Johnny 99 (live)
Lyrics:Bruce Springsteen Music:Bruce Springsteen
Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month
Ralph went out lookin for a job but he couldnt find none
He came home too drunk from mixinTanqueray and wine
He got a gun shot a night clerk now they callm Johnny 99
Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you dont stop
Johnnys wavin his gun around and threatenin to blow his top
When an off duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99
Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom and stared young Johnny down
Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence son fit the crime
Prison for 98 and a year and well call it even Johnny 99
A fistfight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnnys girl away
His mama stood up and shouted Judge dont take my boy this way
Well son you got a statement youd like to make
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away
Now judge judge I had debts no honest man could pay
The bank was holdin my mortgage and they was takin my house away
Now I aint sayin that makes me an innocent man
But it was more n all this that put that gun in my hand
Well your honor I do believe Id be better off dead
And if you can take a mans life for the thoughts thats in his head
Then wont you sit back in that chair andthink it over judge one more time
And let em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line