Johnny Can't Read

The song focuses upon reading illiteracy and raises several thought-provoking questions. This song also reflects Henley’s respect for reading and his reading background. As he stated in the book Heaven Is Under Our Feet,

"I began to read when I was five. My dad sometimes read me the ‘Funny Papers’ to me on Sundays and my mother, a college graduate and former schoolteacher, read to me almost every day from books. As I grew, she made sure that there was always reading material in the house that was suited to my age and ability."

As for his respect for reading, he stated, "American Literature, like the air we breathe, belongs--or should belong--to everybody." His pioneering project to raise money to preserve Walden Woods emphasized his respect for the written word.

Near the conclusion of this song, Henley sings the line "there's a new kid in town", which was the chorus to the song of the same name he recorded with the Eagles.

Chart performance

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	42
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	29

External links

Don Henley

Studio albums	I Can't Stand Still Building the Perfect Beast The End of the Innocence Inside Job Cass County

Compilation albums	Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits The Very Best of Don Henley One of These Nights: Boston 1993

Singles	"Johnny Can't Read" "Dirty Laundry" "The Boys of Summer" "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" "Not Enough Love in the World" "Sunset Grill" "The End of the Innocence" "New York Minute" "The Last Worthless Evening" "The Heart of the Matter" "The Garden of Allah" "Everybody Knows"

Guest singles	"Leather and Lace" "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" "Walkaway Joe" "Inside Out"

See also	Discography Eagles

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