For Johnny Pole On The Forgotten Beach
In his tenth July some instinct
taught him to arm the waiting wave,
a giant where its mouth hung open.
He rode on the lip that buoyed him there
and buckled him under. The beach was strung
with children paddling their ages in,
under the glare od noon chipping
its light out. He stood up, anonymous
and straight among them, between
their sand pails and nursery crafts.
The breakers cartwheeled in and over
to puddle their toes and test their perfect
skin. He was my brother, my small
Johnny brother, almost ten. We flopped
down upon a towel to grind the sand
under us and watched the Atlantic sea
move fire, like night sparklers;
and lost our weight in the festival
season. He dreamed, he said, to be
a man designed like a balanced wave…
how someday he would wait, giant
and straight.
Johnny, your dream moves summers
inside my mind.
He was tall and twenty that July,
but there was no balance to help;
only the shells came straight and even.
This was the first beach of assault;
the odor of death hung in the air
like rotting potatoes, the junkyard
of landing craft waited open and rusting.
The bodies were strung out as if they were
still reaching for each other, where they lay
to blacken, to burst through their perfect
skin. And Johnny Pole was one of them.
He gave in like a small wave, a sudden
hole in his belly and the years all gone
where the Pacific noon chipped its light out.
Like a bean bag, outflung, head loose
and anonymous, he lay. Did the sea move fire
for its battle season? Does he lie there
forever, where his rifle waits, giant
and straight?…I think you die again
and live again,
Johnny, each summer that moves inside
my mind.
poem by Anne Sexton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Johnny Lobo
Once upon a dusty reservation
Somewhere in the land of sitting bull
Johnny lobo played with fire and dreamed of open spaces
Locked inside a heaven gone to hell
All the dreams were gone but not forgotten
Murdered like the holy buffalo
But johnny lobo knew the rules and grew into a warrior
Fighting for his people and his soul
Chorus:
Oh...... johnny lobo
Oh...... johnny lobo
Loaded down with lessons that he carried
Home from viet nam to wounded knee
Johnny lobo burned a flag he knew had been dishonored
Paid the price for thinking he was free
Someone set his house on fire, burned it to the ground
With his wife and children locked inside
Later when the bitter tears were falling to the ashes
Something good in johnny lobo died
Chorus:
Oh...... johnny lobo
Oh...... johnny lobo
In a darkened corner of a tavern
Burning down old memories again
Johnny lobo stares into the smoke and dream of clouds
Running like wild horses with the wind
Holy phoenix rising from the ashes
Into the circle of the sun
Johnny lobos warrior heart was burnished in the embers
And the battles just begun
Chorus:
Oh...... johnny lobo
Oh...... johnny lobo
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny
Johnny use to be a rightous man
who would always stand proud
and when he walked, he walked tall
would do anything for you if he can
he always stood out in the crowd
smile and say, that was just me
Johnny had a beautiful wife
kids to complete the family
mom and dad said he was a #1 son
nothing seemed to bring him down
he always liked to have his fun
Johnny stood above all
Then just like a blink of an eye
with a needle in his arm
Johnny met the devil one night
and everything he had was gone
Johnny lost all of his charm
and now this is his life
he just watched pass him by
Spiritwind-2011
poem by Spiritwind Wood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Johnny B. Goode
Deep down in louisianna
Close to new orleans,
Way back up in the woods
Among the evergreens,
There stand a country cabin
Made of clay and wood,
Where lives a young country boy
Named johnny b.goode,
He never ever learned
To read or write a book so well,
But he could play his guitar
Just like a-ringing a bell.
Go go, go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Aah johnny b.goode!
He used to carry his guitar
In a gunny sack,
Sit beneath the trees
By the railroad track.
Oh sitting and a-playing
In the shade,
Drumming to the rhythm
That the drivers made.
People passing by
Used to stop and say:
My oh my,
That country boy can play.
Go go, go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Aah johnny b.goode!
Well his mama told him:
Someday you will be a man.
And you will be the leader
Of a big old band.
Many people coming
From miles around,
To hear you play your music
Till the sun goes down.
Maybe some day
Your name will be in light,
Saying: johnny
B. goode tonight!
Go go, go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Go johnny go go go!
Aah johnny b.goode!
song performed by by Beatles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny McCarthy
He lived in a small house near the Town of Millstreet
At Inchaleigh close to the greyhound track
Some knew him as Johnny the old house painter
Whilst others simply called him Johnny Mac.
He was unmarried never fathered children
Which seems a pity as he'd have made a good dad
In his twilight years he walked his terrier Brandy
And Johnny said the best dog I have had.
He was a house painter and decorator
And he worked hard to earn his every bob
And those he worked for gave him more employment
For Johnny always did a tasty job.
Some people thought him to be a bit grumpy
But is there a perfect person anyway?
When hung over after a night out drinking
One can hardly feel too cheerful the next day.
He was an honest man Johnny McCarthy
A character of sorts in his own way
Since he last walked to Millstreet Town with his dog Brandy
On looking back it seems like yesterday.
Some knew him as Johnny the old house painter
Whilst others simply called him Johnny Mac
He lived at Inchaleigh close to the Town of Millstreet
In his small house close to the greyhound track
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shooting Star
Johnny was a schoolboy
When he heard his first Beatles song
Love Me Do, I think it was
And from then it didn't take him long
Got himself a guitar
Used to play every night
Now he's in a rock 'n' roll outfit
And everything's alright
Don't you know?
Johnny told his Mama,
"Hey, Mama, I'm goin' away
Gonna hit the big time
Gonna be a big star someday"
Mama came to the door
With a teardrop in her eye
Johnny said, "Don't cry, Mama
Smile and wave goodbye"
Don't you know?
(Chorus)
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know
Don't you know
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
And all the world will love you just as long
As long as you are
Johnny made a record
Went straight up to number one
Suddenly everyone loved
To hear him sing the song
Watchin' the world go by
Surprisin' it goes so fast
Johnny looked around him and said,
"Well, I made the big-time at last"
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
(Chorus)
A shooting star
song performed by by Bad Company
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny B. Goode
Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
Stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Good
Who never learned to read or write at all
But he could play the guitar just like ringing a bell
Go, go, go Johnny go, go, go Johnny, go go
Go Johnny go, go, go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Good
His mama told him "someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear your playing music when the sun goes down
Maybe someday you will be in lights saying Johnny B. Good
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sandy Thoughts
'Ride this wave with me and know,
That every wave leads to a beach
But every beach is different.
The beach I seek is one where
The sand fits perfectly between my toes
Like your fingers between my hand.
Where the water embraces my skin in warmth,
To remind me how it feels to hold you.
A beach where me and you are the only ones,
To let you know, you are my only one.
I am not afraid of where this wave will take us,
I am afraid that you and I will never see the beach I seek.
That when I look back and think, what could have been,
Should have been, will never be.'
poem by Vinh Nguyen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Johnny Stew
Written by lindsey buckingham.
Johnny, oh johnny,
Where do you roam?
Well always remain here,
So dont leave us alone.
Some say they knew him,
And some just left him alone.
Johnny, oh johnny,
Where do you roam?
Johnny, johnny, johnny!
(everybodys talking about the amazing johnny stew.)
Johnny, johnny, johnny!
(everybodys talking about the amazing johnny stew.)
It takes a worried man, now,
To sing a worried song.
Johnny, oh johnny,
I know you were not wrong.
song performed by by Lindsey Buckingham
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jaw, Knee, Music
Johnny has a problem
Johnny is out of control
He had a TV party
With the kids in the black hole
Stealing people's mail
And lynching the landlord
Things to do when angry, young and bored
Johnny was only a lad
Johnny hates the scene
First he hit an old man
Then he hit and run Pauline
The record player spinning the best times
I never had
So why do my old records make me sad?
Cause they're so bad
And no one seems to understand
The glory of guitar
When out of tune
The off timing
The singers who can't sing
The beauty of flaw
He's a teenage vegetable
This is the last resort
He's got PCP in his veins
He lives inside a court
Johnny is a punk rocker
Johnny is he queer?
Johnny needed two bags
And a car to commandeer
Johnny wasn't liked much
But he had a lot of friends
Waits on stage
Eating ludes
A mindless brainwashed pig
Johnny was a good man
Till the day that he got shot
He had a jacked up chevy
That could blow you off the spot
Johnny always needs
More than he takes
Forgets a couple chords
Forgets a couple breaks
Johnny says he's bound
By only six strings to this world
Johnny questions sellout bands
And Johnny pux0rs ritalin
And Johnny is an angry amputee
song performed by by NOFX
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny Dont Do It
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny was an angel
An angel dressed in black
He used to hang around the guys
Down at the local track
He tried so hard to join them
But they always turned him back
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
He was only 17
Just got out of school
He stole a bike from joes garage
To prove that he was cool
He didnt know that the brakes were worn
And fate can be so cruel
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Well johnny went a riding
With his girlfriend on the back seat
Looking for some action
And they found it down a back street
Suddenly a truck pulled out
He tried to step on the brake
Johnny dont do it (here is a news flash)
Johnny dont do it (today, johnny kowalski, also known as johnny
Angel)
Johnny dont do it (and his young fiance francine, were tragically
Killed)
Johnny dont do it (in a cycle accident)
Dont do it, dont do it (any witnesses please contact)
Dont do it, dont do it (the police at precinct 29)
Now johnnys with the angels
The angels in the sky
I wonder if he thinks of us
As he goes riding by
If only had listened
Oh the number of times we tried
To tell him
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
song performed by by 10 Cc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny B. Good
(words & music by chuck berry)
Deep down in louisiana close to new orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
Stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named johnny b. good
Who never learned to read or write at all
But he could play the guitar just like ringing a bell
Go, go, go johnny go, go, go johnny, go go
Go johnny go, go, go johnny go go
Johnny b. good
His mama told him "someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear your playing music when the sun goes down
Maybe someday you will be in lights saying johnny b. good
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shooting Star
VERSE:
Johnny was a school boy when he heard his first Beatles song
Love Me Do, I think it was and from there it didn't take him long
Got himself a guitar, used to play every night
Now he's in a rock & roll outfit, and everything's all right
BRIDGE:
Don't you know?
VERSE:
Johnny told his Momma, Hey Momma I'm goin' away
I'm gonna hit the big time, gonna be a big star someday
Momma came to the door with a tear drop in her eye
Johnny said, Don't cry Momma smile & wave goodbye
CHORUS:
Don't you know, yeah, yeah
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know, don't you know
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
And all the world will love you just as long
As long as you are
VERSE:
Johnny made a record, went straight up to number one
Suddenly everyone loved to hear him sing the song
Watching the world go by, surprisin' it goes so fast
Johnny looked around him and said, Well, I made the big time at
last
CHORUS:
Don't you know, don't you know
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know, woah yeah
Don't you know that you are a shooting star, yeah
And all the world will love you just as long
As long as you are, a shooting star
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know, ahhh
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
And all the world will love you just as long
As long as you are
Johnny died one night, died in his bed
Bottle of whiskey, sleepin' tablets by his head
Johnny's life passed him by like a warm summer day
If you listen to the wind, you can still hear him play
Woah...
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know, don't you know
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you know
Don't you know that you are a shooting star
Don't you, don't you, don't you, don't you, don't you know
Don't you know you are a shooting star
Na, na, na, na..
song performed by by Iced Earth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny B. Goode
He came from louisiana, close to new orleans
Way back up in the woods up near the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named johnny b. goode
He never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play the guitar just like a ringing a bell
Go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Johnny b. goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunney sack
And sit beneath the trees by the railroad tracks
Engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
Strummin' to the rhythm that the drivers made
And people passing by would stop and say
My my but that little country boy can play
Go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Go johnny go go
Johnny b. goode
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny Angel
Johnny angel, johnny angel
Johnny angel, johnny angel
Youre an angel to me
Johnny angel
How I love him
How I tingle
When he passes by
Everytime he says hello
My heart begins to fly
Johnny angel
How I want him
Hes got something
That I cant resist
But he doesnt even know
That I exist
Im in heaven
I get carried away
I dream of him and me
And how its gonna be
Other fellows
Call me up for a date
But I just sit and wait
Id rather concentrate
On johnny angel
cause I love him
And I pray
That someday hell love me
And together we will see
How lovely heaven will be
And together we will see
How lovely heaven will be
song performed by by Carpenters
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Straight Ahead
Day by day, dream by dream.
I fight to find the way to go.
Every day opens a different door.
Every dream shadows the one before.
But slowly I can see
The way youve made for me.
Straight ahead, I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark.
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Carry on through the night,
When the road is hard to find.
Lying lights tell me to turn around.
Lying thoughts tell me Im lost not found.
But clearly I can see
Youre waiting there for me.
Straight ahead, I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark.
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead).
Straight ahead (straight ahead), I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark (through the dark).
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Straight ahead....
song performed by by Amy Grant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny went to Hollywood
Johnny went to Hollywood
Said he’s gonna be a star
Things didn’t turn out so good
Johnny’s livin’ in his car
You shoulda seen him at the prom back in high school
You woulda bet he’s gonna be a star
Dancin’ with the queen with his tux and his crown on
Now Johnny’s livin’ in his car
Poor Johnny poor Johnny
He played Bo Decker when the senior class did “Bus Stop”
He had the junior girls all in a rage
Lookin’ like James Dean in a leather coat and t-shirt
You’da sworn that Johnny was born for the stage
Go Johnny! Go Johnny!
Johnny went to Hollywood
Said he’s gonna be a star
Things didn’t turn out so good
Johnny’s livin’ in his car
Poor Johnny, poor Johnny
He nearly got himself a diet Coke commercial
But they said he didn’t fit the part
Now he plays a waiter in a small café downtown
The way he says, “What will you have? ” is such an art!
Go Johnny! Go Johnny!
Johnny went to Hollywood
Said he’s gonna be a star
Things didn’t turn out so good
Johnny’s livin’ in his car
Poor Johnny, poor Johnny
poem by KMC Centlivre
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Heres Johnny
Heres johnny
There he goes, he drives me crazy
When he says...(hee-eeres johnny!)
Thats his job, its so amazing
All he says is...(hee-eeres johnny!)
I never miss a moment when hes on the tube
His being there has made my life worth living
The chills run down my spine
Each time he says that line
Heres johnny! he says, and laughs in his special way
...johnny! he says, you know I love him
Heres johnny! he says, and second fiddle is his game
Ed mcmahons his name...all right
Dressed so fine, hes such a cool dude
Hear him say...(hee-eeres johnny!)
Watch him selling beer and dog food
Hear him say...(hee-eeres johnny!)
I got a letter from him just the other day
He said, you may already be a winner!
A trooper to the end
A clydesdales best friend
Heres johnny! he says, and laughs in his special way
...johnny! he says, you know I love him
Heres johnny! he says, and thats the way he gets his pay
What a living
Oh...(heres johnny! heres johnny!) wo-o-o, no
(heres johnny! heres johnny!) no no no no no no, I dont believe it
(heres johnny!) he says, and everytime its just the same
Ed mcmahons his name
A very special guy...all right
Hes on every night
Cant change the channel
When hes sitting on the panel
(hee-eeres johnny!)
There he goes, he gives me goose bumps
When he says...(hey-o-hey-hey-o!)
Heres johnny! he says, and laughs in his special way
...johnny! he says, you know I love him
Heres johnny! he says, that seems to be his claim to fame
Ed mcmahons his name
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny B. Goode
This song was first released on the john denver album. it is the only album it has been released on.
Way down in louisiana close to new orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin mad of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy name of johnny b. goode
He never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go johnny b. goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
The engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
Strummin' to the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by would they would stop and say
Oh my but that little country boy can play
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny b. goode
Well his mama told him some day you will be a man
You will be the leader of a big old band
Many people comin' from miles around
Just to hear you play your music till the sun go down
Maybe some day your name will be in lights
Sayin' johnny b. goode tonight
Go, go, go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny b. goode
Words and music by chuck berry
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Kite
Here, in front of the summer hotel
the beach waits like an altar.
We are lying on a cloth of sand
while the Atlantic noon stains
the world in light.
It was much the same
five years ago. I remember
how Ezio Pinza was flying a kite
for the children. None of us noticed
it then. The pleated lady
was still a nest of her knitting.
Four pouchy fellows kept their policy
of gin and tonic while trading some money.
The parasol girls slept, sun-sitting
their lovely years. No one thought
how precious it was, or even how funny
the festival seemed, square rigged in the air.
The air was a season they had bought,
like the cloth of sand.
I've been waiting
on this private stretch of summer land,
counting these five years and wondering why.
I mean, it was different that time
with Ezio Pinza flying a kite.
Maybe, after all, he knew something more
and was right.
poem by Anne Sexton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Jackknife Johnny
From his army confessions of his military days
You still carry the shrapnel you're shell-shocked and dazed
Dear Johnny have you lost your way
Or like denim and leather are you faded and frayed
Institute lackies with hot bourbon breath
White coats and needles Johnny like to scare you to death
Dear Johnny do you feel your best
When you're strung out at night on your morphine and meth
Jackknife Johnny you're a floor moppin' flunkie
Tool of a dagger's drawn world
Jackknife Johnny them old vets gotta hate you
For bringing home that V.C. girl
Jackknife Johnny welcome to our world
From the tone deaf hearing of the draft board game
You were washing cars down in Dallas when the holocaust came
Dear Johnny your excuse was lame
All your friends sleep in boxes while you sleep in chains
Jackknife Johnny you're a bad jungle monkey
Tool of a dagger's drawn world
Jackknife Johnny them old vets gotta hate you
For bringing home that V.C. girl
Jackknife Johnny welcome to our world
Jackknife Johnny you're a floor moppin' flunkie
Tool of a dagger's drawn world
Jackknife Johnny them old vets gotta hate you
For bringing home that V.C. girl
Jackknife Johnny welcome to our world
Jackknife Johnny you're a bad jungle monkey
Tool of a dagger's drawn world
Jackknife Johnny them old vets gotta hate you
For bringing home that V.C. girl
Jackknife Johnny
song performed by by Alice Cooper from From The Inside
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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