Angry Johnny Lyrics
This is Jezebel in hell
I wanna kill you
I wanna blow you
Away
I wanna blow you
Away
I can do it with an animal's grace
I can do it with precision
I can do it with gourmet taste
I wanna kill you
I wanna blow you
Away
I can do it to your face
I can do it with integrity
I can do it with disgrace
I wanna kill you
I wanna blow you
Away
This is Jezebel in hell
Johnny
Johnny, angry Johnny
This is Jezebel in Hell
I can do it any time or place
I can do it like an angel
To quiet down your rage
I wanna kill you
I wanna blow you
Away
I can do on dry land
I can do it with instruments
I can do it with my own bare hands
I wanna kill you
I wanna blow you
Away
This is Jezebel in hell
Johnny, oh my Johnny
When the pain cut through you?
Where did your happiness go?
This force is running you around, now
Getting you down, now
Where is your pleasure now, Johnny?
Where has your pleasure gone now?
This is Jezebel in hell
Johnny, angry Johnny
This is Jezebel in hell
Actually, Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab of Israel. She betrayed him and their religion (Judaism) by introducing the worship of Baal. She was thrown out of a window to her death and dogs ate most of her body. Becuase of her actions, she has since been considered wicked and evil.
Aside from that, I think that NSearchOfTruth has the right idea, about the reason behind the song being rape. She calls him Angry Johnny; rape is a crime of anger. Also, as NSearchOfTruth said, where has your pleasure gone, points out that the tables were turned. Sometimes, in cases of abuse (of any kind), the victim will turn into the abuser, especially if the original offender is somehow weakened or vulnerable. Her anger thus becomes a mirror of his previous actions.
I agree with dealupa. Whenever I hear this song, I imagine a girl sort of stalking down her abuser and hurting him.
Having seen the video, I would suggest that this song is about the desire to quiet the "angry" aspects of a lover's personality. Jezebel advocated hedonism, and I interpret the song as saying hang-ups are preventing the mortal Johnny from enjoying himself. The "dark angel" who is singing the song (Live...from Hell!) wants to unblock him. The song uses death as a metaphor for release--sexual ("blow you") or otherwise--to allow Johnny the freedoms she has. Yet there is an implied selfishness to it; she wants him to forget the things that are tying up his emotions so she can possess him. It seems a little like the predicament of John the Savage from Brave New World...to be with his siren, he must forego human nature and surrender to being somewhat mechanical.
she's not saying she wants to LITERALLY BLOW HIM!!
she's not saying she wants to LITERALLY BLOW HIM!!
she wants to kill him and blow him away; make him disappear.
she wants to kill him and blow him away; make him disappear.
I think YOU are onto something. I get this same meaning from it.
I think YOU are onto something. I get this same meaning from it.
anger, rage... well, men can sometimes be stupid and insensitive.. obviously, her pain is too much to bear, it's some kind of outlet.
This song is about her brothers book. Its about a Johnny in her book and the book has a lot of double meanings also. It may have been published in 2000. But the book had been around prior to that. In fact it was born the week her dad died. But to get a deeper value to this song and the album in whole I suggest reading The House Leaves.
Q:Inspired by Poe's childhood and the death of her father. She lived on her own after her parents divorced when she was 16, and her father died a few years later. truth to the song and the book
Not that she's particularly happy with Johnny here, but the "killing" she's talking about is something ultimately for his own good, at least in her mind. This has high accuracy to the meaning and the book.
Are you sure about that? I read from songfacts that the character in the book was based on this song, not the other way around.
Are you sure about that? I read from songfacts that the character in the book was based on this song, not the other way around.
Listen deltafox, a woman who has been raped can feel like a jezabel (aka whore) and be in her own little hell without "liking it deep down inside." I would presume the majority of raped women feel that way at some point. And insinuating that a raped woman liked or wanted it is like a kick to the throat. That is the very meaning of rape: UNWANTED forced sex.
@jezabelinhell Thank you. I am in shock that there are people that still think like that person. Even after years of therapy I still find that I blame myself for what was done to me when I was 15. Logic goes away on certain days. Thank you for correcting a wrong.
@jezabelinhell Thank you. I am in shock that there are people that still think like that person. Even after years of therapy I still find that I blame myself for what was done to me when I was 15. Logic goes away on certain days. Thank you for correcting a wrong.
I'm sure that she wants to kill "Johnny." But ask "Why?" Usually females don't go off the deep end like this unless someone has hurt them beyond belief. I think that rape was involved because it truly is a tragic and criminal act for women. First, she says "this is jezebel in hell" and if I remember correctly jezebel is the queen (or something) in the underworld, meaning that she is evil and in her own hell. And I think the lyric "where has your pleasure gone" goes to show that the forced intercoarse was short lived. I think that "Johnny" would have gotten what he deserved if I am right.
no. jezebel is a name for a whore.
no. jezebel is a name for a whore.
that is what i get out of it i was sexually abused and when ever i am feeling upset and pissed off i always listen to this song
that is what i get out of it i was sexually abused and when ever i am feeling upset and pissed off i always listen to this song
Jezebel first (well, maybe not first..don't know) appeared in the bible. This is copied from wikipedia: Jezebel was the daughter of Ithobaal I of Sidon and the wife of Ahab, King of Israel, according to the Book of Kings of the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 16:31). According to the Biblical narrative, Jezebel, along with her husband, instituted the worship of Baal and Asherah on a national scale. In addition, she violently purged the prophets of Yahweh from Israel, damaging the reputation of the Omride Dynasty. For these offences, the Omride Dynasty was annihilated, with Jezebel herself suffering the gruesome death...
Jezebel first (well, maybe not first..don't know) appeared in the bible. This is copied from wikipedia: Jezebel was the daughter of Ithobaal I of Sidon and the wife of Ahab, King of Israel, according to the Book of Kings of the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 16:31). According to the Biblical narrative, Jezebel, along with her husband, instituted the worship of Baal and Asherah on a national scale. In addition, she violently purged the prophets of Yahweh from Israel, damaging the reputation of the Omride Dynasty. For these offences, the Omride Dynasty was annihilated, with Jezebel herself suffering the gruesome death of defenestration.
Yes, you're right about how Johnny is the name of somone in House of Leaves. However, this CD was released in 1995, House of Leaves: 2000. I remember reading a quote from Poe that said she often (and her brother too) uses the name "Johnny" because it's a name for the "every man." It's generic, and that's why she and Mark use it. "Johnny" could be anyone.
This is the best pissed-off chick song in the world!
i definately agree. lol.
i definately agree. lol.
I really like this song...this was the first Poe song I listened to, and I went out and bought the CDs lol. I always thought it was a definately a song about a victim of rape or abuse. Also...in another song of Poe's didn't she use the lines, "Johnny dear, don't be afraid, I will keep your secret safe." ?