Monday, 7 November 2011

Music Video: Falling Mirror–“Johnny Calls the Chemist”

I really wish this video was better quality.  “Johnny Calls the Chemist” is an iconic track by South African band Falling Mirror.  You’ll be hard-pressed to find any South African who lived through the 80s who doesn’t love this song (or at the very least, know of it).  And I bet that most fans have Googled the track at some time or another to try and figure out what the heck the lyrics mean.

“Johnny Calls the Chemist” was the title track off the 1985 album Johnny Calls the Chemist, a concept album loosely based on the obsession that lead singer Nielen Mirror had with a girl who worked in a chemist.  The whole album is really good but it is absolutely surreal and often disturbing.  The legend goes that Falling Mirror took less than 30 minutes to write this track which I find quite incredible.

This is quite possibly my favourite South African song of al time.

You can buy the track or album at Rhythm Music Store or Amazon.co.uk (mp3 only).

More…

LYRICS

Falling Mirror

Johnny Calls the Chemist

“Johnny Calls the Chemist”

Johnny calls the chemist, but the chemist doesn't come.
Her mind is in the twilight and Johnny hears the hum
He wonders if she'll hear him, in a night that's full of sound
It could be that she loves him but the love is underground

Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

He shoots a mental arrow from the bow of his mind
And piercing through her consciousness he wonders what he'll find
She's moving to her lover as he stretches on the bed
And pulling back the cover thinks of Johnny boy instead,

Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

She's making little headway, in a passage flicks a light
A lone car on the highway, calls for Johnny in the night,
She feels the silent offering that he's making to the sky
And wonders if he'll hear her 'cause she's just about to die

Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

Slipping to unconsciousness she meets him in the air
He's burning her with fire, she overcomes the fear,
She sits quite still and takes it 'cause she knows it's for her good
Even though she finds him wicked, she just stays there like she should

Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

Johnny's travelling faster, he's spinning in her head
Make no mistake about it, their history will be read
Then Johnny calls the chemist but the chemist doesn't come
She's back inside the twilight and Johnny hears the hum...

Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.
Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.

Johnny calls the chemist,
But the chemist doesn't come.
But the chemist doesn't come.
But the chemist doesn't come.

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© 2005 - Mandy Southgate | Addicted to Media

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