Johnny Come Home

"Johnny Come Home" was the debut single release by British band Fine Young Cannibals, taken from their debut album Fine Young Cannibals.

"Johnny Come Home"
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album Fine Young Cannibals
B-side"Good Times and Bad"[1]
Released29 May 1985
Recorded1984
GenreNew wave, ska
LabelLondon Records[1]
Songwriter(s)David Steele, Roland Gift[1]
Producer(s)Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift[1]
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Johnny Come Home"
(1985)		 "Blue"
(1985)

Background

It is similar to the style of many other of the band's hits, a mixture of rock and ska with Roland Gift's distinctive vocals, as well as a jazz-type trumpet solo. It was released in 1985 and was one of the group's most popular hits. The song tells the gritty realistic story of a runaway youth, and alternates from the first-person narrative, explaining how his arrival in the big city has not turned out as he expected, to the view of the parents in the chorus, expressing their wish that he would come home.

Chart performance

Although it failed to reach the top 40 in the United States, stalling at No. 76,[2] along with the track, "Blue", "Johnny Come Home" reached No. 9 on the dance chart.[3] The track was a good start for the group in their native United Kingdom, peaking at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1985.[4]

  • In later years the song's title would serve as the title for a Jake Arnott novel published in 2006 whose plot line is reminiscent of the themes discussed in the song.[5]

References
  1. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 296.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 98.
  4. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. "Johnny come home". TheLondonNobodySings.BlogSpot.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2013.



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