More songs by Bruce Springsteen
Description
Vocal, Associated Performer, Guitar: Bruce Springsteen
Composer, Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Mastering Engineer: Dennis King
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Mastering Engineer: Steve Marcussen
Recording Engineer: Mike Batlin
Lyrics and translation
Original
Well, they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month
Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none
He came home too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine
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
Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatenin' to blow his top
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99
Well, the city supplied a public defender
But the judge was mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down
Well, the evidence is clear
Gonna let the sentence son fit the crime
Prison for 98 and a year
We'll call it even Johnny 99
A fist-fight broke out in the courtroom
They had to drag Johnny's girl away
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
Now judge, judge
I got debts no honest man could pay
The bank was holdin' my mortgage
And takin' my house away
Now I ain't sayin'
That make me an innocent man
But it was more 'n all this
That put that gun in my hand
Well, Your Honor, I do believe I'd be better off dead
And if you can take a man's life
For the thoughts that's in his head
Then won't you sit back in that chair
And think it over judge one more time
And let 'em shave off my hair
And put me on that execution line