Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From '' Johnny B. Rotten ''
Label: Roundblack Records – TATT 1
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Tracklist
A Johnny B. Rotten
Written-By – John Ford, Richard Hudson, Terry Cassidy
B Oh My Body
Written-By – John Otway
Producer – Matt Newnham, Peter Bonas
Notes
Plain sleeve
℗ 1988
Side A EMI
Side B Strikeback
Track A previously released in 1979 by The Monks: Johnny B. Rotten.
A version of Track B is included on John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett - Deep & Meaningless.
The information in the runouts is etched.
🎵 [SONG INFO]
The song "Johnny B. Rotten" was originally written, recorded, and released by the UK pop-punk/new wave band The Monks on their 1979 debut album, Bad Habits.
The Song's Content (A Satire of Johnny Rotten)
The Monks formed as a deliberate, satirical parody of the late-1970s UK punk rock movement. "Johnny B. Rotten" was written as a direct send-up of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten (John Lydon). The lyrics poke fun at the manufactured outrage, the media hype, and the fashion of the punk scene at the time with lines like:
"The fans go wild, they really get out of hand / They have to touch me 'cause my record's been banned... I'm something else in the clothes I wear / The papers quote me when I swear."
Rotten's Response
On June 30, 1979, John Lydon appeared on the BBC show Juke Box Jury to review a different single from the same album, "I Ain't Gettin' Any." Already aware of the band's existence and their mockery of him, Lydon used the opportunity to tear The Monks apart, calling their music "patronising rubbish." Because The Monks were actually older, seasoned mainstream musicians (including former members of the progressive folk-rock band Strawbs) who had changed their style to cash in on punk, Lydon’s critique stuck. His public takedown completely destroyed the band's credibility in the UK.
Cover versions
Tough At The Top (probably a local band of Bedford area in the UK) released their version in 1988 on Roundblack Records (TATT 1).
Thomas D'Arcy released his version as the opening track for his 2012 album ''Thomas D'Arcy Presents A Tribute To The Monks''.
🎤 [LYRICS]
It's tough at the top!
Alright!
Looking for trouble, cruising down on King's Road
Can't stand the tourists strolling a la mode
When I am on the street, everyone knows.
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
The fans go wild, they really get out of hand!
They have to touch me 'cause my record's been banned!
They think I'm crazy, so I tell them I am!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
I'm something else in the clothes I wear.
The papers quote me when I swear.
It's all a lie, but I don't care!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
Johnny, Johnny, go!
Johnny, Johnny, go!
Go, Johnny, go, Johnny!
Go, go, go, go!
I'll catch them pretties with a flash of my teeth.
They love to show me what they've got underneath.
I say, now come back, spend the nighttime with me.
I've got a little place just southwest of Fleetwood.
But my life isn't that secure, don't you see?
'Cause things don't go the way that they used to be.
Social Security and d-o-n-e!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten, Johnny B. Rotten
Johnny B. Rotten tonight!
Johnny B. Rotten, Johnny B. Rotten
Johnny B. Rotten tonight!
#toughatthetop
#johnnybrotten
#themonkscover
From '' Johnny B. Rotten ''
Label: Roundblack Records – TATT 1
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Tracklist
A Johnny B. Rotten
Written-By – John Ford, Richard Hudson, Terry Cassidy
B Oh My Body
Written-By – John Otway
Producer – Matt Newnham, Peter Bonas
Notes
Plain sleeve
℗ 1988
Side A EMI
Side B Strikeback
Track A previously released in 1979 by The Monks: Johnny B. Rotten.
A version of Track B is included on John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett - Deep & Meaningless.
The information in the runouts is etched.
🎵 [SONG INFO]
The song "Johnny B. Rotten" was originally written, recorded, and released by the UK pop-punk/new wave band The Monks on their 1979 debut album, Bad Habits.
The Song's Content (A Satire of Johnny Rotten)
The Monks formed as a deliberate, satirical parody of the late-1970s UK punk rock movement. "Johnny B. Rotten" was written as a direct send-up of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten (John Lydon). The lyrics poke fun at the manufactured outrage, the media hype, and the fashion of the punk scene at the time with lines like:
"The fans go wild, they really get out of hand / They have to touch me 'cause my record's been banned... I'm something else in the clothes I wear / The papers quote me when I swear."
Rotten's Response
On June 30, 1979, John Lydon appeared on the BBC show Juke Box Jury to review a different single from the same album, "I Ain't Gettin' Any." Already aware of the band's existence and their mockery of him, Lydon used the opportunity to tear The Monks apart, calling their music "patronising rubbish." Because The Monks were actually older, seasoned mainstream musicians (including former members of the progressive folk-rock band Strawbs) who had changed their style to cash in on punk, Lydon’s critique stuck. His public takedown completely destroyed the band's credibility in the UK.
Cover versions
Tough At The Top (probably a local band of Bedford area in the UK) released their version in 1988 on Roundblack Records (TATT 1).
Thomas D'Arcy released his version as the opening track for his 2012 album ''Thomas D'Arcy Presents A Tribute To The Monks''.
🎤 [LYRICS]
It's tough at the top!
Alright!
Looking for trouble, cruising down on King's Road
Can't stand the tourists strolling a la mode
When I am on the street, everyone knows.
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
The fans go wild, they really get out of hand!
They have to touch me 'cause my record's been banned!
They think I'm crazy, so I tell them I am!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
I'm something else in the clothes I wear.
The papers quote me when I swear.
It's all a lie, but I don't care!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight.
Johnny, Johnny, go!
Johnny, Johnny, go!
Go, Johnny, go, Johnny!
Go, go, go, go!
I'll catch them pretties with a flash of my teeth.
They love to show me what they've got underneath.
I say, now come back, spend the nighttime with me.
I've got a little place just southwest of Fleetwood.
But my life isn't that secure, don't you see?
'Cause things don't go the way that they used to be.
Social Security and d-o-n-e!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
You don't want to get in a fight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight.
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten tonight
You'd better hold that lid on tight!
Johnny B. Rotten, Johnny B. Rotten
Johnny B. Rotten tonight!
Johnny B. Rotten, Johnny B. Rotten
Johnny B. Rotten tonight!
#toughatthetop
#johnnybrotten
#themonkscover
