Johnny Thunder
The Kinks
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Johnny Thunder lives on water, feeds on lightning. Johnny Thunder don't need no one, don't want money. And all the people of the town, They can't get through to Johnny, they will never, ever break him down. Johnny Thunder speaks for no one, goes on fighting. And sweet Helena in bed prays for Johnny. Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Thunder and lightning. Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Thunder and lightning. Though everybody tried their best, Old Johnny vowed that he would never, ever end up like the rest. Johnny Thunder rides the highway, moves like lightning. But sweet Helena just says, "God bless Johnny." Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Thunder and lightning. Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba, Thunder and lightning.
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Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Release Details"Johnny Thunder" is a song by the British rock band The Kinks. It was first included in their concept album called "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" released in 1968.
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Album ThemeThe song fits into the overall theme of the album, which features a collection of vignettes about an idealized version of English small-town and village life.
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Song InspirationThe song is inspired by and named after Johnny Thunder, a fictional character in DC Comics. However, in the context of the song, Thunder is seen as a free-spirited rebel who maintains a sense of joy and wonder in spite of living in a corporatized and homogenized society.
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SongwriterThe song was written by Ray Davies, the lead vocalist of The Kinks, who is known for his distinctively English songwriting style.
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Critical ReceptionCritics largely praised "Johnny Thunder" for its storytelling ability and the masterful songwriting of Ray Davies. It is often regarded as one of the standout tracks from the album.
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Music StyleThe song encapsulates the band's shift away from hard rock and towards more melodic, folk-influenced compositions that tell stories.
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Song Meaning"Johnny Thunder" is seen by some critics as an autobiographical portrayal of Davies' own free-spirited, non-conformist nature.
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Album PerformanceDespite being lauded as a classic now, "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" only reached number 201 in the Billboard 200 and was initially a commercial failure.
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LegacyOver the years, "Johnny Thunder" and the overall album have gained recognition for their unyielding individuality and have influenced numerous pop and rock musicians, including members of acclaimed bands like The Jam and Blur.
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Live PerformancesThe Kinks rarely performed "Johnny Thunder" in live concerts, adding a sense of exclusivity to the song within their discography.
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InstrumentationThe arrangement of the song is acoustically driven, with a noticeable contrast between the verses and the chorus in terms of instrumental intensity which adds to the song's charm.
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TriviaThe band's manager reportedly didn’t want The Kinks to release the song and album because he thought it was “too English” for an international audience. This highlights the song's and album's deep roots in local British culture.
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"Johnny Thunder Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2739863/The+Kinks/Johnny+Thunder>.
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