Johnny Cash Johnny 99 lyrics

Johnny 99 by Johnny Cash

Johnny 99 lyrics

Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last month 
Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none 
He came home too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine 
He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call him Johnny 99 
Dawn in that part of town where when you hit red light you don't stop 
Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatin' to blow his top 
When an off duty cop snuck up on him on from behind 
Out in front of the club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99 
Well the city suplied a public defender but the judge was mean John Brown 
He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down 
Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence fit the crime 
Prison for 98 and a year will make it even Johnny 99 
A fist fight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away 
His mama stood up and shouted judge don't take my boy this way 
Well son you got any statement you'd like to make 
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away 
Yes judge I got debts no honest man could pay 
The bank was holdin' my mortgage they was takin' my house away 
Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man 
But it was more than all this that put that gun in my hand 
And your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead 
If you can take a man's life for the thoughts that are in his head 
Then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over one more time 
And let 'em shave off my hair and burn Johnny 99