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