Johnny 99

[00:12.72]Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month

[00:18.96]Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none

[00:25.85]He came home too drunk from mixin'Tanqueray and wine

[00:32.57]He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call'm Johnny 99

[00:36.21]Down in the part of town

[00:40.74]Where when you hit a red light you don't stop

[00:45.35]Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatenin' to blow his top

[00:52.89]When an off duty cop snuck up on him from behind

[00:58.56]Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99

[01:02.42]Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown

[01:13.04]He came into the courtroom and stared young Johnny down

[01:21.18]Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence son fit the crime

[01:27.06]Prison for 98 and a year and we'll call it even Johnny 99

[01:52.29]A fistfight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away

[02:34.68]His mama stood up and shouted 'Judge don't take my boy this way'

[02:39.68]Well son you got a statement you'd like to make

[02:49.08]Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away

[02:55.77]Now judge judge I had debts no honest man could pay

[03:02.00]The bank was holdin' my mortgage and they was takin' my house away

[03:09.56]Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man

[03:15.90]But it was more 'n all this that put that gun in my hand

[03:22.97]Well your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead

[03:29.12]And if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head

[03:35.93]Then won't you sit back in that chair

[03:37.59]And think it over judge one more time

[03:39.78]And let 'em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line