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1963

New Order

aka “Nineteen63” aka “1963-94” aka “Nineteen63 (95 Arthur Baker Radio Remix)” aka “Nineteen63 (94 Album Version)” aka “Nineteen63 (Lionrock Full Throttle Mix)” aka “Nineteen63 (Joe T. Vannelli Dubby Mix)” aka “1963 ('95 Arthur Baker Remix)” aka “1963 (Shoreline 1989)” aka “1963-95” aka “1963-94 (Full Length)” aka “1963 (Arthur Baker Mix)” aka “1963 (Lionrock M6 Sunday Morning Mix)” aka “1963-95 (Blackout Mix)” aka “1963 (Joe T. Vanelli Light Mix)”

1987
118
Live performances
1
Recording
49
Release appearances
3
Covered by

Overview

In 1987, it was supposed to be a single, but Stephen Hague suggested to flip sides and True Faith got released instead. New Order decided to re-release it as a single in 1995.

This song is about, according to the Substance song book, a theory that JFK was trying to get rid of his wife the day he got shot, and he got the bullet instead of her.

Credits

Words and music by Stephen Morris, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Hague. (C) 1986 Be Music / Warner Chappell Music Ltd. London W1Y 3F1 Cut Music, MCA Music Ltd, Elsinore House, 77 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JA

Lyrics

It was January 1963
When Johnny came home with a gift for me
He said "I bought it for you because I love you
And I bought it for you because it's your birthday too"
He was so very nice he was so very kind
To think of me at this point in time
…
View full lyrics 
It was January 1963
When Johnny came home with a gift for me
He said "I bought it for you because I love you
And I bought it for you because it's your birthday too"
He was so very nice he was so very kind
To think of me at this point in time
I used to think of him, He used think of me

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw tears were in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me
Johnny don't point that gun at me
Can I save my life at any price?
For God's sake won't you listen to me?

And though he was ashamed that he had took a life
Johnny came home with another wife
And he often remembered how it used to be
Before that special occasion 1963
There was too many ways that you could kill someone
Like in a love affair when the love has gone
He used to think of her, she used to think of him

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me
Johnny you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh Johnny won't you listen to me?

He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me

Oh God Johnny don't point that gun at me
There's so many ways our lives have changed
But please I beg don't do this to me

Johnny you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh Johnny won't you listen to me?

I just want you to be mine
I don't want this world to shine
I don't want this bridge to burn
Oh Johnny do you miss me?
I just want to feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free
I will always feel free

Versions & Mixes

Recordings, remixes and alternate mixes of this composition.

  • 1994 Version 3:47
  • 1995 Arthur Baker Radio Remix 4:04
  • 1995 Arthur Baker Remix 5:05
  • 1995 Video ?:??
  • Joe T. Vanelli Dubby Mix 7:12
  • Joe T. Vanelli Light Mix 8:59
  • Lionrock Full Throttle Mix 7:50
  • Lionrock M6 Sunday Morning Mix 6:25
  • Lionrock Sparse'N Fast Mix 6:07
  • Original Version 5:35
  • Original Version 6:31
  • Original Version 5.59
  • Original Version 4:38
  • Single Version 4:21

Release Appearances

49 known appearances

True Faith

True Faith

1987
Blue Monday-95

Blue Monday-95

1995
Nineteen63

Nineteen63

1995
Retro

Retro

2002
(the best & rest of) New Order

(the best & rest of) New Order

2026
Touched By The Hand Of God

Touched By The Hand Of God

Videos

View on Transmission →

Live History

118
Total performances
First known performance
30 Jun 1987
Reading University, Reading
Last known performance
28 May 2024
Astor Theatre, Perth

Recent performances

Showing 20 of 118 total

Covered By (3)

Dark Distant Spaces Generalized THC with Tek head

Sources

MusicBrainz work ↗ MusicBrainz recording ↗