Johnny 99
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen
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Well a great black river a man had found So he put all his money in a hole in the ground And sent a big steel arm drivin' down down down Man now I live on the streets of Houston town Packed up my wife and kids when winter came along And we headed down south with just spit and a song But they said "Sorry son it's gone gone gone" Well there's men hunkered down by the railroad tracks The Elkhorn Special blowin' my hair back Tents pitched on the highway in the dirty moonlight And I don't know where I'm gonna sleep tonight Parked in the lumberyard freezin' our asses off My kids in the back seat got a graveyard cough Well I'm sleepin' up in front with my wife Billy club tappin' on the windshield in the middle of the night Says "Move along man move along" Well big limousine long shiny and black You don't look ahead you don't look back How many times can you get up after you've been hit? Well I swear if I could spare the spit I'd lay one on your shiny chrome And send you on your way back home So if you're gonna leave your town where the north wind blow To go on down where that sweet soda river flow Well you better think twice on it Jack You're better off buyin' a shotgun dead off the rack You ain't gonna find nothin' down here friend Except seeds blowin' up the highway in the south wind Movin' on movin' on it's gone gone it's all gone
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22 fans
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Songwriter and Performer"Johnny 99" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, an influential American songwriter and the leader of the E Street Band.
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Album InclusionThe song appeared on Springsteen's sixth studio album, "Nebraska," which was released in 1982.
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Unique RecordingUnlike other albums, "Nebraska" was a solo album Springsteen recorded at home on a 4-track cassette recorder.
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Economic Depression ThemeThe song "Johnny 99" deals with themes of economic depression and hardship.
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StorylineThe lyrics tell the story of a man named Johnny who kills a night clerk out of desperation after losing his job due to a factory shutdown and gets sentenced to 99 years in prison.
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Realistic CharactersLike many other Springsteen songs, "Johnny 99" is known for its vivid characters who portray the difficulties of the working class.
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RecognitionRolling Stone magazine recognized "Johnny 99" as one of the Highlights of "Nebraska" in 1982.
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Song CoverThis song has been covered by various musicians, including Johnny Cash for his 1983 album "Johnny 99".
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Live PerformancesSpringsteen frequently performed "Johnny 99" as part of his live set, sometimes with a full band arrangement, despite the original recording being a solo performance.
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Film ReferenceThe title and storyline of "Johnny 99" were inspired by the film "The 3:10 to Yuma," a 1957 American Western film.
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Music StyleThe song largely follows a folk rock style, embodying a sense of storytelling common in folk music but combined with the energy of rock music.
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Social Commentary"Johnny 99" is often viewed as a social commentary on the American Dream and the struggles of the American working class.
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ImpactDespite its lack of commercial success, the song is regarded as a significant work in Springsteen's oeuvre for its gritty narrative and social realism.
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InstrumentationThe original track features Springsteen playing all the instruments, which consist of an acoustic guitar and harmonica.
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Song EvolutionIn live performances, the song has evolved from its sparse, acoustic original into a full-band, rockabilly stomp, showcasing Springsteen's ability to reinterpret his own music.
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Citation
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"Johnny 99 Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19555925/Bruce+Springsteen/Johnny+99>.
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