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".

The night passed like a thousand years

The tenement 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

Johnny johnny no

Oh johnny why'd you go

Johnny johnny no"

And she cried "no".