The Poetry of Rock n' Roll: "Johnny and Mary" by Robert Palmer

To observe National Poetry Month, I have been featuring lyrics of rock n' roll or pop songs that also double as exquisite poetry and this is our last installation for 2023.

Singer-songwriter Robert Palmer may be remembered more as a pop crooner fronting a group of red-lipped supermodels and not so much as a crafty wordsmith but his song "Jonny and Mary" shows his storytelling skills, spinning a sad, compact tale of a couple seemingly paralyzed by the circumstances they have created for themselves. The lyrics are simple but penetrating in their import.

Johnny and Mary
by Robert Palmer

Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily

Johnny thinks the world would be right
If it could buy the truth from him
Mary says he changes his mind
More than a woman
But she made her bed
Even when the chance was slim

Johnny says he's willing to learn
When he decides he's a fool
Johnny says he'll live anywhere
When he earns time to
Mary combs her hair

Says she should be used to it

Mary always hedges her bets
She never knows what to think
She says that he still acts like he's being discovered
Scared that he'll be caught without a second thought
Running around

Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Trying to talk sense to her
Mary says he's lacking a real sense of proportion
So she combs her hair
Knows he tires easily

Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Says she should be used to it

Johnny's always running around
Running around

Robert Palmer shockingly passed away in 2003 at the too-young age of 54 but thankfully his website is still active.
http://www.robertpalmer.com/