Johnno's Curtain - Music
Here is a collection of songs based on those people and places that have shaped my life. While my book describes a series of events, these songs tell their own unique story. They tell the story of the thoughts, feelings and emotions associated with these events although in a much more vivid and expressive way. Exploring themes such as love, guilt, anger, loss and hope, they reflect the human experience in all its rich complexity. From the seductress to the superstar and from the heartbreaker to the birdman, they’re all here, waiting for you, like you’ve never heard them before.
1: Bottle Blonde Delight
I crafted this song to capture my unexpected journey into a rough, unfamiliar world where a bottle-blonde figure welcomed me with open arms, making me feel at home. Through vivid imagery of booze, cigarettes, and rowdy lads, I convey how this vibrant character and their crew transformed me, pulling me into a warm, chaotic camaraderie that left me forever changed. The song closes with a poignant reflection on their absence, yet the eternal flame of their memory still burns brightly in my heart.
2: The Mirror Man
I wove this song to depict a dreamlike figure who danced into my life, elusive and mythical, yet endlessly captivating to a hopeful kid like me. Through vivid imagery, I portray the struggle to connect with this untouchable icon, whose pain I sensed but could only grasp when a friend, TJ, thrust me into their powerful presence, revealing a vulnerable man behind the myth. The song culminates in a fleeting moment of connection, holding this legend close, only to question if it was all a dream, leaving me longing for their magic once more.
3: Love Eviction Nights
I wrote this song to celebrate the vibrant, defiant energy of a subculture that thrives on love eviction nights, where misfits transform from velvet-suited elites to bold boys in fishnets and boots, embracing their unapologetic uniqueness. Through raw, rhythmic verses, I depict a freak show of fearless self-expression, where queerness is shouted proudly, inviting all to join the chaotic, liberating dance floor without judgment. The song pulses with the message to be yourself, capturing a haven where no one is turned away, and the night belongs to those who dare to stand out.
4: My Demons Came To Get Me
I poured my heart into this song to capture the fleeting hope of love clouded by doubt, where I mistook a fleeting connection with a mysterious stranger for something deeper, compelling me to bring him home across three thousand miles. The lyrics trace the euphoric highs of wild nights that spiral into a painful crash, haunted by my inner demons urging me to push him away to spare him from my chaos. Through raw repetition and stark imagery, I convey the struggle of wrestling with self-doubt, questioning if it was ever love or just a desperate illusion destined to unravel.
5: Ode to Kyle
I wrote this song to pour out the tender, heart-wrenching memory of a fleeting yet profound connection with a fragile soul, capturing the bittersweet ache of holding them close while they slipped toward the light. Through gentle imagery and raw emotion, I weave a story of love, loss, and lessons learned, where their silent presence stirred the boy in me, teaching me about life, tenderness, and the strength found in giving more than I take. The song culminates in a poignant reflection on their brief time with me, marked by falling leaves and a single red rose, revealing the father within me through the inevitable dance of pleasure and pain.
6: The Devil's Rose (I Give To You)
I wrote this song to embody a seductive yet sinister voice, luring the listener with promises of transforming their darkness into fleeting relief, only to reveal a manipulative trap. Through vivid imagery and a rhythmic cadence, I depict a devilish figure offering to erase pain and despair in “four to six,” but at a cost—numbing the soul and ensnaring it with a cursed “devil’s rose.” The song’s haunting twist lies in its reversal, warning that the false salvation turns pink to black, leaving the listener entangled in a psychological web with no escape from the wolves at the door.
7: Pivot From The Edge
I crafted this song to capture the desperate tug-of-war between hope and despair, portraying a loved one teetering on the brink of giving up, drawn irresistibly toward the light. Through urgent, conversational lyrics, I voice a fierce determination to pull them back from the edge, insisting it’s not their time and there are battles yet to fight, only to confront the heart-wrenching reality of their fading resolve. The song’s raw emotional arc peaks with a plea to take my hand and a hard-won lesson for the future: to resist the pull, turn around, and pivot from the edge to live another day.
8: All I Wanna Do (The Copper's Lament)
I wrote this song to channel the raw frustration of a police officer yearning to make a difference—pounding the beat, chasing villains, and fighting crime—but trapped in a cycle of bureaucratic monotony, pounding only a keyboard and chasing paperwork. Through repetitive, stark contrasts, I highlight the bitter irony of their desire to protect lives and property, yet being forced to preserve the status quo and serve senior ranks, leaving morale and public trust at an all-time low. The song’s relentless rhythm and escalating grievances underscore the suffocating reality of a job that deters talent and keeps the officer sidelined, unable to do the work they joined for, while criminals roam free.
9: The Stormtroopers Cometh!
I poured raw anger and disillusionment into this song, voicing a police officer’s frustration with a broken system, dismissed by an indifferent public demanding quick fixes and crime prevention spiels while the force crumbles under a “shit-show” of bureaucracy and neglect. Through biting lyrics and a defiant tone, I expose the betrayal of senior ranks and Tory politicians who prioritize power and prestige over efficiency, ignoring the desperate need for change as morale collapses. The song crescendos with a resolute stand against sacrificing integrity, vowing to fight for the “boys ‘n’ girls in blue” to be freed from constraints, even if it means falling on my sword, with a fervent hope it’s not too late to act.
10: The Rules Do Not Apply To Me
I wrote this song to channel the unapologetic, defiant mindset of an inmate thriving in a prison’s underworld, driven by a raw desire to take what they want—dealing drugs for quick cash with little fear of consequences. Through gritty, unfiltered lyrics, I depict their routine of selling gear at Muslim prayers, bulking up in the gym to fend off bullies, and dismissing the system’s rules while blaming it for their choices, all underscored by a haunting fear of losing their son and partner. The song’s stark tone and repetitive structure reveal a hardened criminal playing the game without remorse, yet grappling with fleeting moments of personal loss, refusing to change despite the cost.
11: Really, It’s All About Me
I crafted this song to delve into the manipulative psyche of a self-serving lover seeking solace from their inner turmoil, using charm and cash to seduce and control while masking their true intentions. Through smooth yet sinister verses, I expose the façade of their “Zen-like cool” and calculated kindness, revealing a toxic dynamic where loyalty is bought and betrayal met with psychological games, all to fulfill their own needs. The song’s raw climax unveils the bitter irony of their self-sabotage, as their actions drive away the one they needed, leaving their heart shattered in the wreckage of their own making.
12: No More Ludicrous Logic
As the writer, I poured raw frustration and defiance into this song, channeling the collective anger of NHS workers standing up against a broken system, rejecting top-down mismanagement and vowing to even the score. Through biting lyrics, I expose the chaos of talentless leadership, suffocating bureaucracy, and a “perfect storm” of understaffed front lines and failing IT, leaving workers staggering under the weight of senseless decisions. The song’s rallying cry, with its repeated rejection of “ludicrous logic” and unwavering resolve, demands urgent action to reclaim the NHS, restoring it for those who rely on and serve it, before it’s too late.
13: The Father In Me
I wrote this song to reflect on my journey as a caregiver, sparked by the profound lessons of strength, care, and tenderness from my mentor, Kyle K, who shaped me into the father figure I became. Through vivid storytelling, I recount my Court Lodge days, working with troubled kids who resisted boundaries and tried to push me away, yet desperately needed my presence, challenging me to show them a better path despite calls to resort to harsh discipline. The song’s repetitive, resolute refrain underscores my commitment to offering something different—a compassionate, guiding hand—steering them toward a better way to go, no matter how hard they fought against it.
14: The Birdman's Creed
I crafted this song to celebrate the visionary spirit of the “Birdman,” a figure who soars above the ordinary with eagle eyes, seeing possibilities from Torbay to Singapore that others miss, urging us to aim high and embrace a bold future. Through vivid imagery and a rousing call to action, I depict this agitator of the status quo, whose voice cuts through the noise of discontent to inspire noble deeds and challenge us to harness AI and shape a new world, rather than cling to the past. The song’s soaring rhythm and repeated exhortations to “aim higher” and “build new” ignite a sense of urgency and hope, rallying listeners to awaken, innovate, and meet the future head-on.