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