The Ballad of Jonny Fire (Upbeat ska-punk intro, bouncing bassline, horns blasting) Verse 1 Jonny Fire wore polished shoes Read thick books and watched the news Top of the class in history Teachers said “A bright young man indeed” He spoke French and quoted Marx Played piano in the dark Had a future all mapped out neat Then he heard ska on Camden Street Pre-Chorus Black and white checks Braces pulled tight Doc Martens stompin’ Every single night His mother cried “Where did we go wrong?” He bought a pork pie hat And learned Specials songs Chorus Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Dancin’ higher and higher! Trumpets blowin’ like a riot choir Skankin’ straight through the smoke and wire Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Never seemed to tire From the student halls to the pub bar floor He danced all night and demanded more! Verse 2 Started out with two-tone bands Cheap black suit from a second-hand stand Then the punk scene dragged him in Safety pins and a wicked grin Lost his job at the bank one day ’Cause he dyed his hair neon grey Told the boss “You lack soul!” Then stage-dived through the payroll Pre-Chorus Now he lived on chips and beer Buzzing loud from ear to ear Every weekend another gig Another crowd and another binge His old mates bought houses neat Jonny slept in the drummer’s seat Still shouting loud at thirty-four “ONE MORE TUNE!” and then ten more Chorus Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Dancin’ higher and higher! Sweatin’ through another amplifier Heartbeat fast like barbed wire Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Human bonfire Skankin’ circles round the dancehall floor Till his knees couldn’t take no more! Bridge And the doctors said “Jonny slow down son” But he laughed out loud And shouted “THIS IS FUN!” He kept on moving to the offbeat sound Like a hurricane tearing through the town One final stomp One final spin Collapsed face-first in the mosh pit din (brief instrumental breakdown with horns and gang vocals shouting “HEY! HEY! HEY!”) Final Chorus Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Burned bright like a lighter Lived too fast for the choir and prayer But the whole damn crowd still swears he’s there Ohhhh Jonny Fire! Forever getting higher And if you listen when the brass rings loud You can hear him skankin’ through the crowd! Outro They carried him out with a smile on his face Docs still tied and sweat on his shades A tragic end perhaps… maybe true… But Jonny died doing what Jonny would do.
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