What happened here,
As the New York sunset disappeared?
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there.
Who lived here?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot,
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop.
And now it all looks strange.
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain.

And what's it for,
This little empty garden by the brownstone door?
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more.
Who lived here?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot,
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop.
And we are so amazed! We're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one, no one can replace.

And I've been knocking, but no one answers.
And I've been knocking, most all the day.
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey, hey, Johnny!
Can't you come out to play?

And through their tears,
Some say he farmed his best in younger years.
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger, if only he could hear.
Who lived there?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot,
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop.
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name

And I've been knocking, but no one answers.
And I've been knocking, most all the day.
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey, hey, Johnny!
Can't you come out to play?

And I've been knocking, but no one answers.
And I've been knocking, most all the day.
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey, hey, Johnny!
Can't you come out, can't you come out to play?

Johnny?
Can't you come out to play, in your empty garden?
Johnny?
Can't you come out to play, in your empty garden?

What happened here,
As the New York sunset disappeared?
Johnny?
Can't you come out to play, in your empty garden?

And what's it for,
This little empty garden by the brownstone door?
Johnny?
Can't you come out to play, in your empty garden?

Johnny?
Can't you come out to play, in your empty garden?
Johnny?
Can't you come out to play?

Comments (2)

  • Anonymous
    I feel it is a spiritual song reflecting on how we have abonded what Jesus ha taught us and a desperate attempt by one person to bring him back into our lives.
  • Anonymous
    It's a song about John lennon. The "Insect" is his assassin Mark David Chapman. He was shot in New york. It's a metaphor for his influenc on us and how his loss will be felt, and also the feeling that his death was too quick and left an "Empty" feeling in everyone who knew him personally.