THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

563-Fine Young Cannibals-Johnny Come Home.

1985-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.44. The age of ’17’ is the most used number in ‘Pop Music’ lyrics, (see also best songs 353) and ‘Johnny’ surely has be the most used name. From the 1950’s ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ classic ‘Johnny B Goode,’ (see also best songs 30) to the 1960’s ‘Pop’ of ‘Johnny Remember Me,’ and ‘Johnny Angel,’ to the 1980’s, and that guy who sings ‘Be, Bop, A, Lua, Baby,’ in the Dire Straits song ‘Walk of Life,’ are just a few of the many examples.

Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) were formed in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, in 1984, by Andy Cox, (guitar) David Steele, (bass guitar, synthesizers, piano, and drum machine) and Roland Gift (vocals.) They took their name from the 1960 American drama film ‘All the Fine Young Cannibals.’ Andy Cox, and David Steele had both previously been members of the English ‘Ska’ band ‘The Beat,’ who had been active between 1978-1983, being known in America and Canada as ‘The English Beat,’ and in Australia as ‘The British Beat.’ Cox and Steele recorded three studio Albums with ‘The Beat’ between 1980-1982, and were involved in the writing of six of their eight UK hit singles, which would be eight if you include the groups two double ‘A’ sided singles.

When ‘The Beat’ split n 1983, Andy Cox, and David Steele auditioned for a lead singer for their next project, which would become ‘Fine Young Cannibals.’ Their choice was Roland Lee Gift, who was born on May 28th, 1961, in Birmingham, England. His previous musical experience had been as the lead singer of the Hull, England, base ‘Ska’ band ‘Akrylykz,’ who had released two singles in 1980 without success, but had toured as the opening act for ‘The Beat,’ ‘The Specials,’ ‘Madness,’ and ‘The Clash.’

The discography of the Fine Young Cannibals includes two studio Albums released in 1985, and 1989, and 13 singles issued between 1985-1997, there are also four official compilation Albums, and one remix Album available. In the UK, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ peaking the highest at Number 5 in 1988, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, three of their singles have charted, with ‘She Drives Me Crazy,’ (1988) and ‘Good Thing,’ (1989) both reaching the Number 1 spot, while ‘Johnny Come Home’ stalled at Number 76. Between the release of their self titled 1985 debut studio Album, and their 1989 second and final studio Album ‘The Raw and the Cooked,’ Andy Cox, and David Steele had chart success with their side project called ‘Two Men, A Drum Machine and A Trumpet,’ releasing the 1987 instrumental ‘House Music’ track ‘Tired of Getting Pushed Around.’ Also in 1987 the duo collaborated with the British female rap duo ‘Wee Papa Girl Rappers,’ on their single ‘Heat It Up,’ which reached Number 21 on the UK top 40 in 1988.

Roland Lee Gift was born on May 28th, 1961, in Birmingham, England, he made his first recordings as the saxophonist with the ‘Ska’ band ‘Akrylkz’ in 1979, and although the recordings were unsuccessful, it did bring him to the attention of Andy Cox and David Steele of The Beat. After the Fine Young Cannibals split, Roland Gift released a self titled solo Album in 2002, and he released a further single in 2009 called ‘Crushed,’ as Roland Lee Gift. He has also had a successful acting career, appearing in the 1987 film ‘Sammy and Rosie Get Laid,’ and later in the 1989 film ‘Scandal.’

‘Johnny Come Home’ was the first of three singles released from the Fine Young Cannibals self titled debut studio Album from December 1985, the song was co-written by David Steele (music) and Roland Gift, (lyrics) with the production credited to the Fine Young Cannibals. ‘Johnny Come Home’ tells the story of ‘Johnny’ leaving home because of tensions in the family. Even if it means he has to sleep rough, it is better than living with at least one alcoholic parent. His parents plead with him to come home, promising to change their ways.

‘Johnny, we’re sorry, won’t you come on home? We worry, won’t you co