words and music by Joe Jackson)



Johnny was a young boy

With nothing much except a certain kind of look in his eye

He was discovered one day - you see he had a certain kind of appeal

For a certain kind of guy

Who gave him some advice on what to wear

And sent him out to make the young girls cry

And all the young boys who'd been just dumb and restless

Now they could identify



So tell me who'll take the blame

For the way things turned out



Well six long months passed and Johnny was the biggest thing alive

And we loved Johnny and we owned Johnny

And no one knew how Johnny felt inside

And Johnny was so beautiful, he was like a god

And we all went along for the ride

And the ride started to go too fast

And Johnny just conveniently died



And he went up in flames

He did what he had to do



Chorus:

And they say it's a tragic story

He just wasn't there one day

But he went out in a blaze of glory

And you and I - you and I just fade away



Well nowadays there's lots of guys like Johnny

They got it all worked out - like working 9 to 5

But they're all just cartoons - all think they're Superman

But they can't even fly

And they say that Johnny's ghost walks 'round in Memphis

When the moon is full and high

And I wonder if he's seen these jokers

And I wonder if he laughs or if he cries



Now he's an angel in flames

But what about you and me



Chorus



(C) 1989 by Pokazuka Ltd. Administered in the U.S. and Canada

by Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP