Johnny Ace Is Dead

	  		
 
 


E 
Down in Houston, Texas on a Christmas night 

With a gun in his hand and his name up in lights 

He was young and handsome, the Prince of the Blues 

In a sharkskin suit and alligator shoes 

He was flirting with some women who had come backstage 

He said, "Ladies, want to see me play a wild little game?" 

But Big Mama Thornton said, "Go sing Your Song 

And put that damn thing down before something goes wrong" 

A                                      E 
Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, 
A                                  E 
He put a 22 pistol right up to his head 
B 
Then he smiled at the ladies 
A                   E 
Now Johnny Ace is dead 

E 
The band leader set his saxophone down 

And said, "I think I better split before the cops come 'round" 

While the crowd in the theater slowly drifted away 

With their heads hung low, not sure of what to say 

But Big Don Robey, the record company man 

With big diamond rings on both of his hands 

Said, "I'm gonna send him back to Memphis in a refrigerated truck 

Cause Johnny Ace is gonna make me a million bucks." 


A                                       E 
Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, 
A                                  E 
He put a 22 pistol right up to his head 
B 
Then he smiled at the ladies 
A                   E 
Now Johnny Ace is dead 

E 
When Johnny came home to Memphis, Tennessee 

Everyone on Beale Street came out to see 

There were pimps and gamblers, husbands and wives, 

Women young and old all came to say goodbye 

And as the choirs sand and the preachers prayed 

Five thousand mourners marched him to his grave 

Well, there may be a Heaven and there may be a Hell, 

No one knows for sure but now Johnny Ace knows damn well. 


A                                      E 
Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, 
A                                   E 
He put a 22 pistol right up to his head 
B 
Then he smiled at the ladies 
A                   E 
Now Johnny Ace is dead