Johnny 99 By Bruce Springsteen
Sung by Steve at Java Joe's 18.10.97
Well they closed down the auto plant
In Mahwah late last month
Ralph went out looking for a job
But he couldn't find none
He came home too drunk from mixing
Tanqueray and wine
He got a gun shot a night clerk
Now they call him Johnny 99
Down in the part of town where
when you hit a red light you don't stop
Johnny's waving his gun around
And he's threatening 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
City supplied a public defender
But the judge was mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom
And dragged poor Johnny down
Said the evidence is clear
Gonna let the sentence son fit the crime
Prison for 98 and a year
We'll call it even Johnny 99
Fistfight broke out in the courtroom
They had to drag Johnny's girl away
His mama got up and shouted
"Judge don't take my boy away"
Well son you got a statement you'd like to make
Before the bailiff comes
To forever take you away
Now judge judge
I got debts no honest man could pay
The bank was holding my mortgage
And they was taking my house away
Now I ain't saying that makes me an innocent man
But it was more then this Judge
That put that gun in my hand
Well your honor I do believe
I'd be better off dead
And if you can take a man's life
For the thoughts that's in his head
Sit back in your chair sir
And think it over just one more time
Let them shave off my hair
And put me on that execution line
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© Bruce Springsteen