The lyrics "Your papa never told you about right or wrong" are of greater relevance in Down Neck, as Tony retreats into a good couple of interesting flashbacks whilst in Dr Melfi's office. They go back to the times when he was about the same age as his son, and used to watch his dad chase down debt collectors and fall victim of an even more dramatic Livia.
The flashbacks are quite interesting. It's funny seeing Junior when he was in his prime and intriguing to see Tony's parents and his relationship with them. He always felt that his dad showed favouritism to Tony's older sister since they used to go out to the fair regularly. That is until Jonny Boy Soprano is escorted out of the fair in cuffs, and Tony realises the whole thing was a front, and the hoodlums brought their daughters along to cover up their illegal activities that were done at the fairground. We see that Jonny Boy told lies to protect his family and also had to take stick from Livia (in one case, was 'persuaded' by his wife out of a move that would have made the family very rich).
Tony's reminiscent are brought about due to his own son's behaviour at school being questioned by the school staff. It leads to thoughts that Anthony may be ADD (which is just some money-making "bullshit" for the psychiatrics, Tony thinks) which in turn makes Tony evaluate his role as a father by assessing what it was like when he was a son. He remembers how his mother covered up Jonny Boy's crimes by blaming prejudices from the authorities and how she his father back from success. Tony later confronts her about why she never gave his father any support and Livia, who had previously spoken with Anthony Jr after their sub plots intertwined, very cleverly replies with verbal blackmail. "If it bothers you, maybe you better talk to a psychiatrist". Highlighting the fantastic dialogue in this series, Tony counters this by retorting "If you'd been born after those feminists, you woulda been the real gangster".
Tony's opinions on his father's 'work' leaves him slightly confused. He remembers being proud that he had a gangster for a dad but at the same time wonders what it was like if Jonny Boy had been just like any other father. That means he ponders on what life outside the mafia could have been like. And that kind of talk is dangerous. Which just goes to show just how much he has opened up to Dr Melfi. The episode deals with the old stereotype that you join the mafia because you were born into it. Tony considers whether it was just in his DNA, and if it is then fears his son may turn out like him and opposed to simply looking up to him as a father.
The flashbacks are quite interesting. It's funny seeing Junior when he was in his prime and intriguing to see Tony's parents and his relationship with them. He always felt that his dad showed favouritism to Tony's older sister since they used to go out to the fair regularly. That is until Jonny Boy Soprano is escorted out of the fair in cuffs, and Tony realises the whole thing was a front, and the hoodlums brought their daughters along to cover up their illegal activities that were done at the fairground. We see that Jonny Boy told lies to protect his family and also had to take stick from Livia (in one case, was 'persuaded' by his wife out of a move that would have made the family very rich).
Tony's reminiscent are brought about due to his own son's behaviour at school being questioned by the school staff. It leads to thoughts that Anthony may be ADD (which is just some money-making "bullshit" for the psychiatrics, Tony thinks) which in turn makes Tony evaluate his role as a father by assessing what it was like when he was a son. He remembers how his mother covered up Jonny Boy's crimes by blaming prejudices from the authorities and how she his father back from success. Tony later confronts her about why she never gave his father any support and Livia, who had previously spoken with Anthony Jr after their sub plots intertwined, very cleverly replies with verbal blackmail. "If it bothers you, maybe you better talk to a psychiatrist". Highlighting the fantastic dialogue in this series, Tony counters this by retorting "If you'd been born after those feminists, you woulda been the real gangster".
Tony's opinions on his father's 'work' leaves him slightly confused. He remembers being proud that he had a gangster for a dad but at the same time wonders what it was like if Jonny Boy had been just like any other father. That means he ponders on what life outside the mafia could have been like. And that kind of talk is dangerous. Which just goes to show just how much he has opened up to Dr Melfi. The episode deals with the old stereotype that you join the mafia because you were born into it. Tony considers whether it was just in his DNA, and if it is then fears his son may turn out like him and opposed to simply looking up to him as a father.