Beneath the bare light bulb above

She gazed into the eyes of love

Bathed in the dirty neon lights

She begged him "don't go out tonight"

If we work out somehow maybe

We could find a way out baby

And he laughed and said "I got to go"



And she cried "no"

Johnny Johnny no

Oh Johnny Johnny no



His arms were warm and strong and young

"I promise I won't hurt no one"

"Oh baby when you gonna learn,

Them folks uptown got bread to burn,



When they see me flash my knife,

They'll be fearin' for their live,

They won't give me trouble this I know"

And she cried no

Oh Johnny Johnny no

Johnny Johnny no



[organ solo]



The night passed like a thousand years

The tenemant room had culled her tears

Then came a knock upon the door

Two men she'd never seen before



"Did you know Johnny Brown miss?

We hate to tell you this but

Has he a relative you know?"

And she cried no

Oh Johnny Johnny no

Oh Johnny why'd you go?