Johnny was a faggot the old man couldn’t stand it
And when Johnny came out the closet the old man said “you have to go”
So he went out to Toronto cause he had some friends to go to
And they gave him a birthday and they put dread locks in his hair

Now Johnny loved Toronto the indifference was so busy
Among the great big buildings and the conversations there
But he often had reflection of his old man’s ill direction
And the lessons of the calling of names and sticks and stones

Chorus
Happy birthday Johnny boy
Happy birthday Johnny boy
Happy birthday Johnny boy

Now Johnny found a night job cutting up potatoes
And cleaning up the kitchen in a restaurant up town
He did not make much money but he did not want for money
Just identification and enough to pay his way

But he often took to yearning but there’d be no returning
Where he could not be easy with his chemistry and fait
Anyway he found a lover of convenience more than heart
But who knows maybe loneliness and time can forge a love