I'm Straight (Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers)
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2008
- I called this number three times already today
But I, I got scared, I put
It back in place, I put my phone back in place.
I still don't know if I
should have called up.
Look, just tell me why don't ya if I'm out of place.
'Cause here's your chance to make me feel awkward
And wish that I had
never even called up this place.
I saw you though today walk by with hippie Johnny.
I had to call up and say how I want to take his place.
So this phone call today conerns hippie Johnny.
He's always stoned, he's never straight.
I saw you today, you know, walk by with hippie Johnny.
Look, I had to call up and say, I want to take his place.
See he's stoned, hippie Johnny.
Now get this, I'm straight and I want to take his place.
Now look, I like him too, I like hippie Johnny.
But I'm straight
and I want to take his place.
I said, I'm straight
I said, I'm straight
I'm proud to say
Well I'm straight and I want to take his place.
Now I've watched you walk around here.
I've watched you meet these
boyfriends, I know, and you tell me how they're deep.
Look but, if these guys, if they're really so great,
tell me, why can't they at least take this place
and take it straight? Why always stoned,
like hippie Johnny is?
I'm straight and I want to take his place.
Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is.
I'm straight and I want to take his place.
I said, I'm straight
I said, I'm straight
I'm
I'm straight and I want to take his place
All right you Modern Lovers what do you say?
(I'm straight!)
Tell the world now
(I'm straight!)
I said
(I'm straight!)
Yeah I'm straight and I want to take his place.
.....................................................................
honestly?
i wanted to put this song up as my facebook status
cause its kick ass,
and there was no video
and i was bored
so
i made one
editing movie clips and such....
mmmmm baisically.
My favorite part is "Now I like him too .... Hippie Johnny". It's the most perfect joke in the whole song for me.
Me, gay and stoned listening to this : i m s t ra i gh t
I think this is the best song ever made.
not anymore I guess
@@tschau92 😁yeah
True or true Not, there is No think!
Simply incredible that Jonathan Richman was putting music like this together in the early seventies. Seems so far ahead of its time... even today sounds fresh.
totally... such a great launchpad for bands to come
he was heavily influenced by Lou Reed and John Cale... in a good way
years later he pretty much said this music represented a time in his life where he was sort of miserable but it was self-inflicted misery
anyways I agree with you - it's great in it's own way and certainly a bit different from where he later went
poetry is timeless
written when he was 17 yrs old ........killer song
The great thing about this is that Jonathan was able to make being sober and slightly nerdy sound edgy and dangerous.
+Will Maclachlan Lol, the story behind this song was that he was making fun of a guy that kept trying to take his girl, referred to him as "Hippy Johnny", and went on and on about being straight (never doing drugs).
Ha ha yeah its john felice btw, the guitar player who is hippy johnny.
He really does, doesn't he?
Unique!!
Commenting on Richman, Felice has said, "Me and Jonathan, as close as we were, you know, I was like a punk, I was a wise-ass kid. I liked to do a lot of drugs, I liked to drink, and Jonathan was like this wide-eyed, no-drugs, ate nothing but health food..."
Source: jojofiles.blogspot.com/2004/05/john-felices-interview-1998.html
This song is priceless. This band belongs in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Definitely!
Nah they’re too cool for the Rock n roll hall of fame. As Johnny Rotten said, it’s a “piss stain”.
God damn Hippie Johnny messing up our shit since 1976.
The Real Kids started in about 1972 or 73 but didn't record until 77. John Felice and Jonathan Richman grew up together in MA, and Felice was actually in the first version of the Modern Lovers but never recorded with them. Both great, great bands.
One of the coolest songs I've ever heard.
I can still remember when someone said I have this new album and put on Modern Lovers. It was a game changer..
aongus hennesey hipped me to this
. Can see the true line from Modren Lovers to Moutpiece alrih !
I'm certainly not stoned.
I am
Like hippie Johnny is
There's a guy at my local bar I have referred to as 'Hippie Johnny' numerous times.
Ended up seeing him last night and played him this song. He really liked it.
One year str8 today, had to listen to this :P
Congrats.
+Alex Alex hoping its 18 months today :)
not anymore I guess
@@tschau92 funny enough I've got about a year clean again rn lol
@@AlexAlex-of6ms how about now?
My parents would always ask me if I was "straight," meaning, was I sober. When I went to school and used this old terminology, people thought I was asking them if they were heterosexual. I quickly readjusted my vocabulary.
...not that there's anything wrong with that (wink, wink).
"Why can't they take this place, and take it straight!" Words of wisdom for a substance abuser- I'm one!
jonathan richman was just a minor threat
etha s
Talking Heads won the war.
Did they? Jonathon has had quite a long and successful career writing and performing exactly the music he wants.
i will explain my commentary, this is a song that is very similiar to the 1980s straight edge movement which imo was defined by the hardcore punk band minor threat, hence my initial remark. xoxox
I know I am 4 years late, but the Minor Threat comment is brilliant.
I can't believe this masterpiece is from the mid 70s - an older cool girl agreed to date me for a few minutes and turned me onto things like this and "The Only Ones" ... My playlists always seem to contain this song.
i can not stop listening to this song
In my opinion, this is Jonathan Richman's masterpiece. Earnest without being cutesy, and complete with the most crude, dirty, shambolic guitar sound you could want. I love it!
I agree. If you’d said summer time is the masterpiece, i’d agree too. My love is a flower.
Agree!
The funny thing is, my frriends/bandmates and I all got high on weed and listened to this song, and we loved it sincerely. It wasn't a novelty, certainly not to me. I related very strongly to this song without having to be clean & sober. All that matters to me is that Jonathan is saying "I refuse to follow the trendy crowd . . . but I want _you."_
Hippie Benny
***** Now, I like hippie Benny.
This is a great I WANT YOU blues.
Right. I'm not straight (in the sense meant here), but I LOVE this song.
yes... it's jonathan
Hell of a drum sound
Don't know if they're on this track, but the Modern Lovers had the drummer from the Cars, and keys from Talking Heads. So many talented players from Boston MA.
@@rustybeltway2373 facts! Thank you!
And it's a great video!!! 😀👏👏👏
I met and talked to Jonathan in 1982..Nice guy
This song honestly just changed my life. This is amazing music. Incredible...
That is a fantastic drum sound they got in that studio.
I've listened it for the first time half an hour ago, and the last half hour I've listened it already 5 times! Really, one of the best songs ever made! And I'm straight!
The great thing about this song is that J R is always stoned
I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when he Lou Reed hung out. With their different views on drugs, but respect of each others music
Sounds a lot like a Velvet Underground song.
Jonathan worshiped the Velvets
John Cale (of the VU) produced part of this album
hi, wich song?
And, as I heard it, Lou Reed thought he was really fucking weird, how funny is that?
Ryuku kingdom
I had a roommate in college named Johnny who sold pot and who got girls I liked, drank, and did other drugs... and now I'm sober after many years of alcoholism and multi-substance abuse and married and love myself for who I am and am genuinely happy despite everything going on around me. If I can do it (that is, overcome whatever it is and be happy) Anyone can :)
Jonathan and the Modern Lovers really picked up where the Velvet Underground left off....to early for punk to late for psych mod...raw and timeless....
I was dancing in the lesbian bar, the first time I heard this song.
Ah, I see what you did there...
He's definitely right about lesbian bars being awesome places to dance. I practically learned to dance there. It's freed up from the sexual bullshit and it's just people havin' a good time shaking their asses. You don't need to be cool. Also, I danced with a guy there and didn't need to feel weird about it.
and your're a guy
Kinda strange that this is a really good song to listen to when you're stoned,
One of the best songs about jelousy ever written.
Smoked a drug to this, very (fun/good!) Music today is (bad/good!), this music is very (cool/fun!). VERY underrated.
missing hippie john, salad days are gone
Remembering things just to tell 'em so long
today was the first time i have ever heard this song...makes me feel like i have been in a new york apartment for 2 weeks with no money, smoking dope and drinking stale beer. im in love with this song...im ohh so grateful i have heard this during my lifetime.
He throws that cigarette down with authority!
And this song and the whole first LP were produced by the great John Cale!
This song was so popular with all my stoner mates in the 80s
I’m from Mass and I never heard them till now. Wtf? Better late than never
its dope how he doesnt even say hippie johnny till 50 seconds in
Damn, forgot how good this song is.
Tears are in my eyes right now its like this song was made for me. i wish she would come back.
Richman is God!
I was outside a venue trying to get some hotties to come see Jonathan, and simplified it as nerd rock. As I said it, Johnathan walked right past. I've never been more embarrassed for being so inarticulate.
That's a talent.
😂
I mean, you can see where punk was coming from, what an amazing band as short-lived as it was.
First "straight edge" song! Drugs suck and so does hippie Johnny!!
pure brilliance
I am such a Hippy Johny
reee
Your name makes your comment 100 times better
Too much Moloko Vellocet?
I knew "Hippie Johnnie," Ernie of the Modern Lovers and saw Jonathan play three times, twice in NYC and once in Paris. I loved and bought this stuff right from the beginning. I wonder what happened to my poster? You hadda get this stuff mail order from Beserkley, HOME OF THE HITS. It was so fun. "Modern girls and modern rock 'n' roll." Modern world, baby.
My new favorite song; can't believe I've never heard this before. Brilliant.
Some of the greatest lyrics ever.
This shows how Jonathan took the ideas from the Velvets and ran with it.
Jonathan Richman is a genius! Imagine if he had stayed the course with this pre-punk style. If we could have gotten 4 or 5 records like this out of him before he sort of changed gears. I wonder...
Greatest song ever. In the history. Of non music and music.
Great song. A song about a creep.
If you get an anti-drug message out of this, that's perfectly fine, because drugs can cause problems. I think it's mostly about some average guy lamenting why some chicks always go for the bad guys, while he's just trying to be a good guy and make the chick like him and not feel uncomfortable with him. Heard this on that great Troublemakers compilation that Warner Bros. put out about 1980, with great songs by Wire and other new wave/punk bands.
+Bob Smith yeah, i think you nailed it.
I met him a few months ago at a small show in Oregon and he seemed very nice and genuine.
+Bob Smith for me this isn't about any problems that drugs may or may not cause. From my perspective it's just a lamentation of being "the straight guy" in the rock business in the early 70s, where almost everybody was on drugs...a lot.
or what about the naturally stoned guys... why isn't that stoned enough itself.
Bob Smith σσσα
It can be both things.
o wow i thought it was an official video. super well done. cheers
Due to Covid I'm Hippy Johnny!
"Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is.
I'm straight and I want to take his place."
does anyone else get the impression that hes completely baked whilst saying this? haha
He's not, he's judging Hippie Johnny. JR is straight edge.
@@DianaLopezDlo oooh so he's gayy I see now. sherlock lmfao! Owo
Lmao
no tho he's like the original sxf straight edge, naturally high already essentially
Hes hippy johnny
these guys took garage rock to its pinnacle
Absolutely hypnotic....love it!
It's a perfect call!
Saw Jonathan a few years ago in a tiny venue of maybe 50 people and hoped he would play some Modern Lovers. He didn't but he was really fun to watch and listen to. I don't nerd up on his influences or who he influenced or what his music was and what it is now, he is just a fun performer now and worth the ticket.
best song ever - great video too
Wow, this is really awesome. I seriously thought this was the official music video, you capture the mood and feel of this ridiculously awesome song perfectly. Great job.
The ironic thing about this song is that Jonathan Richman sounds completely stoned.
Cool song. I thought it was Cake when I first heard it. Also a lot of VU influence.
2:54
Total "Doors" moment.
yeah irony at its best
I find it amusing how whenever someone makes a song about taking drugs, people are quick to defend it on grounds of artistic freedom and personal lifestyle choices, but when someone makes a song about NOT taking drugs people freak out and can't comprehend how some people just really like living their life with a clear head. Btw, I know a lot of hippies that I love as people and don't judge them, but as for me and Jonathon Richman, well, it's expensive, (depending on the drug) potentially dangerous, and just impractical for our lives.
I always thought it was a tongue in cheek song man
I agree with you, but I'm fairly certain Richman wrote this song as an ironic joke.
because most of them are fucked up man... I loved smoking pot but have not in years and when I did it was never more than every now and then because I understand that if you stay fucked up all the time it takes more and more... so a GOOD joint of Franklin County Virginia Skunk could last me a week or more if I wanted.... since the time I last smoked reefer I have quit junk food and sodas... I only eat organic meat when I eat meat... I juice my vegetables and make smoothies... I have gotten off coffee and candy... and I can tell most people are fucked up... the prescription folks are the worse... and they will tend to hate songs that make sense or anything else that makes sense... and they believe anything on television or radio... and they also believe the news rags.... they do not realize all the stations and papers are owned by the same people and controlled by the bank owned government.... yes people will not dig songs like this because they are way too far gone on the meds man... you got it right... guy mullins
u want a medal?
you are a angry bird... you must be med fed...
I wish I could time travel and go out with this guy when I was young
@sl1ghtlystoop1d The Velvets were The Modern Lovers' biggest inspiration. Jonathan Richman's first solo gig was opening for them in Western Mass, The Modern Lovers covered "Foggy Notion" in their live set, and John Cale played produced many tracks on their first album and even played piano on one song.
this song is rock n roll
This is my fav off the album... and was very happy to find it accompanied by a vid... thanks for the upload
@harwicke This is from 1972 and the Modern Lovers were inspired by a lot of 60s music, especially the Velvet Underground and the Stooges. Their own music and attitude marked a transition between the hippee and punk eras. Two of them went on to found the Cars and Talking HEads.
thank you. thank you. thank you. for posting this.
THANK YOU for posting this! I remember when this song came out and it took me years and years o find it again. Excellent tune.
That was fantastic.
Absolutely perfect. Thanks.
Thanks for making a video! I’ve enjoyed it, so I’m grateful!
hydrogenated!
you made yourself and us a brilliant video here my man!!!
cheers to you!
hydrogenatedupload: thanks for posting. Happy Birthday today(May 16) to Johnathan Richman. Cheers! 🥨
nasally voice is perfect. they took that coventry sound and twisted it made it American
Wish I could give this 10 stars, both for the great song & the cool video!
yeah i can see that, but it doesn't surprise me; the entire album has the vu stamp
i saw a richman show two months... totally rad. he played pablo piccaso
The organ and bass rock
Absolutely brilliant clip. Hippie Johnny was actually John Felice from the Real Kids, a friend of Jonathan Richmans. This is very cool, thanks for posting this.
I thought that in the original version of the song he was 'Hippie Ernie', as in the version of this song currently on UA-cam labelled as being live at Harvard in 1971-2. Jerry Harrison said (in a recent interview with Marc Maron) that Ernie Brooks (their bassist) objected after awhile, so Richman pointed it at himself.
Maybe she's also stoned, like hippie johnny.
Oh my god this is excellent.
i really like this performance
unbelievably cool video. soooooo suits the song.
hippy johnny...
I just got stoned and I'm listening to this song.
TY!!! Love this!
Man. You nailed it.
I"M STRAIGHT!!!!
Vancouver 2010 mourning song, THANKS.
This song is awesome!
Rough and wonderful!