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Freedy Johnston — Bad Reputation
Album: This Perfect World
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1394








Released: 1994
Length: 3:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I know I got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk, talk, talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got

I couldn't have one conversation
If it wasn't for the lies, lies, lies
And still I want to tell you everything
'Til I close my eyes

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappear below my feet
Been breaking down
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm down in Herald Square
Looking in the crowd, your face is everywhere
Been turning 'round
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

Don't try to be an inspiriation
Just wasting your time, time, time
You know about the best I'll ever be
See it in your eyes

I know I got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk, talk, talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappear below my feet
Been breaking down
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm in another place
Looking in the crowd, I think I see your face
Been turning 'round
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now? (down, down, down)
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now? (down, down, down)
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

Don't you think I've heard the talk?
Nobody's gonna tell me who to love
Been breaking down
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm down on Herald Square
Looking in the crowd, your face is everywhere
Just turning 'round
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?
Been breaking down
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?
I'm just breaking down, down, down, down
Been breaking down, down, down, down
Been breaking down, down, down, down
Been breaking down, down, down, down
Been breaking down, down, down, down
Comments (143)add comment
 bondgirl-007 wrote:

Great Song. Makes me a bit melancholy for some reason.



me too.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
I have never heard  Freedy, until today. Interesting that this is from 1994. Reading wiki he was putting out an album in 2022.   Would love to hear more of his stuff.  Please, RP, this is where I get my music education.
Posted 1 year ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite albums of the 90s and one of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters.
Freedy is amazing. 
Posted 2 years ago by RPJunkie    [ Reply ]
Definitely remember this from FM radio circa 1994-1995... it was the rare bit of album rock & roll at the time that wasn't grunge.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
What a blast from the past. Great song! The whole album is good. 
Posted 3 years ago by hypertone    [ Reply ]
 sergeant_x wrote:

I used to follow this guy when I lived in Lawrence KS, circa early nineties.  Twenty years later, I found myself working in Manhattan (NY). One day, standing in line at the Duane Reade pharmacy, I heard a distinctive voice behind me. It was Freedy! 

Small world. And a brilliant singer/songwriter!


Awesome story and one of those times when specifying which 'Manhattan' is important.  Also more of a small-world thing in NYC than KS, fun!
Long Live RP and running into people in NYC!!
Posted 3 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
This one definitely takes me back..
Posted 4 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
 sergeant_x wrote:
I used to follow this guy when I lived in Lawrence KS, circa early nineties.  Twenty years later, I found myself working in Manhattan (NY). One day, standing in line at the Duane Reade pharmacy, I heard a distinctive voice behind me. It was Freedy! 

Small world. And a brilliant singer/songwriter!
 

I moved back east from Lawrence in 1991, so I missed him. Didn't know he was a Kansan. But I do remember seeing Trip Shakespeare and Billy Goat when I lived there. The Goat was wild.
Posted 5 years ago by kcoleman486249    [ Reply ]
dancing at my desk  
Posted 5 years ago by diannemck56    [ Reply ]
 sergeant_x wrote:
I used to follow this guy when I lived in Lawrence KS, circa early nineties.  Twenty years later, I found myself working in Manhattan (NY). One day, standing in line at the Duane Reade pharmacy, I heard a distinctive voice behind me. It was Freedy! 

Small world. And a brilliant singer/songwriter!
 

Also - his version of Wichita LIneman is absolutely sublime.
Posted 5 years ago by sergeant_x    [ Reply ]
I used to follow this guy when I lived in Lawrence KS, circa early nineties.  Twenty years later, I found myself working in Manhattan (NY). One day, standing in line at the Duane Reade pharmacy, I heard a distinctive voice behind me. It was Freedy! 

Small world. And a brilliant singer/songwriter!
Posted 5 years ago by sergeant_x    [ Reply ]
nice to hear this old great song!
Posted 8 years ago by pswiebs    [ Reply ]
Remains one of the great one hit wonder albums ever.  Still Good.
Posted 8 years ago by rgio    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard this before, it may not have been a hit in the U.K.
It's nice and actually puts me in mind of Teenage Fanclub and The Cosmic Rough Riders - both Scottish bands in case no-one knows what I'm on about :)
Posted 9 years ago by madaxeman    [ Reply ]

Awesome


Posted 9 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
one of the best pure pop
Posted 9 years ago by oofus521    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

Glen Campbell's version is the original.

 
He did not write the song.  Maybe that is what he meant.
Posted 9 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 sergeant_x wrote:
Loves me some Freedy. If you have the chance to see him live (he plays around NY a fair amount these days), request 'Wichita Lineman'. Always loved his version of that. More than either the original or Glen Campbell's.

 
Glen Campbell's version is the original.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I was 18 when we first heard this song. So many memories
. 
Posted 9 years ago by mamahoneymeow    [ Reply ]
This is just too good. Where's that damned Amazon link...
Posted 10 years ago by toomanyollys    [ Reply ]
Great Song. Makes me a bit melancholy for some reason.
Posted 10 years ago by bondgirl-007    [ Reply ]
He should do a duet with Kathleen Edwards, they sound very similar.
Posted 10 years ago by By_The_Bay    [ Reply ]
this was in Kingpin,,,,,,great song,,,,movie had a few good laughs.
Posted 10 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
 sergeant_x wrote:
Loves me some Freedy. If you have the chance to see him live (he plays around NY a fair amount these days), request 'Wichita Lineman'. Always loved his version of that. More than either the original or Glen Campbell's.

 
I love that song.  I have not heard it since I was a kid.  I remember it well.
Posted 10 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Loves me some Freedy. If you have the chance to see him live (he plays around NY a fair amount these days), request 'Wichita Lineman'. Always loved his version of that. More than either the original or Glen Campbell's.
Posted 10 years ago by sergeant_x    [ Reply ]
Fine popsong. Like it!
Posted 10 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 garyalex wrote:
I prefer this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhtgxS6z9yo

 
Oh yes, thanks for sharing...
Posted 10 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
I prefer this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhtgxS6z9yo
Posted 11 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
I first heard this in Austin, TX many long years ago at an outdoor cafe. A female acoustic singer/musician (Kris McCay) played the tune and it stuck with me. I thought for awhile that it was her own composition. Then I didn't hear it again for years. Leave it to RP to bring this little pop gem to light for me again! Sweet.



Posted 11 years ago by bev    [ Reply ]
Great little pop ditty
Posted 11 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
Leave it to Bill to keep the excellent oddities alive. This is an obscure album from my 1990's. I almost expect to hear Del Amitri and Pete Droge next...
Posted 11 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Dont pull a Munson
Posted 11 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
I LOVE this song! {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 11 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
Thanks for this RP as ever - so many artists that I have never heard before.  Just checked library for Freedy and found one other track that has neverbeen played but has a 9.1 already with 7 ratings! 
Average Rating: 9.1
Total Ratings: 7
Last Play: Never
Plays in last 30 days: 0
Posted 11 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
Did the name Freedy come from a typo? I have perhaps obvious reasons for curiousity {#Wink}
Posted 11 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
What an amazing, stunning hook.  One of the best ever.  Breathtaking. 
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
wow, this takes me back. very nice. thanks!
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 Hr-Rosendahl wrote:
BORRING!
 
+1
What he said
Posted 12 years ago by LeonZA    [ Reply ]
BORRING!
Posted 12 years ago by Hr-Rosendahl    [ Reply ]
beautiful perfect pop.
Posted 12 years ago by pennypriddy    [ Reply ]
Boring.... sounds like radio pop....

Not the good kind
 
Posted 12 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
.....and this is a wonderful album, as is the rest of his recordings.
Posted 12 years ago by seven7    [ Reply ]
Would love to see Freedy in concert. Just love the voice and tunes.
Posted 12 years ago by seven7    [ Reply ]
Something like Marshall Crenshaw
Posted 12 years ago by capzfan    [ Reply ]
Magnet magazine on the criminal underappreciation of Freedy generally, and on the tepid public reception of this, his major label debut:  "maybe the blame should be spread among the teenagers who were presented with a normal-looking singer/songwriter from Kansas (birth name Fred Fatzer) and couldn't open their ears, along with the older audience too wrapped up in Counting Crows to notice something really good".  Amen

Posted 13 years ago by rubella    [ Reply ]
There's a pun in there somewhere about a version of this song by Taj Mahal.
"Great Taj Mahal cover"
"I prefer Taj Mahal's original"
something like that.
Posted 13 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
Excellent music
Posted 13 years ago by gemtag    [ Reply ]
LOVE FREEDY!  {#Motor}
Posted 13 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
5 down to 3 and I risk my first ever triple play of music I don't like from RP...surely not! 
Posted 13 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
a great album given the steepest  of his fall off the musical cliff ever since
Posted 13 years ago by JKFinally    [ Reply ]
Anybody else remember feeling how odd it was that such good music turned up on the soundtracks of Farrelly Brothers movies like this one?

Posted 13 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
Am I the only one who has all of his cd's?...
No! don't answer that Q.
Posted 13 years ago by NatureDeficit    [ Reply ]
Really enjoyed this track!
Posted 14 years ago by JoeODaniels    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Madness, brilliance, clever exposition and poignancy are generic to you? Your life must be intense!

 

One man's generic is another's brilliant. Thank God.

I LOVE Freedy... was wondering why I'd never heard him on RP.  He's perfect for it.. quirky, unique...  I actually adore this album, "Deloris" is great among others...

the Universe conspired to produce some of the best music ever in 1994....
Posted 14 years ago by SusieQ    [ Reply ]
 Giselle62 wrote:
did Bangles cover this?
 

Not that I'm aware of but I'd like to hear them do it.
Posted 14 years ago by akousa    [ Reply ]
did Bangles cover this?
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
So happy Freedy is still finding some time on the "air waves"!!!  I have driving over 600 miles to see this man play live a few times. One of the best singer/songwriters in our country today. Thanks for playing him!
Posted 14 years ago by SilentCity    [ Reply ]
This guy is one of the best songwriters of the past 20 years. He can take as long as he wants inbetween records as far as I'm concerned.
Posted 14 years ago by akousa    [ Reply ]
This has always been one of my guilty pleasure tunes. They played it alot, but did not quite oversaturate it thank God!
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Saw Freedy a couple weeks ago at Iota in Arlington, VA. I went to the show because of the songs I hear on RP. It was a nice little show, although I wish he had a band with him. Told some funny, yet oddly intense, little stories. Only took him 10 years to make his new album. Said he averaged a song a year. 
Posted 14 years ago by thelester    [ Reply ]
 Jamus wrote:
Who is doing the programming? The past ten songs have been horrible.
 
Jamus{#Whipit}      Blasphemy!
Posted 14 years ago by MayBaby    [ Reply ]
Well, I think someone needs to answer him so - "No thank you."  :)
Posted 14 years ago by twitterpated    [ Reply ]
alaken wrote:
God, this is so generic. bleh.
Madness, brilliance, clever exposition and poignancy are generic to you? Your life must be intense!

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
 Stefen wrote:


All actors are character actors.

 

No, no, all actors play characters.  Syntax cannot be overrated.
Posted 14 years ago by pinklife    [ Reply ]
Funny, I looked at the playlist because I thought this was Greg Johnson, another prolific, but underappreciated, songwriter.
Posted 15 years ago by mindless    [ Reply ]
Awesome dude, always played in small joints with underappreciative crowds.  Freedy is great! (but be careful how you spell his name on AMAZON else you will get another's cd)
Posted 15 years ago by NatureDeficit    [ Reply ]
I guess he's still around. His website https://www.freedyjohnston.com/ says he's going to be in New York. The first time I heard this song I thought "Wow. These lyrics remind me of me." and I still think that after all this time.
Damn. Life is such a trip.
Posted 15 years ago by ugly    [ Reply ]
Gotta love Freedy, where are you Freedy?
Posted 15 years ago by Slick    [ Reply ]
 shewasthenazz wrote:
This guy is so freaking underappreciated. He was one of the best songwriters of the '90s.
 
{#Yes} more Freedy! {#War}
Posted 15 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
This guy is so freaking underappreciated. He was one of the best songwriters of the '90s.
Posted 15 years ago by shewasthenazz    [ Reply ]
God, this is so generic. bleh.
Posted 15 years ago by alaken    [ Reply ]
Who is doing the programming? The past ten songs have been horrible.
Posted 15 years ago by Jamus    [ Reply ]
we LOVE the music of Kansas' own Fred Fatzer.....!
Posted 15 years ago by VicEdee    [ Reply ]
 Stefen wrote:


All actors are character actors.

 
My God, that's profound! But inaccurate, nonetheless. So it goes. {#Wave}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
Great to hear Freedy here.   He's put out a lot of good albums... definitely worthy of more than 2 songs in the rotation.
Posted 15 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
 toterola wrote:

Ol' Woody has proven to be one of the best character actors ever, hasn't he? Who would have thought it, watching him on "Cheers" all those years ago?

 

All actors are character actors.

Posted 15 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
what a good groove you guys have going on since about an hour ago

:-) 
Posted 15 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
Ditto {#Smile}

 Danimal174 wrote:
Wasn't blown away by this CD, but I absolutely love this song.
 


Posted 16 years ago by dkeifer    [ Reply ]
 stinkyhippie wrote:


Love love: Kicking and Screaming. I will rate this song high just because of how much I love that flick.
 

Totally, totally agree. Whenever I hear this song I think of the closing credits. But yeah, I agree, its a fantastic movie.
Posted 16 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Wasn't blown away by this CD, but I absolutely love this song.
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 MonkeyPod wrote:

 
Ol' Woody has proven to be one of the best character actors ever, hasn't he? Who would have thought it, watching him on "Cheers" all those years ago?

Posted 16 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]

"No one's gonna tell me who to love..." Odd, if compelling, sentiment.


Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 kelty wrote:
OH, this brings back memories!!!!
 

yes, the days of living in decatur, ga!!!
Posted 16 years ago by fuace    [ Reply ]
Perfect radio song.
Posted 16 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
OH, this brings back memories!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by kelty    [ Reply ]
Good times...
Posted 16 years ago by Crawlmeister    [ Reply ]
Posted 16 years ago by MonkeyPod    [ Reply ]
BORED!!!
Posted 16 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
sukilau wrote:
all i envision as ross and rachel making out..
Gross. But catchy.
Posted 16 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
OH WOW i haven't heard this in SO long. love Love LOVE IT! thanks bill!
Posted 16 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
all i envision as ross and rachel making out..
Posted 17 years ago by sukilau    [ Reply ]
This song just makes me happy.
Posted 17 years ago by suitep    [ Reply ]
playlist gets a 10 from Tori Amos on . . . Roxy Music to The Doors was fantastic. Old and new, familiiar and not so, Bill is a DJ demigod.
Posted 17 years ago by zurcronium    [ Reply ]
vvlee wrote:
Just checked in to post the very same thing... Kicking and Screaming is a great movie, one of my husband's and my favorites. Rent it if you can find it.
Love love: Kicking and Screaming. I will rate this song high just because of how much I love that flick.
Posted 17 years ago by stinkyhippie    [ Reply ]
d-mac wrote:
This guy has a bad reputation for giving disappointing live performances. And it isn't all talk, talk, talk.
AGREED!
Posted 17 years ago by stinkyhippie    [ Reply ]
Quality-wise, the song it alright. It DOES take me directly back to being in high school when this was all over the radio.
Posted 17 years ago by MadPercolator    [ Reply ]
vvlee wrote:
Just checked in to post the very same thing... Kicking and Screaming is a great movie, one of my husband's and my favorites. Rent it if you can find it.
Wow. Good suggestion, I will check it out. This song does remind me of early college days.
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
I find this song depressing. please make it end.
Must be the weather.
Posted 18 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
I like it.
Posted 18 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
I find this song depressing. please make it end.
Posted 18 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
Always liked this song. Too bad this was kind of a one-hit wonder.
Ditto, my thoughts exactly
Posted 18 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
I thought I was going to be Munsoned until I heard this song...
Posted 18 years ago by embo    [ Reply ]
Always liked this song. Too bad this was kind of a one-hit wonder.
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Freedy occasionally plays in a cover band called the Know-It-All-Boyfriends with Garbage alums Butch Vig and Duke Erickson in Madison. They play the coolest shows one could imagine.
Posted 18 years ago by guysmiley    [ Reply ]
This guy has a bad reputation for giving disappointing live performances. And it isn't all talk, talk, talk.
Posted 18 years ago by d-mac    [ Reply ]
mojoman wrote:
I forgot just how whiney and crappy so much '90s music was.
You mean in a good way right??
Posted 18 years ago by ElSupreme    [ Reply ]
a perfectly unobjectionable song. But why write ANOTHEr song like this. There must be thousands of songs that sound exactly like this already. Ho-hum.
Posted 18 years ago by chucklesalmon    [ Reply ]
lily33 wrote:
this is the first song that got me hooked on freedy. thanks so much for resurrecting it on RP!
Ditto.
Posted 18 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
Jack_Jefferson wrote:
I discovered this on another movie. It was 'Kicking and Screaming' (not the one w/ Will Ferrell). Very good movie about life immediately after college.
Just checked in to post the very same thing... Kicking and Screaming is a great movie, one of my husband's and my favorites. Rent it if you can find it.
Posted 18 years ago by vvlee    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite tunes. Thanks for starting my morning off right RP
Posted 18 years ago by Jacksonstat    [ Reply ]
I discovered this on another movie. It was 'Kicking and Screaming' (not the one w/ Will Ferrell). Very good movie about life immediately after college. In addition to that, I heard 'This Perfect World' on the local public radio sampler. Also, a local song and guitar guy (Dave Smith) does this song when he does bar gigs. Anyway, he's very good and I'd like to hear more. Thank you.
Posted 18 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
I really like the ROOTSY feel of this song.
Posted 18 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
I forgot just how whiney and crappy so much '90s music was.
Posted 18 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
Whatever happened to Freedy? Is he still out there?
Posted 19 years ago by Piccoloteo    [ Reply ]
Mugro wrote:
Nice one hit wonder.
Actually there were about 3 more great songs on that album, as I recall.
Posted 19 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
Always wondered who did this song
Posted 19 years ago by JonnyNismo    [ Reply ]
Nice one hit wonder.
Posted 19 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Song in itself sounded good, but the audio-quality is very mp3-artefacty!!!
Posted 19 years ago by heeb    [ Reply ]
Brilliant! Just plain lovely. Still!
Posted 19 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]