Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last 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

Dawn in that part of town where when you hit red light you don't stop

Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatin' to blow his top

When an off duty cop snuck up on him on from behind

Out in front of the club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99

Well the city suplied 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 fit the crime

Prison for 98 and a year will make 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

Yes judge I got debts no honest man could pay

The bank was holdin' my mortgage they was 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

And your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead

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