You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here
116. Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes "I Don't Want To Go Home"
Johnny Lyon, (nicknamed "Southside" because of his fondness for blues music from the south side of Chicago) was a Jersey Shore boy and an old friend and bandmate of Bruce Springsteen and company from the club days in Asbury Park. When Bruce began finding success, Johnny got a record contract and some major assisstance from Springsteen and especially their mutual pal E Street Band guitarist Miami Steve Van Zandt aka Little Steven, who wrote and produced this song right here.
The Boss' source material is mainly 50's rockabilly, garage rock and the Stones, but Johnny however found his inspiration in deep soul especially the brand coming from the Memphis label Stax. He was also blessed with a wonderfully gruff blue-eyed soul voice, and like the rest of the Springsteen axis, he had a fondness for taking classic mythology and turning it inside out. This record could be the dark flipside of Sam Cooke's "Havin' A Party"(which the Jukes do a fine cover of).
The swooping strings and snapping beat (and especially Johnny's singing) start off creating the perfect beachside dance atmosphere. That is until you listen to the words, and realize that's it's not a good time keeping him from going home, but an inability to face the broken relationship waiting for him there, which shows doubly in his singing. But in true Jersey Shore style, both the words and music cling to hope.
Johnny Lyon, (nicknamed "Southside" because of his fondness for blues music from the south side of Chicago) was a Jersey Shore boy and an old friend and bandmate of Bruce Springsteen and company from the club days in Asbury Park. When Bruce began finding success, Johnny got a record contract and some major assisstance from Springsteen and especially their mutual pal E Street Band guitarist Miami Steve Van Zandt aka Little Steven, who wrote and produced this song right here.
The Boss' source material is mainly 50's rockabilly, garage rock and the Stones, but Johnny however found his inspiration in deep soul especially the brand coming from the Memphis label Stax. He was also blessed with a wonderfully gruff blue-eyed soul voice, and like the rest of the Springsteen axis, he had a fondness for taking classic mythology and turning it inside out. This record could be the dark flipside of Sam Cooke's "Havin' A Party"(which the Jukes do a fine cover of).
The swooping strings and snapping beat (and especially Johnny's singing) start off creating the perfect beachside dance atmosphere. That is until you listen to the words, and realize that's it's not a good time keeping him from going home, but an inability to face the broken relationship waiting for him there, which shows doubly in his singing. But in true Jersey Shore style, both the words and music cling to hope.
