Johnny Bye Bye

Album: Tracks (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Springsteen wrote this in memory of Elvis Presley, who died on August 16, 1977. Springsteen was a huge fan of Elvis, and in concerts stated that seeing him on TV as a 9-year-old boy marked his life, claiming, "I Wanna Be Just Like That." Weight problems and drugs took their toll on Elvis, who died alone in his bathroom - an inglorious end that made Springsteen contemplate the fate of a rock star when life stops being glamorous.
  • Springsteen performed this several times and in different versions during the River and Born in the USA tours. It was released on Tracks in 1998. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Szabo - Oradea, Romania, for above 2
  • This is based on the Chuck Berry song "Bye Bye Johnny."

Comments: 1

  • Leo from Westminster 1, MdJohnny Bye Bye is one of the saddest pieces I've heard Springsteen write. Bruce tells the story of a king-let's call him Elvis shall we?- who dies a terrible, selfish and inglorious death that is wholly unnecessary. Presley was one of those figureheads who had it all and lost it and Spring tells it with
    a sad and unflinching honesty. Michael Jackson suffered the same fate 32 years later. Both of them could not be saved from their own private hell. Presley and Jackson did not have to die!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.