Well they ^Dclosed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last month Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find ^Anone He came ^Dhome too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine He got a gun shot a night clerk now ^Athey call him Johnny ^D99 Dawn in t^Dhat part of town where when you hit red light you don't stop Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatin' to blow his ^Atop When an ^Doff duty cop snuck up on him on from behind Out in front of the club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny ^A99

Well the city ^Gsupplied a public defender but the ^Djudge was mean John Brown He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny ^Adown Well the ^Devidence is clear gonna let the sentence fit the crime Prison for 98 and a year will make it ^Aeven Johnny ^D99

A fist ^Gfight broke out in the courtroom they had to ^Ddrag Johnny's girl away His mama stood up and shouted judge don't take my boy this ^Away Well son you ^Dgot any statement you'd like to make Before the bailiff comes to ^Aforever take you ^Daway Yes ^Gjudge I got debts no honest ^Dman could pay The bank was holdin' my mortgage they was takin' my house ^Aaway Now I ain't ^Dsayin' that makes me an innocent man But it was more than all this ^Athat put that gun in my ^Dhand And your honor I ^Gdo believe I'd be ^Dbetter off dead If you can take a man's life for the thoughts that are in his ^Ahead Then won't ^Dyou sit back in that chair and think it over one more time And let 'em shave off my hair and ^Aburn Johnny ^D99