Third World Man

There are some very good interpretations here. I'll try one.

(Johnny's playroom Is a bunker filled with sand He's become a third world man)

The bunker is his safe place. A bunker is used to protect people from falling bombs or other attacks.

Sand can be defined as - Informal. courage; pluck.

So maybe it's a bunker filled with courage.

Third World includes parts of Asia., Like Vietnam. So he's probably a Vietnam war veteran. This was 1980 and the war ended 1975, I believe the Vietnam war was the first time Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was recognized as an illness.

(Smokey Sunday He's been mobilized since dawn Now he's crouching on the lawn He's a third world man)

Smokey Sunday sounds like what the day became known as. It had to be a pretty big deal to get it's own name.

This guy is getting ready and lining up his rife, or getting ready to throw hand grenades..

(Soon you'll throw down your disguise We'll see behind those bright eyes By and by When the sidewalks are safe For the little guy)

He may have gone on the attack and eventually breaks down when he comes to his senses.

(I saw the fireworks I believed that I was dreaming 'Til the neighbours came out screaming He's a third world man)

Johnny is running through the neighborhood shooting people.or throwing grenades.

[chorus]

(When he's crying out I just sing that Ghana Rondo E'lera del terzo mondo He's a third world man)

Here's the dictionary definition of Rondo:

noun, plural rondos. Music. 1. a work or movement, often the last movement of a sonata, having one principal subject that is stated at least three times in the same key and to which return is made after the introduction of each subordinate theme.

So I'm gonna sing that Ghana last movement, so maybe he was in a war in Ghana. war.

The Italian has already been roughly translated here.as "He reads of the Third World)

Also, Ghanaian music was popular in the seventies. Their artists made some stuff that sold in the U.S. and the U.K.

So let me put it all together:

Johnny's in his safe place, filled with courage . He's become a guerrilla fighting a righteous war.

He's been up since dawn getting ready for the impending assault.

He carries out his plan to kill the neighborhood people, because, he believes, they're threatening the less fortunate.

When he comes to his senses he breaks down

When the narrator sees him breakdown he sees Johnny's final movements.. (I have no idea about Ghana)

He commits suicide in an explosive way. Hand Grenade(?) Shooting himself(?) The surviving neighbors came out of their houses Screaming he's gone nuts he thinks he's a soldier or something close.

Well, that's my guess, meh. Could be, or could not be.