Be Good Johnny
Men at Work
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Skip de skip, up the road Off to school we go "Don't you be a bad boy Johnny Don't you slip up Or play the fool" "Oh no Ma, Oh no Da, I'll be your golden boy I will obey ev'ry golden rule" Get told by the teacher Not to day-dream Told by my mother: Be good Be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good be good (Johnny) Be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good (Johnny) Be good be good. "Are you going to play football this year, John?" "No!" "Oh, well you must be going to play cricket this year then, Are you Johnny?" "No! no! no!" "Boy, you sure are a funny kid, Johnny, but I like you! So tell me, What kind of a boy are you, John?" I only like dreaming All the day long Where no one is screaming Be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good be good (Johnny) Be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Be good be good be good Johnny!
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Written by: GREGORY HAM, COLIN JAMES HAY
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Introduction"Be Good Johnny" is a song by Australian band Men at Work from their first album "Business as Usual" which was released in 1981.
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Chart PerformanceIt was not released as a single in Australia, but in the United States, it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Tracker chart.
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Lyrical ThemeThe song is about a naughty nine-year-old boy named Johnny who rebuffs the adult commands with the chorus "Be good, be good, be good, be good, be good John."
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Album SuccessThe album "Business as Usual", which featured "Be Good Johnny", spent an unprecedented 15 weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 from late 1982 to early 1983.
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Song WritersThe song was written by Colin Hay and Greg Ham, the two founding members of the band.
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Greg Ham's RoleGreg Ham played keyboards and flute and delivered backing vocals in the song.
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Colin Hay's RoleColin Hay was not only one of the writers of the song but he also performed vocals and guitar on "Be Good Johnny".
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Music StyleThe song features a unique blend of pop and rock elements with new wave music which was popular in the early 1980s.
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Song InterpretationThe song is often interpreted as a reflection on the pressure society puts on children to conform to norms and expectations.
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Song's PopularityDespite not being released as a single in Australia, "Be Good Johnny" is one of Men at Work's most popular and enduring songs.
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Music VideoThe music video for the song presents a sort of office rebellion, suggesting the pressures that Johnny faces may not be limited to just his childhood experiences but also to adult working life.
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Live Performances"Be Good Johnny" is a staple during live performances by Colin Hay, often featuring audience participation during the iterative "Be Good, Be Good" chorus.
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"Be Good Johnny Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Feb. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31199357/Men+at+Work/Be+Good+Johnny>.
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