For questions or corrections: ssteinwender@gmx.at Intro: B B F# B B B Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month B F# Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none B B He came home too drunk from mixin'Tanqueray and wine B F# B 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 B F# Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatenin' to blow his top B When an off duty cop snuck up on him from behind B F# B Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99 E B Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown B F# He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down B Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence son fit the crime B F# B Prison for 98 and a year and we'll call it even Johnny 99 HARMONICA: B B E B B B F# B E B A fistfight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away F# His mama stood up and shouted Judge don't take my boy this way B Well son you got any statement you'd like to make B F# B Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away Now judge judge I had debts no honest man could pay B F# The bank was holdin' my mortgage and they was takin' my house away B Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man B F# B But it was more 'n all this that put that gun in my hand Well your honour I do believe I'd be better off dead F# And if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head B Then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over judge one more time B F# B And let 'em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line OUTRO: E B F# B B B F# B
