[Verse 1]
Ladies and gentlemen, here's my disease
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
[Verse 2]
See the jeaned genie on his high-wire act
At the back of his mind lies a suicide pact
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
[Verse 3]
See the young men itching to burn
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger, a war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
[Verse 4]
See Houdini and his underwater tricks
You were sitting at the front, hoping his locks would stick
Watch Knievel hit the 17th bus
You got crushed in the souvenir rush
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
[Verse 5]
I said poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
See the young men itching to burn
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger, a war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen set himself on fire again
[Bridge]
Ladies and gentlemen, here's my disease
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy
[Verse 6]
Come on, somebody, finish him off please
Put the poor fool out of his misery, will you
Can't you see he's had enough?
Finish him off, somebody
[Outro]
Next!
Johnny Yen was written by Tim Booth & Larry Gott & Gavan Whelan & Jim Glennie.
Johnny Yen was produced by Lenny Kaye.
James released Johnny Yen on Mon Jul 21 1986.