For two long years my head hurt bad
and the doctor checked me and he shook his head
he said I'm sorry to tell you, but you're body's outlived your brain

He said I know this doctor in New York, son
and he'll fix you right up with a brand new one
so the head doctor met me when I stepped down off of the train

He said we had this bank robber killed last night
his body's shot, but his brain's all right
I'll give you a transplant, boy, and you'll be okay

I got my new brain in and I was feeling great
I went right back to Nashville with no headache
but something strange happened when I walked into a bank one day

I said stick 'em up, everybody, I'm robbing this place
drop all of your money in my guitar case
don't nobody move and don't nobody reach for that door
A lady said why, you're Johnny Cash!
I said no ma'am, I'm the Manhattan Flash
and I am the best bank robber in New York

Now the other night Roy Acuff called me
he said John, I'd like for you to do the Opry
so I went out on the stage, but I couldn't sing

I got into half a verse of I walk the line
and something snapped in this head of mine
and I said stick 'em up, give me your money, your watches and rings!

Well I called New York, talked to that brain quack
I said doctor, I gotta have my old brain back
he said I'm sorry there, mr Cash, but I can't do that

He said we put your brain in a chicken last Monday
he's singing your songs and making lots of money
and I got him signed up to a ten year recording contract

Now friends if you see me walking down the street
remember what you see ain't necessarily me
and if I try to hold you up, don't pay me no mind

But if you've got ten bucks that you can blow
you ought to catch that Johnny Chicken show
he's doing fairs and concert dates all up and down the line

I said stick 'em up, everybody, I'm robbing this place
drop all of your money in my guitar case
don't nobody move and don't nobody reach for that door
A lady said why, you're Johnny Cash!
I said no ma'am, I'm the Manhattan Flash
and I am the best bank robber in New York

(Well, I don't pay any income tax...
you don't pay tax on money you steal...
You ought to catch that Johnny Chicken show...
Chicken in black...mmm...)

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