A short tribute to the recently departed 58-year-old American singer-songwriter. Eccentric, troubled, mentally fragile, his emotional, vulnerable style helped created songs of lo-fi, acoustic, quirky, rough-edged beauty. . Admired by and influencing many big artists from Kurt Cobain, who haphazardly raised Johnston's profile by wearing a T-shirt based on one of his album covers, as well as Jeffrey Lewis, Beck, Conor Oberst and Lana Del Rey.
Born in California in 1961 and raised in West Virginia, Johnston became known as a songwriter after moving to Austin, Texas. His output, mostly the early 80s beyond was self-recorded alone in his room and put out on cassette on the Stress Records label, and given out free outside a branch of MacDonalds in Austin, where he also worked. His distinctive artwork and doodlings complemented this quality.
Nervous, quirky, childlike, beautiful
Johnston was a fragile genius, suffering with various mental health problems - schizophrenia and having a bipolar condition, leading to unpredictable behaviour, regular hospitalisation and an obsession with the devil. But his songs do the talking best, and here is a small selection that capture his unique analogue charm and ability to express love and isolation.
Museum of Love
The Story Of An Artist, from 1982’s Don’t Be Scared album is one of his best known, a song of ironic humour and despair, capturing the dilemma of a young man trying to find a creative path, envisioning his future.
Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old
Some would try for fame and glory
Others aren't so bold
Everyone, and friends and family
Saying, "Hey! Get a job!"
"Why do you only do that only?
Why are you so odd?
We don't really like what you do
We don't think anyone ever will
It's a problem that you have
And this problem's made you ill."
Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old
Some would try for fame and glory
Others aren't so bold
The artist walks alone
Someone says behind his back
"He's got his gall to call himself that!
He doesn't even know where he's at!"
The artist walks among the flowers
Appreciating the sun
He does this all his waking hours
But is it really so wrong?
They sit in front of their TVs
Saying, "Hey! This is fun!"
And they laugh at the artist
Saying, "He doesn't know how to have fun."
The best things in life are truly free
Singing birds and laughing bees
"You've got me wrong", says he
"The sun don't shine in your TV"
Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old
Some would try for fame and glory
Others aren't so bold
Everyone, and friends and family
Saying, "Hey! Get a job!"
"Why do you only do that only?
Why are you so odd?
We don't really like what you do
We don't think anyone ever will
It's a problem that you have
And this problem's made you ill."
Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old
Some would try for fame and glory
Others just like to watch the world
An Idiot's End, from 1981’s Songs of Pain, about the difficulties of love, is full of remarkable lines and images, and bashed piano, sounds more like it was recorded in the early 20th century:
I don't have to say a thing
She knows exactly what I want
But anytime I feel like this
What we have goes out for lunch
She looks at me like a gun cocked
And I'm afraid to turn my back
For fear of being loved
She leans forward for me to see
The lights of her majesty
She's tempting me with a razor blade
But time is money at a penny arcade
And there's monkeys in the shadows
And virgins afraid of being laid
The court jester holds up a light bulb and says
"All that is made is made to decay"
To know her is to love her
And I love her, but I don't know her
To know her is to love her
And I love her, but I don't know her
I feel for a place to sit
Things always go on this way
I'm lost for a little bit
'Til I come up with something to say
Then I'll go on and on
About rat skulls in her lawn
I'll not specifically mention names her and I know
We're just ashamed
She knows I'm here
And she readily rebukes her sister
She treats me with a sudden respect
Suddenly she calls me mister
But just as soon, I soon forget
And start poking around in the trash
Talking myself into outer space
And watching the reactions on her face
To know her is to love her
And I love her but I don't know her
To know her is to love her
And I love her but I don't know her
The picture of her sitting there
Me and her on that chair
I can only say as much as I please
But not as much as I dare
Where is the little girl who fell in love with me
The girl who fell in love with a sat-el-lite
That little girl's moved out now
But the satellite still comes around
Most every other night
I think my interest bleeds a heart
Of a dead dog lying in her yard
I could catch her standing naked
I could catch her cold
I could catch her breath and bottle it
But I could never catch her off guard
Now when I go there nowadays
It's like visiting a sinking ship
And I'm a man overboard
And she won't throw me a lifeline
Symbolically represented by her lips
Yes, to know her is to love her
And I love her but I don't know her
To know her is to love her
And I love her, but I don't know her
No No No No
Finally, True Love Will Find You In The End, from the 1990 album of that year, is a simple, acoustic guitar song of exquisite beauty and vulnerable optimism:
True love will find you in the end
You'll find out just who was your friend
Don’t be sad, I know you will
But don’t give up until
True love will find you in the end
This is a promise with a catch
Only if you're looking can it find you
‘Cause true love is searching too
But how can it recognise you
Unless you step out into the light, the light
Don’t be sad, I know you will
But don’t give up until
True love will find you in the end
For more footage and insights into Johnston’s life, the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston is an extraordinary window on a troubled, fragile, talented life. Here’s the trailer:
And the full documentary:
Want to suggest songs for Song of the Day or to say anything about it? Does this song make you think of something else? Then feel free to comment below, on the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...