Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
When everybody else refrains
My uncle Jonny did cocaine
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, Jonny
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
I wanna go out tonight
Come a little closer to the city lights
Levitation ain't your only friend
Levitation coming back again
Feel a burning in your body's core
It's a yearning that you can't ignore
Now I wanna go out tonight
Superman and hold on tight
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, Jonny
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
My appetite ain't got no heart
I said, my appetite ain't got no heart
Shocking people when you feel that pull
Shock 'em, drop 'em when you know it's full
I feel a burning in your body's core
It's a yearning that you can't ignore
I gotta go out tonight
Hey, Jonny, I got faith in you, man
I mean it, it's gonna be all right
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
Tell us what's going on
Feels like everything's wrong
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
If the future is real
Jonny, you've got to heal
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
When everybody else refrains
My uncle Jonny did cocaine
My uncle Jonny did cocaine
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, Jonny
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
I wanna go out tonight
Come a little closer to the city lights
Levitation ain't your only friend
Levitation coming back again
Feel a burning in your body's core
It's a yearning that you can't ignore
Now I wanna go out tonight
Superman and hold on tight
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, Jonny
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
My appetite ain't got no heart
I said, my appetite ain't got no heart
Shocking people when you feel that pull
Shock 'em, drop 'em when you know it's full
I feel a burning in your body's core
It's a yearning that you can't ignore
I gotta go out tonight
Hey, Jonny, I got faith in you, man
I mean it, it's gonna be all right
He's convinced himself right in his brain
That it helps to take away the pain
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
Tell us what's going on
Feels like everything's wrong
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
If the future is real
Jonny, you've got to heal
Hey, what you say, Jonny?
When everybody else refrains
My uncle Jonny did cocaine
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More Featured Meanings
Spirit Within
Bertoldi Brothers
Bertoldi Brothers
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
This is truly about Brandon's uncle. This song is hot...hot vocals, lyrics, bass. Here's a excerpt from an article in which Brandon talks about the song.
UNCLE JONNY:
Uncle Jonny is my mother’s brother. He’s the black sheep of the family. Every couple of years something would happen. He’s done everything from shoot himself to drug addictions yet somehow he’s ended up alright. He’s really a nice guy. He’s heard the song and he’s happy to be immortalised because he’s a rocker, he’s always got a Zeppelin shirt on. Jonny deserves the song’s riff (laughs). You don’t usually use the word riff with us, but this is one of the greatest riffs of all time. I guess it’s a little bit inspired by being on the road with U2. We learnt a lot from watching them.
I think this song has a three people speaking thing going on. Brandon speaks as himself, johnny and his family. Brandon: When everybody else refrained, my Uncle Jonny did cocaine. He’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey, Jonny. Hey what you say, Jonny?
Johnny: I want to go out tonight. Cut me a little closer to the city lights. Levitation ain’t your only friend.
Brandon: Levitation coming back again. You feel a burning in your body core. It’s a yearning that you can’t ignore.
Johnny: And I want to go out tonight.
Brandon: Success the superman and hold on tight. But he’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey Jonny. Hey what you say Jonny?
Johnny: My appetite ain’t got no heart. I said my appetite ain’t got no heart.
Brandon: Shocking people when you feel that pull. Shock and drop ‘em when you know it’s full.
Johnny: I feel a burning in my body core. It’s a yearning that you can’t ignore. Now I got to go out tonight.
Brandon: Hey, Jonny, I got faith in you man. I mean it, it’s gonna be all alright. He’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey Jonny. Hey, what you say Jonny?
Family: Tell us what’s going on. Seems like everything’s wrong. Hey, what you say Jonny? And if the future is real, Jonny, you’ve got to heal. Hey, what you say Jonny?
When everybody else refrained, my uncle Jonny did cocaine.
these aren't the right lyrics.
these are correct
When everybody else refrained, my Uncle Jonny did cocaine. He’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey, Jonny. Hey what you say, Jonny?
I want to go out tonight. Cut me a little closer to the city lights. Levitation ain’t your only friend. Levitation coming back again. You feel a burning in your body core. It’s a yearning that you can’t ignore. And I want to go out tonight. Success the superman and hold on tight. But he’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey Jonny. Hey what you say Jonny?
My appetite ain’t got no heart. I said my appetite ain’t got no heart. Shocking people when you feel that pull. Shock and drop ‘em when you know it’s full. I feel a burning in my body core. It’s a yearning that you can’t ignore. Now I got to go out tonight. Hey, Jonny, I got faith in you man. I mean it, it’s gonna be all alright. He’s convinced himself right in his brain that it helps to take away the pain. Hey Jonny. Hey, what you say Jonny?
Tell us what’s going on. Seems like everything’s wrong. Hey, what you say Jonny? And if the future is real, Jonny, you’ve got to heal. Hey, what you say Jonny?
When everybody else refrained, my uncle Jonny did cocaine.
This song is about Brandon Flowers' Uncle Jonny. it pretty much speaks for itself. He did cocaine and believed strongly it was perfectly okay.
Does an Uncle Jonny really exist or is it Brandon writing about himself?
yeah, Uncle Jonny does exist, it's a true story
I do like this song the chord changes and things are really really good
This song is about Brandon's Uncle Jonny who thought aliens were attacking him so he shot himself. But he lived through it. I swear to God!
Cady "DCM Caddy"
Taken from Brandon's song by song guide to Sam's Town:
"Uncle Jonny is my mother’s brother. He’s the black sheep of the family. Every couple of years something would happen. He’s done everything from shoot himself to drug addictions yet somehow he’s ended up alright. He’s really a nice guy. He’s heard the song and he’s happy to be immortalised because he’s a rocker, he’s always got a Zeppelin shirt on. Jonny deserves the song’s riff (laughs). You don’t usually use the word riff with us, but this is one of the greatest riffs of all time. I guess it’s a little bit inspired by being on the road with U2. We learnt a lot from watching them."
Well this is an awesome song. Great music great lyrics. They did an amazing job on this song. Brandons voice on this song is absolutly amazing :D