|
Well they closed down the shityard in Mahwah late last month |
|
Ralph went out looking for a job but he couldn't find none |
|
He came home too drunk from mixing Tanqueray and wine |
|
Got a gun, shot a clerk, now they call him Johnny 99 |
|
Down in the part of town where you shouldn't stop |
|
Johnny's waving his gun around, threatening to blow his top |
|
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind |
|
Out in front of the club, they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99 |
|
Well, they provided a lawyer, but the judge was mean John Brown |
|
He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down |
|
Well, the evidence is clear, and the sentence fit the crime |
|
Prison for 98 and a year, we'll call it even, Johnny 99 |
|
At the back of the courtroom, they had to drag Johnny's girl away |
|
His mom shouted, "Judge, don't take my boy this way" |
|
Well, son, you got a statement you'd like to make |
|
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away? |
|
Well, judge, I got debts no honest man can pay |
|
I couldn't meet my mortgage, they was taking my house away |
|
Now, I ain't saying that makes me an innocent man |
|
But it was more than 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 think it over, judge, one more time |
|
And let 'em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line |
|
Oh yeah, Brucie |
