"Johnny Strikes Up the Band" is a song from Warren Zevon's 1978 album Excitable Boy.
About the Song[]
The song describes a man called Johnny who is well liked, kind-heartened, and cheers up all he meets. The song describes the adulation when he strikes up his rock band causing people to dry their tears and brining all too happiness. The uncharacteristic optimism is also shown in the previous album song "Mohammed's Radio". The song also appears on the compilation albums A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology). It is often argued that the song is about the english rock band Queen.
Lyrics[]
Note: the text of this song's lyrics is not under the same copyright license as the wiki's encyclopedic text, it is used under fair use/dealing.
Dry your eyes my little friend
Let me take you by the hand
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band
They'll be rocking in the projects
Walking down along the strand
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band
Johnny strikes up the band
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the band
And Johnny is my main man
He's the keeper of the keys
He'll put your mind at ease
He's guaranteed to please
Back by popular demand
Look around, my little friend
Jubilation in the land
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band
Johnny strikes up the band
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the band
