#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# #This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the # #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. # #------------------------------------------------------------------------------## # Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 23:35:24 +0000 (GMT) From: Rev Linda Slug Subject: Johnny Got A Gun This is one of those songs that everybody should hear. It's on Tom's new record - "Wearing The Time", but it probably won't get much airplay. Read the lyrics. Buy the record. Play it to your friends. Johnny Got A Gun - Tom Paxton Bm, A, G, G, A, Bm (Twice) Bm A G A Bm Johnny's mum and dad both worked long hours, they worked on the weekends too Bm A G A Bm Johnny was eleven, but they had no notion of what Johnny was going through A D A D F# Johnny got pushed and Johnny got robbed and it made him feel chicken to run Bm A G A Bm Big kids picked on Johnny every day, so Johnny went and got him a gun Johnny got a gun, he didn't bring it home, he covered it with rags and dirt. On his way to school he looked both ways, then he hid it under his shirt. Johnny was afraid of going to school, there was always trouble in the hall. Fights in the boys' room, guns in the lockers and little kids bouncing off the walls. Chorus: D A Johnny was afraid of dying young G F# Everybody he knew had a gun Bm G A Bm So Johnny got a gun and every little thing looked cool. First time Johnny flashed his gun everybody backed off fast. Everybody treated him differently then. Johnny felt safe at last. Johnny had a gun and everybody knew and everybody left him alone. Till he bumped a kid who was coming down the stairs and the kid had a gun of his own. The kid pushed Johnny, Johnny went down and the kid had something to say. Pulled his gun, Johnny shot first and he blew the other kid away The police came and took away the gun, said he wouldn't need a gun any more Took him to the station, sat him in a chair And his feet didn't reach the floor. Chorus Johnny had a hearing plead self defence, prosecutor said "No way." Judge said "you're eleven, but you're killing like a man and it's gonna be a long, long stay" Johnny's mum and dad still work long hours and knock on the unit door Sit with Johnny in the visitor's room and his feet don't reach the floor. Chorus G A Bm And his feet don't reach the floor. Transcribed 27th January 1996 by David Linley. Comments and mistakes to [email protected]
