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The Ballad Of Johnny

from Onward Aeropuerto by Susie Asado

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    The CD comes in cardboard packaging with a booklet including all lyrics and photographs by Anja Conrad. Packaging and booklet are designed by Franziska Morlok.

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lyrics

THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY

Johnny was a spy, he worked for the KGB
he was a poet, a scholar, a gap-toothed dandy.
When I first saw him, he was standing at the piano
his hand inside the soundboard doing god knows what.
I thought I heard him quietly reciting Blake.
I shivered, felt awkward, thought I'd made a mistake.

Johnny had his way of making you think you were the thief
of second-guessing your motives of questioning your every belief.
He had his way combing my hair into a knot
of changing my steps from certain to not.

We moved into an apartment overlooking a bridge
we had everything from a television to a fridge.
He took photos of the bus stop across the street
he took notes, read books, seemed diligent and neat.
Little did I know he was tangled in a larger plot
I was busy being quiet trying not to disturb his thoughts.
Perfecting to silently whisk pancake batter
correcting my posture, my diction and my chatter.

Johnny had his way of making you think you were the thief
of second-guessing your motives of questioning your every belief.
He had his way combing my hair into a knot
of changing my steps from certain to not.

Johnny disappeared before breakfast the first of June
he left to get milk and never returned.
His camera, his favorite books, his notebooks were gone
the only conclusion was that his departure was planned.
At the police station, in a cold room, I tried my best to play my part
I talked about love, Johnny's favorite foods, poetry and art.
They talked to me for a whole year and more
called me a collaborator a traitor a whore.

The only way to avoid further incarceration
was to work for the CIA and in a state of desperation
I traded my life for a name and I traded my heart for a gun,
now twenty years later I'm still on the run.

Johnny had his way of making you think you were the thief
of second-guessing your motives of questioning your every belief.
He had his way combing my hair into a knot
of changing my steps from certain to not.

credits

from Onward Aeropuerto, released October 11, 2013

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Susie Asado Berlin, Germany

Susie Asado lives in Berlin. That is the band, not the poem. The poem is by Gertrude Stein. Yes, there is such a poem. The band is not a poem. It is a band. Josepha writes the songs. She takes this very seriously, as she takes the band very seriously and of course the poem, that is Gertrude Stein very seriously. ... more

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