Bye Bye Johnny

Album: Rockin' At The Hops (1960)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song follows the same character heard in Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." Johnny is now a grown man who boards a bus to start his life.

Comments: 3

  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI love this song, It's like the biography of Johnny B Goode in two songs
  • Dave from Northridge, CaSpringsteen recorded a song called "Johnny Bye Bye" and, obviously, credited this song as the inspiration. It is an amazing song: the first lines are the same: "She drew out all her money out of the Southern Trust, And put her little boy aboard a Greyhound Bus." But the rest of the song is about the death of Elvis Presley. If you haven't heard it, give it a try. It can be found as a b-side and on the 4-disc set "Tracks".
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceThe Rolling Stones covered this in 1963.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.