Songtexte Johnny 99 (Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK - 06/05/16) - Bruce Springsteen

Well, they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that 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 night clerk, they call him Johnny 99
Come on

Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don't stop
Johnny's waving his gun around, threatening to blow his top
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

The city supplied a public defender, judge was Mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom, stared young Johnny down
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

Professor

Come on, Sister Suzie

Well, a fistfight broke out in the courtroom, they had to drag Johnny's girl away
Mama stood up and shouted, "Judge, don't take my boy this way"
Son, you got any statement you'd like to make
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away?

Come on

Well judge, judge, I had debts no honest man can pay
The bank was holding my mortgage, they were coming to take my house away
Well, now I ain't saying that make me an innocent man
But it was more and all this, Judge, that put that gun in my hand

Come on

Your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead
If you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head
Sit back in that chair, think it over, Judge, one more time
And shave off my hair, put me on that killing line
Hey