Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last month
Down at the part of town where when you hit a red light, you don't stop
Well the city supplied a public defender, but the judge was mean John Brown
A fistfight broke out in the courtroom, they had to drag Johnny's girl away
Yes judge I got debts no honest man could pay
And your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead
Return to Johnny Cash lyrics.
Ralph went out lookin' for a job, but he couldn't find none
he got drunk too much from drinkin' tanqueray and wine
he got a gun, shot a night clerk, now they call him Johnny 99
Johnny's wavin' his gun 'round and threatenin' to blow his top
when an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
well at the Club Tip Top they slapped the 'cuffs on Johnny 99
he came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down
well the evidence is clear, gonna let the sentence fit the crime
98 and a year will call it even Johnny 99
his mama stood up and shouted judge, don't take my boy this way
well son you got any statement you'd like to make
before the bailiff comes to forever take you away
the bank was holding my mortgage, they were takin' my house away
now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man
but it was more than all this that put that gun in my hand
if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that are in his head
then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over one more time
and let 'em shave off my hair and burn Johnny 99
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