One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Johnny Yen

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Johnny Yen is track five from the 1986 James album Stutter and also features on the two-disc version of the 2007 singles compilation Fresh As A Daisy.

Live versions of the song also appear on the 1989 album One Man Clapping and the 2002 Getting Away With It Live album and DVD. A live acoustic version of the track appears on the Unhinged CD sold with initial copies of the Best Of.

Johnny Yen is a character in Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” song. The lyrics are about a self-destructive artist and could be directed at some of the previous members of James who had been caught up in the drugs or crime scene.

The song was premiered on a Muriel Gray radio session in 1983. At the time of recording, Gavan wanted this to be the lead single from the album but was outvoted by the band and Lenny Kaye, who was trying to get the band to write a hit single whilst in the studio.

The song itself still features frequently in the James set today and sounds as fresh as ever , allowing Saul room for his violin playing and Tim to improvise lyrics on various subjects – boy-bands, Oasis, Kurt Cobain, male/female relationships.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Ladies and gentlemen, here's my disease
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again

See the gene genie on his high-wire act
At the back of his mind lies a suicide pact
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again

See the young men itching to burn
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger, a war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again, on fire again
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again

See Houdini and his underwater tricks
You were sitting at the front, hoping his locks would stick
Watch Knievel hit the 17th bus
You got crushed in the souvenir rush
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
I said poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again

See the young men itching to burn
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger, a war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again, on fire again
I said poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again

Ladies and gentlemen, here's my disease
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy

Come on, somebody, finish him off please
Put the poor fool out of his misery, will you
Can't you see he's had enough?
Finish him off, somebody
Next!

Open in Spotify

Song:Johnny Yen
Released:21st July 1986
Main Associated Album (or Single):Stutter
First Heard Live:Leeds Fforde Grene – 14th August 1984
Played at:
Chords:

Intro and Verse : D

Bridge ("poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again") : G, A, D

Chorus ("See the young men itching to burn.......") : D, A, D, G, A
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