Described as a puppy that's been kicked too many times, Johnny Cade has perhaps the worst lot dealt to him in life out of all the down-on-their-luck Greasers. Not only is Johnny economically downtrodden, but his mother is an alcoholic and his father is abusive. Some songs relevant to him and his struggle with self-esteem stemming from the abuse and neglect of his parents could include "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "Let You Down" by NF and "Perfect" by Simple Plan. All of those songs are apologizing to one's parents for not being good enough. Johnny dies without realizing he was not the problem. Because of his low self-worth, Johnny is vulnerable and the easiest and most common target to the Greasers' wealthy rivals, the Socs. Their attacks not physically scar him and require months of recovery, but give him PTSD.Yet despite these setbacks, Johnny never stops trying to do the right thing and protect others. He stands up to his idol and friend, Dallas, to make Dallas stop harassing two girls at the movies. It turns out that the girls' boyfriends were the ones who badly beat Johnny earlier in the year. When the boyfriends seek their revenge about the girlfriends, Johnny stands up to his violent aggressors, stabbing one to save Ponyboy's life. Forced to flee with Ponyboy, Johnny ends up laying down his life saving children from a burning church near where he and Pony hid. Johnny is a hero that doesn't recognize his own worth. He sees only the best in others. In his dying letter to Ponyboy, Johnny wishes his friend to "stay gold" which means never lose their innocence and wonder at experiencing the beauty in life. Songs that celebrate Johnny and the insight into his ever-hopeful mind could be "Evergreen" by Yebba and "Wings" by Birdy. "Evergreen" is about how others make people's time worthwhile. Johnny cherished his friends hoping Ponyboy would "stay gold" or green like a kid much like the singer wants the people they love to stay green and alive for as long as possible. "Wings" is not only a memorial song about the good times one can't get back with their friends but the lyrics imagery of dancing on top of cars underneath a trillion stars creates a similar feeling of Johnny's last request that Ponyboy and Dallas appreciate a sunset together.
Johnny Cade is portrayed as the "gang's pet," who suffers from emotional and physical abuse. Johnny grows up in an abusive household and narrowly survives a brutal beating by a group of Socs. He is the most sympathetic character in the novel and ends up losing his life after a falling beam breaks his back while he is saving children from a burning church fire. Before Johnny dies, he composes a moving letter to Ponyboy, which encourages Pony to see the world from a positive, youthful point of view.
One song that captures Johnny's emotional and physical pain is "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. The title accurately describes the theme of the song, which acknowledges that everyone experiences difficulties in their lives and encourages people to continue living. The first verse is as follows:
When your day is longAnd the nightThe night is yours aloneWhen you're sure you've had enoughOf this lifeWell hang onDon't let yourself go'Cause everybody criesAnd everybody hurts sometimesSometimes everything is wrongNow it's time to sing alongWhen your day is night alone (hold on)(Hold on) if you feel like letting go (hold on)If you think you've had too muchOf this lifeWell, hang on
Another song that would represent Johnny's character and mindset would be "Young Forever" by Jay Z. At the end of the novel, Johnny shares the meaning of the Robert Frost poem with Ponyboy and writes that Frost was speaking about innocence and the transience of life. Johnny also encourages Ponyboy to "stay gold," which essentially means to stay young at heart. Jay Z's lyrics correspond to Johnny's message to Ponyboy and the chorus is as follows:
Forever youngI wanna be forever young (yes)Do you really want to live forever?Forever and ever (sing)Forever young I wanna be forever youngDo you really want to live forever?Forever, forever young
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