Johnny's Song

lyrics by Ken Boucher

Johnny was a regular
In every bar in town
Whatever joint that Johnny was at
Was the most happening place in town
go to any uptown bar
or any backstreet cafe
you'll always hear the people go
Please, won't you play Johnny play

Won't you play, Johnny, play
Won't you chase our blues away (oh lord)
Chase the clouds from our rainy skies
Bring back the sunny days

Johnny played the base guitar
He was the finest in the land
One day he got an offer to join
A rebel rock and roll band
He took the next train out of town
Guitar case in his hand
His father wouldn't talk to him
He didn't understand

How he played, how he played
How chased their blues away
Chased the clouds from the rainy sky
Bring back the sunny day

Johnny began to make it big
Promoters called to book the band.
Summers spent in Europe
Winters on the Caribbean sand
He got a lot of fan mail
But never word from home
Everybody loved him
Why did he feel all alone

As he played, as he played
As he chased their blues away
Chased the clouds from the rainy skies
Brought back their sunny days

Johnny was home one night
Late one Christmas Eve
Party began breaking up
People were starting to leave
Sitting in the back room
When his friend brought him the phone
It was his father on the line
It was a call from home
Johnny's pa was dying
And he wouldn't be here long
His father had one last request
Could Johnny come and play a song
He took the next plane out of town
Got there early Christmas day
He sat down by his father's side
And he began to play

He played a song of childhood
Of winter, fall, and spring
He played a song of summertime
And the guitar began to sing
He played a song of innocence
Of freedom and of fun
He played a song of caring
A father and his son
He played a song of moonlit nights
Of dreams of yesterday
His father smiled up at him
And then he passed away

As he played, as he played
He couldn't chase the blues away
Clouds filled up his sunny sky
Sadness was here to say

Johnny is a regular
In every bar around
He hasn't played the base guitar
Since he came back to town
Go to any uptown bar
Or any backstreet cafe
You'll always here the people go.
Why won't you play, Johnny, play

Why won't you play, Johnny, play
Why won't you chase our blues away.