Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory

But Johnny, of course, was a bit more self-induced.

But how has he never gotten shit for Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory? Which is, let's be honest, his only real song as a solo artist.

It's basically... at least the intro, really rips off Lonely Planet Boy off the Dolls' first album.

For those who don't know, Johnny Thunders was a member of the New York Dolls.

It was very new to me.

In a few minutes, the former New York doll and heartbreaker Johnny Thunders, with you can't put your arms around a memory, but this is Alanis Morissette and Head Over Feet.

I had no choice but to hear you You stated your case time and again I thought about it You treat me like I'm a princess I'm not used to Like you may add You ask how my day was You've already won me over In spite of me And don't be alarmed if I And don't be surprised if I love you For all that you are I couldn't help it It's all your fault Your love is thick And it's followed me whole You're so much braver Than I gave you credit for That's not lip service You've already won me over In spite of me And don't be alarmed if I fall Head over feet And don't be surprised if I love you For all that you are I couldn't help it It's all your fault You are the bearer of unconditional things You held your breath and the door for me Thanks for your patience You're the best listener that I've ever met You're my best friend, best friend with benefits What took me so long? felt this healthy before I've never wanted something rational I am aware now I am aware now you've already won me over in spite of me and don't be alarmed if I fall Head over feet And don't be surprised if I love you For all that you are I couldn't help it It's all your fault You've already won me over In spite of me And don't be alarmed if I fall Head over feet And don't be surprised if I love you It's all your fault

doesn't pay to try all the smart boys know why it doesn't mean i didn't try i just never know why Big deal, I'm still alive So old And when they go They let you know You can't put your arm around a memory Don't try Don't try And you've got no name Cause you're living with me We're one and the same And even though they don't show The scars are so old And when they go They let you know You can't put Don't try You can't put your arm around a memory Don't try Don't try

Head Over Feet from Alanis Morissette, and then You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory, written and recorded by the outlaw guitarist Johnny Thunders for his first solo album, So Alone.

In the mid-1970s, Thunders had been one of the originators of New York's glam punk scene as part of the New York Dolls.

And then as the drugs took hold, he came to London with some of the remnants of the dolls under the new name, the Heartbreakers.

In fact, the Heartbreakers and their entourage are often blamed for the sharp increase in heroin usage in the UK in the later 70s, especially in the music industry.

Well, inspired by that line, Johnny wrote one of the greatest breakup songs in existence a full 10 years before he actually recorded it.

See, while Johnny Thunders had the heart of a bastard, he also had the undeniable soul of a poet, as some bastards do, and when he accessed the part of himself that was connected to the universe at large, he was able to write gorgeous, heart-wrenching tunes like this one, You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory.

[gentle rock music] It doesn't pay to try.

All the smart boys know why.