK theory on that.

I like it.

I like it too. It's strangely compelling. It's hard to explain. Most of the songs New Order does are strange and dark, but this one was a little harsher than the others. The other thing with them is that a lot of their songs are more upbeat, but if you sit and listen to them, they're deceptive. Probably my favorite song they do is "Regret" and it's peppy and upbeat but the lyrics, though not dark, are cynical to some degree. New Order are good to listen to when you want to veg, or if you're moody.