Johnny Rotten & me

by the red propellers

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about

John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) and red propellers lyricist James D both had life threatening meningitis at the same childhood age. The song recounts the experience through James D's eyes.

Taken from the red propellers live album Pulse Waltz Free Fall . . .

lyrics

Johnny Rotten & Me

neighbours whispering
he's all feverish
bundled up in blankets
on the back seat of the car
upset at leaving behind
his birthday party bag of surprise
the fears and tears in his mother's eyes
with rapid deterioration in full flow
says she has never known time
never known time to move so slow

nurses whispering
he's all feverish
bundled up in sheets
on the hospital bed
spinning, spinning around in his head
injections around the clock
scars to this day, after shock
hand held in hers to ease the pain
the refrain
"it hurts me so"
says she has never known time
never known time to move so slow

parents whispering
he's all feverish
bundled up in bed clothes
at the window
his brothers on the other side
a quarantined divide
laughing tears
allaying fears
of nowhere left to go
says she has never known time
never known time to move so slow

all alone
all alone
John, Johnny Rotten
John, Johnny Rotten
meningitis
and me
and me
and me
and me

no coma
no memory loss
no one whispering now
his mother's smile
and then he is gone
then he is gone

credits

released October 22, 2021

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about

the red propellers Bristol, UK

the red propellers are a Bristol UK, Factory Studios band inspired by the Velvet Underground and late 1970’s New York City punk music scene.

“Fabulous group, with buckets of vision, passion and unpredictable madness; all much needed in today’s sanitised world. Their cult is growing.”
Kris Needs
Record
Collector
Magazine ... more

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