Don Henley › Lyrics › Johnny Can't Read

Football, baseball, basketball games
Drinkin’ bear, kickin’ ass and takin’ down names
With the top down, get-a-round, shootin’ the line
Summer is here and Johnny’s feelin’ fine

But Johnny can’t read
Summer is over and he’s gone to seed
Johnny can’t read
He never learned nothin’ that he’ll ever need

Well, Johnny can dance and Johnny can love
Johnny can push and Johnny can shove
Johnny can hang out, Johnny can talk tough
Johnny can get down and Johnny can throw up

But Johnny can’t read
Summer is over and he’s gone to seed
You know that Johnny can’t read
He never learned nothin’ that he’ll ever need

Well, is it teacher’s fault? Oh, no
Is it mommy’s fault? Oh, no
Is it society’s fault? Oh, no
Well is it Johnny’s fault? Oh, no

Couple years later, Johnny’s on the run
Johnny got confused and he bought himself a gun
Well, he went and did something that he shouldn’t oughta done
FBI on his tail, use a gun, go to jail

But Johnny can’t read
Summer is over and he’s gone to seed
You know that Johnny can’t read
He never learned nothin’ that he’ll ever need

Well is it teacher’s fault? Oh, no
Is it mommy's’s fault? Oh, no
Is it the president’s fault? Oh, no
Well is it Johnny’s fault? Oh, no

Johnny can dance and Johnny can love
Johnny can push and Johnny can shove
Johnny can pinball, Johnny can talk tough
Johnny can get down and Johnny can throw up

Johnny can’t read
Johnny can’t read

Well, recess is over
Recess is over

Sitcoms, T&A
Johnny’s mind is blown away
Cop shows, horror flicks
Johnny’s brain is full of bricks

Rock show, video
Boob tube, Rubik’s cube
Game fools, Sunday school
Gain fans, gobble gangs
Wonka, wonka, wonka

There’s a new kid in town